Gyeonggi Province to Support Youth with a Three-Pronged Package for Learning, Career, and Independence

Gyeonggi Province will implement a variety of support projects for youth learning, career exploration, and independence this year.

Gyeonggi Province has designated several key initiatives for this year, including the "Youth Ladder" program, which helps young people experience a broader world, as well as expanding domestic and international youth exchange, increasing support for menstrual products for female youth, providing independence support for youth leaving out-of-home care facilities, and strengthening support for out-of-school youth.

Since 2024, Gyeonggi Province has been running the "Youth Ladder" program for the third consecutive year. The Youth Ladder program offers overseas training and on-site experiential opportunities to youth from low-income families, legally defined lower-income groups, and single-parent households, supporting their career exploration and personal development.

The program was launched for the first time last year with funding from the lottery fund. In 2025, 105 youth visited Vancouver, Canada, and Brighton, United Kingdom, where they participated in native English debate classes and career mentoring. This year, the program will recruit 110 participants. The selection will be made through an open call between March and April, and participants will take part in overseas training in countries such as Canada.

Gyeonggi Province will also expand its support for domestic and international youth exchange and the universal menstrual product support program for female youth.

Continuing from last year, Gyeonggi Province will run exchange programs with its sister provinces and cities: North Jeolla, South Jeolla, and Gwangju Metropolitan City. The number of participants for these exchanges is 175. Additionally, 110 youth from Jiangsu and Guangdong provinces in China will participate in local cultural experiences and school classes. Another 55 youth will be selected to join historical and cultural heritage exploration programs.

The universal menstrual product support program for female youth will expand from 24 to 27 cities and counties this year, with Suwon, Yongin, and Paju joining the initiative.

The program targets female youth aged 11 to 18 (born between 2008 and 2015). Up to 168,000 won per year (14,000 won per month) will be provided as local currency for purchasing menstrual products. The funds can be used through the Baedal Teukgeup app (a menstrual product mall for female youth) and at local currency-affiliated convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, and Emart24).

Gyeonggi Province will also strengthen support for youth leaving out-of-home care facilities through the "Todak Todak Financial Package" project, as well as enhance support for out-of-school youth.

Youth Support Project Promotional Poster of Gyeonggi Province

The Todak Todak Financial Package program allows out-of-home youth aged 15 to 24 to save between 10,000 and 100,000 won each month, with Gyeonggi Province matching double the amount saved, up to a maximum of 200,000 won per month, for up to six years.

Youth who leave youth shelters or youth independence support centers will receive settlement funds and independence support allowances. The settlement fund totals 10 million won (provided in two installments), and the independence support allowance is 500,000 won per month for up to five years.

For the first time this year, Gyeonggi Province will also cover the fees for the College Scholastic Ability Test mock exams (held in June and September) for out-of-school youth, in order to reduce the burden of career and academic preparation and to close the gap in exam opportunities.

The meal subsidy for youth using out-of-school youth support centers will be increased from 10,000 won to 12,000 won per meal, with expanded support to ensure more out-of-school youth can benefit.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dongyeon stated, "Young people should try various things, experience failure, go through trial and error, and achieve small successes in order to discover what they truly want to do," adding, "We will pursue a variety of policies to ensure that Gyeonggi Province's youth can be happy every day."