Jeju Province to Invest 218.5 Billion Won in Culture, Sports, and Education This Year

Realizing Cultural Autonomy and Creating a Sustainable Sports Environment
Promoting Core Initiatives Including Educational Policies for Shared Growth

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Government Building.

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province will invest a total of 218.5 billion won this year in the fields of culture, sports, and education to expand opportunities for residents to enjoy culture in their daily lives, promote healthy living, and nurture future talent.

Jeju Province has identified three core initiatives for focused investment: "Realizing cultural autonomy," "Creating a sustainable sports environment," and "Educational policies for shared growth."

This year’s budget represents a 1.2% increase compared to the previous year (215.9 billion won), with 59.4 billion won allocated to culture, 42.3 billion won to sports, and 116.8 billion won to education.

The cultural sector will focus on narrowing regional cultural gaps and globalizing Jeju’s unique values.

219 billion won has been allocated for preserving the Jeju language and the Integrated Culture Voucher Program. Additionally, 19.1 billion won will be invested in fostering Jeju’s specialized cultural industries, and 12.2 billion won will continue to support major festivals such as the Tamna Cultural Festival and the Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival.

In particular, to establish the "Jeju-style Artist Welfare System," a pledge of the 8th popularly elected administration, a welfare fund of 2 billion won will be injected to support a stable creative environment for artists.

The sports sector will simultaneously promote residents’ health through sports and revitalize the local economy. This year, special efforts will be made to prepare for the successful hosting of the National Sports Festival and the National Para Games, as well as to expand sports infrastructure for everyday life.

To enhance competitiveness for the 2026 National (Para) Sports Festival, 10.1 billion won will be invested in training elite athletes and dispatching coaches. An additional 2.5 billion won will support integrated sports programs for people with and without disabilities, and 560 million won will be invested in the "One Student, One Sport" program for elementary school students to promote daily sports activities.

To expand public sports infrastructure by region, 15 billion won will be invested this year in the construction of a multipurpose gymnasium in the western area of Jeju City, scheduled for completion in May next year, and 3 billion won will be allocated for the renovation of public sports facilities such as the Jeju Multipurpose Gymnasium and libraries.

Furthermore, 6.9 billion won has been allocated to support professional sports and various sports competitions in disciplines such as golf, volleyball, billiards, and Go. The province plans to maximize economic impact by operating stove leagues for each sport and attracting off-season training camps.

The education sector will focus on building a lifelong learning system and strengthening the competitiveness of public education.

11.08 billion won will be provided to ensure a stable educational environment, including school meal expenses and school site charges. An additional 4.7 billion won will be invested to promote lifelong education, including the operation of Jeju Residents’ University and strengthening the role of lifelong learning centers for people with disabilities, thereby lowering barriers to learning.

In particular, Jeju Residents’ University will expand "community-based learning centers" utilizing multipurpose spaces and cafes, and will establish a foundation for attracting new residents through the "Jeju Value Empathy Learncation" program (150 million won), a residential learning model that leverages Jeju’s natural environment.

Ryu Ilsun, Director of the Culture, Sports, and Education Bureau of Jeju Province, stated, "This year’s budget is focused on creating cultural and sports environments that residents can feel in their daily lives, and on building future competitiveness through education across all stages of life. We will continue to do our best to enhance Jeju’s sustainable value based on resident participation."