Jongno-gu to Provide Up to 1.5 Million KRW Support for Lifelong Learning Clubs

Qualifications require a study group of 8 or more adults formed to learn the same subject... Applications can be submitted by visiting the district office education department in person or sending documents via email from January 26 to February 9.

Kim Young-jong, Mayor of Jongno-gu, is giving a greeting speech at the opening ceremony of the Jongno-gu Lifelong Learning Center on November 15, 2019.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jongno-gu (District Mayor Kim Young-jong) is promoting the '2021 Lifelong Learning Club Support Contest Project' to spread a lifelong learning culture within the local community and support residents' learning activities.

This contest project aims to discover and support lifelong learning clubs that autonomously select themes and methods to continue learning activities, thereby creating an atmosphere of proactive learning and contributing to the improvement of relationships among neighbors.

Eligibility for application requires a group voluntarily and democratically formed by eight or more adults for learning on the same topic, with the majority (60%) of members being district residents.

Additionally, applicants must have a systematic learning plan and conduct regular activities at least twice a month. However, simple small groups for hobbies or leisure activities, or groups that only attend lectures together without independent activities, or groups aimed at profit are excluded.

Also excluded are instructor-centered clubs where an instructor leads and operates the group for a fee, as well as clubs supporting specific political parties or religious activities.

Applications can be submitted by visiting the district office's Education Division in person or by sending the required documents via email to the person in charge (kjh0301@mail.jongno.go.kr) from January 26 to February 9.

Required documents include the Jongno-gu local subsidy application form, group introduction, previous year's activity records, and project plan.

The district plans to select the final recipients through evaluations by lifelong education experts and the Jongno-gu Local Subsidy Deliberation Committee in February, and will notify the selected groups individually and via the district office website.

Selected clubs can receive up to 1.5 million KRW per club as activity subsidies, which must be used only for operational expenses such as instructor fees and material costs. Subsidies cannot be used for purchasing equipment, utility bills, facility fees, repair costs, transfer fees, vehicle maintenance, or cash expenses unrelated to the project.

The selected clubs are required to participate in mid-term inspections and monitoring (April to November), a performance presentation (November), and submit activity records, settlement reports, and expenditure proof upon project completion.

Meanwhile, besides promoting this lifelong learning club support contest project, Jongno-gu plans to operate the ‘First Half Lifelong Learning Center Program’ from March to May this year to provide residents with opportunities to cultivate humanities knowledge and design a happy life. This is to help residents continue learning online considering the difficulty of face-to-face education due to COVID-19.

District Mayor Kim Young-jong stated, “We aim to actively nurture resident clubs learning by utilizing local characteristics and resources to strengthen Jongno-gu’s unique lifelong learning features,” and added, “We will continue to make steady efforts in promoting high-quality lifelong education programs and related projects to satisfy residents’ desire for learning.”