Gyeonggi-do Expands "Cheonwon Convenience Store for University Students" to Six Universities... Flagship Youth Policy of the 9th Provincial Administration

Gyeonggi-do has expanded its “Cheonwon Convenience Store for University Students” project—a joint initiative involving the private sector, universities, and the local community—to six universities in the province. This initiative aims to relieve the cost of living burden for university students struggling with high inflation and rising tuition fees.

On July 29, Gyeonggi Province signed a business agreement to expand the “Cheonwon Convenience Store for University Students” at Yulgok Hall in the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex, together with NH Nonghyup Bank, Hana Bank, the Gyeonggi Social Welfare Council, Gyeonggi Community Chest of Korea, and six universities in the province.

In his remarks, Ju Hyungcheol, Vice Governor for Economic Affairs of Gyeonggi Province, stated, “The Cheonwon Convenience Store for University Students is a social value creation model that directly supports the lives of young people through collaboration among the private sector, the public sector, and universities. We will continue working together so that the dreams and futures of our youth can become even stronger.”

He further emphasized that “the Cheonwon Convenience Store for University Students fully embodies Gyeonggi Province’s core values of fairness, innovation, and inclusion.”

Students and representatives of each organization attending the 1,000-Won Convenience Store Agreement Ceremony for college students in Gyeonggi Province are taking a commemorative photo. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

According to the agreement, each participating institution will actively cooperate in managing the project, securing funding, ensuring stable supply of goods, providing dedicated spaces on campus, and operating the stores on site. Together, they aim to help stabilize the living conditions and improve the well-being of young people.

The Cheonwon Convenience Store for University Students is a youth support project tailored to students’ needs, allowing them to purchase packages of groceries and daily necessities for just 1,000 won—a discount of more than 90% off market price. The total budget required for the project is provided entirely through corporate donations. Gyeonggi-do first piloted the program last year at two universities, becoming the first in the nation to do so. The response from students has been overwhelming, with a total of 19,602 users so far.

This year, the project will be expanded to six universities: Gachon University, Ajou University, Yuhan University, Pyeongtaek University, Kyungbok University, and Nonghyup University. Previously focused in the southern region, the program now extends to the northern region, ensuring regional balance in youth support. Each university plans to sequentially open a Cheonwon Convenience Store in line with the start of the second semester.

Gyeonggi-do plans to gradually expand the number of participating universities and increase private-sector funding to establish the “Cheonwon Convenience Store for University Students” as one of the flagship youth policies of the 9th popularly elected provincial administration.

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