Korea Policy Now

Launch of the Graduate Science and Engineering Excellence Scholarship The Korean government is introducing the Science and Engineering Graduate Scholarship in 2025, marking the first step toward building a full-cycle support system for nurturing scientific and technological talent. This initiative provides 5 million KRW annually to outstanding master’s students in natural sciences and engineering, aiming to ensure that promising young researchers can focus on their studies without financial barriers. By supporting students in the early stages of their academic careers, the government is strengthening Korea’s long-term competitiveness in science and technology. Background of the Scholarship The Science and Engineering Graduate Scholarship reflects the government’s vision to enhance Korea’s status as a global leader in science and technology. Last year, the government introduced the Presidential Science Scholarship for Graduate Students , and in 2025, this new scholarship pr...

Government Expands Universal Youth Policy The Korean government has announced a comprehensive universal youth policy , shifting away from welfare programs limited to low-income groups and extending support to all young people, including university students, job seekers, and young professionals. This new framework aims to guarantee a stable basic life, strengthen financial independence, and create opportunities for future growth. With pillars such as job creation, asset-building, housing, entrepreneurship, and mental health, the universal youth policy is expected to bring tangible benefits to millions of young people. Why Universal Youth Policy Matters For years, youth policies were criticized for focusing narrowly on vulnerable groups, leaving the majority of young people feeling excluded. The universal youth policy marks a paradigm shift—designed to help all young people secure stable living conditions and prepare for their desired future. Rising housing costs, asset inequalit...

Fall Travel in Korea 2025: Discounts on Transport, Hotels, and Tours The Korean government and private sector have teamed up to launch the nationwide Fall Travel in Korea 2025 campaign. Running from September to November, this initiative aims to boost domestic tourism and revitalize local economies. With discounts on transportation, accommodations, and travel packages, the campaign invites people across the country to rediscover hidden destinations and enjoy unique cultural experiences. Fall Travel in Korea is not just a seasonal promotion — it’s a large-scale national effort to encourage travel, spending, and community engagement. Transportation Discounts The highlight of Fall Travel in Korea 2025 is its broad transportation discounts. Travelers can enjoy 50% off tourist trains, while the popular Rail Pass offers an additional ₩10,000 discount. Domestic flight tickets for regional routes are reduced by ₩20,000, and express and intercity buses to population-declining ...

Performance and Exhibition Discount Vouchers The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in Korea is currently running a nationwide performance and exhibition discount vouchers program to expand public access to cultural experiences. The first round of discount vouchers will expire on the 19th, meaning all unused vouchers will automatically be void. These vouchers, which have been extremely popular since their release, can be used through major ticketing platforms such as Nol-Ticket, Melon-Ticket, Time-Ticket, Ticketlink, and Yes24. In this article, we will explain how the program works, the deadline for use, the second round of voucher re-distribution, and special benefits for non-metropolitan areas. First Round Usage Deadline The first batch of performance and exhibition discount vouchers must be used by 11:59 PM on the 19th. They are valid only for performances or exhibitions scheduled up to November 30. Any unused vouchers will automatically expire and cannot be ca...

Free Health Checkups for Out-of-School Youth The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, in cooperation with the National Health Insurance Service and 222 local Dream Centers, is offering a comprehensive out-of-school youth health checkup program. Running from September 12 to October 11, this campaign provides 26 different medical examinations, including dental care, blood tests, and general health consultations. To encourage participation, every youth who completes the checkup during this period will receive a 10,000 KRW mobile gift voucher. More than just a checkup, this initiative connects young people to medical support systems, ensuring they can monitor their health and access treatment when needed. Who Can Receive the Health Checkup? The out-of-school youth health checkup is available to adolescents aged 9 to 18 who are not currently enrolled in regular schooling. In some cases, 19-year-olds may also participate, provided the checkup does not overlap with other nation...

