Gyeonggi Province Supports Unemployed Youth with Up to 300,000 Won for Language and Qualification Exam Fees

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province is accepting applications until 6 p.m. on June 30 for the first half of the year for the "Gyeonggi Youth Competency Enhancement Opportunity Support" project, which provides unemployed youth with up to 300,000 won in support for language and qualification exam fees.

Designed to more equitably provide opportunities for young people in Gyeonggi Province to acquire qualifications and credentials, this project has 16 municipalities—including Yongin, Ansan, Anyang, Gimpo, Paju, Gwangju, Gwangmyeong, Hanam, Gunpo, Osan, Yangju, Uiwang, Pocheon, Gwacheon, Gapyeong County, and Yeoncheon County—launching exam fee support projects in the first half of the year.

Young people in these 16 cities and counties (as defined by each municipality's ordinance) who are unemployed as of the test date can apply through the Gyeonggi Job Foundation integrated application system.

Support covers exam fees for 19 types of language tests including TOEIC, 544 types of national technical qualifications, and 95 types of nationally certified private qualifications at actual cost.

The maximum annual support per youth is 300,000 won, with up to 100,000 won per test available across three attempts.

However, for young people who primarily take low-cost exams, exam fees for three or more tests can be supported within an annual total of 100,000 won, and support is provided on a first-come, first-served basis until each municipality's budget is exhausted.

Since exam fee support projects may see budgets depleted by municipality, unemployed youth who have already taken exams are advised to apply promptly.

For applications submitted in the first half, funds will be disbursed sequentially through July following a verification process.

However, those who missed the application deadline for the first half can apply in the second half. In the second half, 30 municipalities will conduct exam fee support projects from October 2 through November 30.