Paju City Supports New Elementary Students’ Fresh Start with 100,000 Won Enrollment Congratulatory Payment

Residents of Paju City as of March 1
For new elementary school first-graders
Provided in Paju Pay

Paju City in Gyeonggi Province will provide a "2026 Elementary School Enrollment Congratulatory Payment" to ease the financial burden on parents and to celebrate children’s energetic new beginning.

Paju City supports elementary students' new start! 2026 enrollment grant of 100,000 won now being distributed. Provided by Paju City

The support is available for first-grade students entering elementary school (including alternative education institutions) who are registered residents of Paju City as of March 1, 2026. Eligible children will receive 100,000 won per person in the form of local currency (Paju Pay). However, children who are not actually enrolling, such as those receiving home-based education, foreign children, and children who have already received an enrollment congratulatory payment from another city or county are excluded.

Applications will be accepted until August 31, 2026, and online application through the Paju City website is the default method. For smooth online application, a guardian must first sign up for the "Gyeonggi Local Currency" app and register Paju Pay using a mobile phone under their own name.

For those who find online application difficult or need to apply on behalf of someone else, in-person applications will also be accepted for citizens who do not have local currency. In-person applications will be available from April 16, 2026 at the community service centers (Administrative Welfare Centers) with jurisdiction over the applicant’s registered address. After the application is received and verified, the enrollment congratulatory payment is scheduled to be provided in the month following the application date.

An official from Paju City said, "We hope this enrollment congratulatory payment will help reduce parents’ educational expenses, even if only a little, and provide some support for our children as they begin their joyful and exciting school life," adding, "Since it is paid in local currency, we also expect it to have a positive impact on revitalizing the local economy."

Meanwhile, Paju City has been providing elementary school enrollment congratulatory payments as an independent municipal project since 2023. Last year, it provided a total of 390,500,000 won to 3,905 new students, receiving a very positive response from citizens.