90% of Koreans to Receive an Additional ₩100,000 Consumer Coupon / Main Keyword: Livelihood Recovery Consumer Coupon The government has confirmed the second round of the Livelihood Recovery Consumer Coupon . Starting September 22 until October 31, 90% of the population will receive an additional ₩100,000 each. Selection will be based on June 2025 health insurance contributions, with households exceeding ₩1.2 billion in property tax base or ₩20 million in annual financial income excluded first. Building on the proven impact of the first round—boosting consumption, small business sales, and consumer sentiment—this second phase will expand convenience, including usage rights for military personnel and broader merchant availability. Key Highlights: What’s New in the Second Round • Target group: Bottom 90% by income (after excluding high-asset households) • Amount: ₩100,000 per person (credit/debit card, regional vouchers, prepaid card) • Application period: Sept 22 (Mon) 9 AM ...

Student Cell Phone Use Restricted in Classrooms Starting March 2025 The South Korean government has confirmed that student cell phone use restriction during school classes will officially take effect on March 1, 2025. The new amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act aims to protect students’ right to learn while safeguarding teachers’ authority in the classroom. This decision was part of the 41st Cabinet meeting, which also approved 13 other legal revisions, including expanded support for war veterans’ spouses, strengthened venture investment measures, and stricter environmental regulations. Why Restrict Student Cell Phone Use? In recent years, widespread cell phone use in classrooms has been linked to declining concentration, learning disruption, and even teacher authority challenges. To address these concerns, lawmakers revised the education law to impose a student cell phone use restriction during lessons. While certain exceptions will remain for educatio...

South Korea’s Response to U.S. Crackdown on Korean Companies in Georgia South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched an all-out effort to protect Korean companies in Georgia and safeguard the rights of its nationals following a large-scale U.S. crackdown. On September 6, Minister Cho Hyun presided over a joint emergency meeting of the Overseas Citizens Protection Headquarters and diplomatic missions to assess the detention of more than 300 South Korean nationals by U.S. authorities in Georgia on September 4. The meeting focused on consular assistance, diplomatic coordination, and measures to ensure fair treatment for South Korean businesses and citizens. Emergency Measures by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs The emergency meeting brought together the First and Second Vice Ministers of Foreign Affairs, officials from the Consular Affairs Bureau, and representatives from the Korean Embassy in Washington and the Consulate General in Atlanta. Minister Cho emphasized...

Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Tour Groups / Main Keyword: Chinese Tourists Visa-Free The Korean government has announced a temporary visa-free entry policy for Chinese tourists that will run until June 30, 2025. Under this plan, Chinese group travelers will be allowed to visit Korea without a visa for up to 15 days. This decision is expected to boost the domestic economy, revitalize the tourism sector, and expand cultural exchange between South Korea and China. Industries such as accommodation, food services, duty-free shopping, and transportation are anticipated to benefit significantly from this initiative. Key Details of the Chinese Tourists Visa-Free Policy The temporary Chinese tourists visa-free program applies to groups of three or more people arranged by designated travel agencies. Eligible travelers can tour all regions of South Korea without a visa for a maximum of 15 days. Jeju Island will continue to allow both individual and group travelers from China to ente...

Layer Upon Layer of Loan Regulations: How Far Will Access to Finance for Ordinary Citizens Be Blocked? As part of the September 7 Housing Supply and Finance Measures, the Financial Services Commission has tightened housing loan and lease loan regulations . In regulated areas, the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio for mortgages is lowered to 40%. Housing sales and rental business loans are completely banned , while the jeonse loan limit for single-home owners is unified at 200 million won . Experts warn that although the measures may curb speculative demand, they also further restrict financial access for ordinary citizens seeking housing stability. Key Points of the 9.7 Housing Supply and Finance Measures LTV cut: In regulated areas such as Gangnam’s three districts and Yongsan, the LTV cap falls from 50% → 40%. Ban on business loans: In the Seoul metropolitan area and regulated zones, both new and existing housing sales/rental businesses are banned from obtaining mortgages. ...