[2026 Audit] Choi Kyojin: "Full Tuition Support for Incoming Students at Regional National Universities Starting Next Year"

October 7, Ministry of Education Policy Report to the National Assembly

Minister of Education Choi Kyojin announced that beginning next year, full tuition support will be provided to all incoming students at regional national universities. The plan also includes expanding scholarship support for outstanding students entering regional private universities, with the aim of enhancing the competitiveness of local universities.

Yonhap News Agency

On October 7, during the Ministry of Education’s annual audit report to the National Assembly’s Education Committee, Minister Choi stated, “From 2027, all incoming freshmen at regional national universities will receive full tuition support. We will also significantly increase the number of recipients for the regional talent scholarship program, strengthening support for outstanding students entering regional private universities.”

The ministry also plans to reorganize the higher education system to foster regional universities. Minister Choi said, “We will focus on nurturing local talent centered around the ‘five hubs and three specialized regions’ strategy. We aim to develop brand-name specialized colleges at flagship national universities and expand institutes for interdisciplinary research.” He emphasized, “We will undertake a major transformation of the local higher education system to support the relocation and investment of companies in regional areas.”

Plans are also underway to innovate primary and secondary education to narrow the education gap between regions. Minister Choi explained, “We will designate and operate education innovation pilot regions so that areas with declining populations and non-metropolitan regions can develop their own tailored education innovation models. We will also identify innovative models for small schools to boost the quality of education in local communities.”

After-school program support will also be expanded. Minister Choi stated, “We will extend eligibility for after-school program vouchers, currently provided to third-grade elementary school students, to include fourth graders as well, thereby alleviating the financial burden on parents.”

Support for basic academic skills and artificial intelligence (AI) education will be strengthened as well. He announced, “We will launch the National Basic Academic Skills Support Portal to systematically diagnose students’ fundamental competencies and expand the deployment of specialized teachers and teaching assistants for basic academics.”

Regarding AI education, he said, “We will enhance the quality of AI education to ensure that all elementary, middle, and high school students acquire basic AI literacy, and expand the operation of AI-focused schools. We will also develop a foundational AI curriculum so that any university student can learn about AI, and promote its adoption across all universities.”

Minister Choi also pledged to improve student mental health support systems. He stated, “We will reinforce the on- and off-campus safety net covering all stages, from prevention and detection to counseling and treatment. In addition, the inter-ministerial suicide prevention measures for adolescents will be implemented without delay.”

In addition, Minister Choi announced plans to expand free early childhood education and care, strengthen the school grievance response system, promote measures to prevent school violence and spread systems for relationship restoration through reflection periods. Regarding expanding political rights for teachers, he said, “We will establish field-based standards that harmoniously guarantee both students’ right to learn and teachers’ rights as citizens.”

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