Jangseong County, the "City of Learning," Nears Completion of Education Pledges

Ministry of Education Designates New Lifelong Learning City

World's Longest-Running "Jangseong Academy"

Support for College Tuition and Housing for Graduates

"Jangseong, Where Everyone Can Learn and Grow for Life"

Exterior view of Jangseong County Office, Jeonnam.

Jangseong County has been officially designated as a "Lifelong Learning City" after more than three years of effort.

According to Jangseong County on March 11, the county was newly named a Lifelong Learning City as a result of the Ministry of Education's announcement for the "2026 Regional Lifelong Education Activation Support Project" contest, which was released the previous day.

The "Lifelong Learning City" designation is granted by the Ministry of Education and the National Institute for Lifelong Education to ensure that everyone in the country can access lifelong learning opportunities anywhere. The decision is based on a comprehensive evaluation of the city's capacity to promote lifelong education, learning accessibility, network-building for cooperation, and sustainability.

This year, under the theme "Munbulyeo Jangseong, a City that Opens the Door to Learning," the county presented the achievements of 19 programs, including a youth local entrepreneurship project, which highlighted the excellence of its region-based learning system and the effectiveness of its lifelong learning policies.

Over the years, Jangseong County has systematically prepared for the Lifelong Learning City designation by establishing a dedicated lifelong learning organization, expanding lifelong learning hubs in towns and villages, creating an operation system based on residents' needs, and building collaborative networks.

The success of "Jangseong Academy," which holds the world record for the longest-running operation, is also noteworthy. Since the first elected local government, this flagship lifelong learning program has contributed to expanding the foundation of the humanities, serving as evidence of the county's commitment and capacity to foster a learning culture where the local community grows together. The program has been cited as proof of Jangseong County's capability in driving the Lifelong Learning City initiative.

With this latest "Lifelong Learning City" designation, Jangseong County is now on the verge of achieving a 100% fulfillment rate for its education-related pledges. The education pledges for the 8th popularly elected Jangseong County administration include: designation as a Lifelong Learning City, support for college tuition, support for housing costs for graduating college students, entrance congratulatory grants for new elementary, middle, and high school students, and youth allowance support.

The "College Tuition Support" initiative provides up to 2 million won per semester for up to eight semesters to college students whose parents have lived in Jangseong for more than three years, covering the actual tuition paid. This program has been well received for significantly reducing the financial burden on students' families. From the second semester of 2023 through last year, the county provided a total of 1,207 college students with tuition support amounting to 1,837 million won.

Graduating college students can also receive housing cost support. The Jangseong Scholarship Foundation's "First Semester College Student Housing Support Project" offers up to 300,000 won per month to help cover either rent or dormitory fees for students about to graduate.

The entrance congratulatory grant for new students provides 100,000 won in Jangseong Love Gift Certificates for elementary school students, 200,000 won for middle school students, and 300,000 won for high school students, helping to reduce financial burdens and invigorate the local economy. This support also began in 2023, and a total of 2,160 students have received 447 million won to date. Jangseong County is accepting applications for this year's congratulatory grant until March 20.

The "Youth Allowance (Dream Nurturing Voucher)" program provides local youth with "voucher points" that can be used like cash for cultural, leisure, or educational activities. Students aged 13 to 18 receive 100,000 won worth of points loaded onto a voucher card.

The "Youth Culture House" in Samgye-myeon, which will offer a space for youth in the western region of Jangseong to enjoy culture and the arts, is also under construction as planned. Located near Samgye High School, the two-story building will include a singing practice room, a movie viewing room, a community hall, after-school classrooms, and club rooms. Of the total project cost of 7.6 billion won, about 6.1 billion won is covered by provincial funds, minimizing the county's financial burden. Completion is scheduled for the first half of next year.

Jangseong County Governor Kim Hanjong stated, "Building on the achievements of our education pledges in the 8th popularly elected administration, we will make Jangseong a city where learning extends beyond personal growth to become a source of future competitiveness, and where every resident can pursue lifelong learning and development."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.