Tuition-Free Local National Universities Starting with 2027 Freshmen

The government will sequentially expand the grades eligible for tuition support, aiming for "tuition-free local national universities" by 2030.
On the 28th, at the "Youth Budget Unboxing 2027" event, the Ministry of Education revealed its major youth-oriented projects included in next year's government budget proposal. The Ministry of Education has established a new "Regional Balanced Development Scholarship" totaling 328 billion KRW in next year's budget (which includes the creation of full tuition scholarships for local national universities and the reorganization of regional talent scholarships for local private universities).
First, starting from the 2027 academic year, freshmen at 30 local national universities nationwide will receive full tuition support regardless of their student financial aid eligibility, provided they are South Korean citizens. However, medical, dental, pharmacy, and veterinary colleges are excluded. Since no local national universities offer Oriental medicine, Oriental medicine colleges are entirely excluded.
A budget of 213 billion KRW will be invested in the full scholarship project next year. Following this, approximately 200 billion KRW will be invested annually to ensure that all students across all four academic years receive tuition-free benefits by 2030.
However, in cases of mid-term withdrawal, such as dropping out, a "full recovery" measure will be taken. The plan is to require the full return of the "additional support funds," excluding the unit support amount of National Scholarship Type I.
Additionally, the "Regional Talent Scholarship" for young people entering local private universities will be expanded and reorganized. Until this year, students at local national universities were also eligible to apply for this scholarship, but due to the creation of the full scholarship for local national universities, only students at local private universities will be selected starting next year. Furthermore, the number of new scholarship recipients will be significantly increased from the current 4,000 to 10,000 next year.
Starting next year, the "First Career Project for University Students" will also be implemented.
As companies continue to prefer practical experience or career history when hiring personnel, this project aims to support university students' actual job experience. For the coming year alone, a total of 465 billion KRW will be invested to significantly expand opportunities for approximately 60,000 university and junior college students to participate in field training at companies or institutions. Participating students will receive a monthly internship support fee of 2.3 million KRW, with the government and participating companies each contributing 1.15 million KRW per month.
Minister of Education Choi Kyo-jin stated, "What young people need amidst worries about tuition and employment is 'realistic help' that directly changes their lives," adding, "We will provide full support for youth projects so they can serve as a reliable ladder for growth for our young people."