As early as next year, freshmen at regional national universities are expected to receive full scholarships.
The Ministry of Education on the 5th announced a regional balance scholarship that includes these details during a briefing on the "second half of 2026 work plan" held at the state guesthouse at the Blue House. The regional balance scholarship is an extension of balanced regional development. The main points are to provide national scholarships for students at regional national universities and regional talent scholarships for outstanding students at regional private universities.
There are 30 regional national universities nationwide whose tuition will be fully covered by scholarships. Next year's freshman class is estimated at about 60,000. The Ministry of Education plans to announce specific support levels at the end of this month in consultation with the Ministry of Planning and Budget.
Minister Choi Kyo-jin of the Ministry of Education said, "We will significantly invest funds secured through the reform of the education grant system across the entire cycle from infants and toddlers to higher and lifelong education to strengthen the development of future talent." Local government finance education grants (education grants) are automatically allocated at 20.79% of the national tax. The education grants allocated in this way are used only for elementary, middle, and high school students, but the ministry plans to use them for lifelong education, including college students, and early childhood education as well.
The Ministry of Education will also expand the age for free childcare and education at daycare centers and kindergartens to include 3-year-olds starting next year. Currently, free childcare and education cover children ages 4 to 5. Through this, the ministry plans to raise the public childcare utilization rate to 55% by 2030. As of the end of last year, the public childcare utilization rate was 45.8%. Furthermore, the ministry plans to extend the program to "reduce the number of children cared for per childcare teacher," which is currently focused on classes for infants age 0, to classes for 2-year-olds.