The government will invest a total of 43.3 trillion won next year in stage-of-growth support for young people covering jobs, startups, education, housing, and assets. This is a 53.5% increase from this year.

At the 'Youth Budget Unboxing 2027' event held at the Chungmugwan of the presidential office, the government, presided over by President Lee Jae-myung, announced a joint inter-ministry 'Comprehensive Investment Strategy for Stage-of-Growth Support for Youth.' According to the strategy, each young person can receive support of up to 140 million won by age 18 and nearly 200 million won by age 34, spanning all stages of life from birth through childcare, education, job seeking, asset accumulation, housing, and marriage.

■ Jobs... 'First Career Project' to Be Launched Field internship opportunities for university students will be expanded, and a 'First Career Project' jointly funded by the government and companies will be launched. Recruitment incentives for SMEs and mid-sized companies will be increased to 7.2 million won per year.

■ Startups... More Than 100,000 Young Entrepreneurs to Be Cultivated by 2030 A 'Youth Startup Package' supporting high-potential youth startups, a 'Startup for All' program open to everyone, and the establishment of startup centers at the four science and technology universities will be pursued.

■ Education... Full Scholarships to Be Newly Established at Regional National Universities To narrow education gaps, joint AI subscriptions for university students, full scholarships at regional national universities, and expanded regional talent scholarships at regional private universities will be introduced.

■ Housing... Rent Support Criteria Expanded to 100% of Median Income Fees for jeonse deposit return guarantees and income eligibility for the Youth Housing Dream savings accounts will be raised. Youth monthly rent support criteria will be expanded from 60% or below median income to 100% or below.

■ Asset Formation... 'Our Child Independence Fund' to Be Introduced A 'Our Child Independence Fund,' jointly accumulated by the government and parents from birth to age 18, will be introduced. At maturity, recipients can receive between 60 million and 100 million won, and children from low-income households at or below 50% of median income will receive an annual 1.2 million won regardless of parental contributions.

Youth opportunity funds of up to 20 million won will be provided interest-free until employment or startup launch, with repayment at 2–5% annual interest thereafter.

Eligibility for the Youth Future Savings account will be relaxed so that all young people can enroll. The number of eligible recipients will increase from about 5.8 million to 9.6 million. Government contributions for SME and small business preferential plans will rise from 12% to 15% of personal contributions, and the 'regional SME preferential track' will rise to 25%, with the enhanced government contributions also applied retroactively to existing subscribers.

In addition, young people will be able to make a lump-sum deposit into a youth-type ISA from savings of 500,000 won per month accumulated over three years, and 42,000 won of their first national pension contributions will be covered.

■ Isolated Youth... Tailored Work Experience and Recovery Programs Tailored work experience will be provided to 3,000 youths who have given up job seeking or become isolated, and recovery programs will support 6,000 isolated youths.

■ Marriage and Childbirth... One-Time 1 Million Won 'Marriage Support Grant' Cash-based programs will be integrated in the marriage, childbirth, and adoption tax deduction sector. Couples who register their marriage will receive a one-time 'marriage support grant' of 1 million won. Upon childbirth, the 'First Greeting Grant' will provide a total of 10–20 million won in four annual installments starting July next year. The existing child allowance will be restructured into a 'Basic Child Allowance,' expanded to a monthly maximum of 600,000 won for ages 0–1 and 300,000 won for ages 2–12.

■ Future Response Fund to Be Established... 'Investing in the Potential of Youth' The government will establish a Future Response Fund utilizing excess tax revenues to support stage-by-stage support for youth, and plans to prepare a mid- to long-term development strategy within the year to respond to structural changes.

President Lee Jae-myung stated, 'Investing in the potential of young people is the path to opening the future of the Republic of Korea.'