Taebaek City to Begin Accepting New Applications for the Dream Voucher for Children and Youth in 2026
Taebaek City in Gangwon Province (Mayor Lee Sangho) announced on December 30 that it will begin accepting new applications for the Dream Voucher for Children and Youth starting January 5, 2026.
The Taebaek Dream Voucher Support Program, the first of its kind in the Gangwon region, is a system that provides a fixed monthly amount as voucher card points to children and youth aged 9 to 18 who reside in the city.
This round of new applications is open to those who have not yet applied for the Dream Voucher, including children born in 2017 who will turn 9 years old. Applications must be submitted in person at the administrative welfare center corresponding to the applicant’s address. However, existing users can continue to use their current voucher cards without reapplying.
The voucher card can be used at registered merchants in areas such as career development, hobby activities, sports facilities, and daily living, as well as at convenience stores, cafes, and supermarkets. As of December 2025, there are a total of 434 registered merchants. Businesses wishing to register as additional merchants can apply through the voucher website or by visiting the Education Division at Taebaek City Hall.
Card users can check their remaining balance, transaction history, and merchant information by scanning the QR code on the back of the card or by installing the dedicated app. The usage period is until December 20, 2026, after which any unused balance will be automatically forfeited.
Notably, starting in 2026, the spending limit for food-related purchases will be increased from the current 30% to 50%. Alongside support for education, culture, and career development, the city plans to further strengthen support for healthy growth by expanding assistance for food, including staple and side dishes.
The annual support amount is 600,000 won for elementary school students, 800,000 won for middle school students, and 1,000,000 won for high school students. Although the city initially sought to amend the ordinance to provide 1,000,000 won annually to all age groups, the necessary procedures were not completed. Therefore, the current standards will remain in place for 2026.
A Taebaek City official stated, "The value of the Dream Voucher Card is created by the children who use it themselves," adding, "We will continue to do our best to ensure this becomes a valuable investment in the future of all children and youth in our city."
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