Seoul City selects first scholarships for out-of-home youth... 112 scholarship students confirmed

For youth living in youth shelters and independence support centers

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Dong-gyu = Seoul City announced on the 3rd that it has established a new scholarship to help out-of-home youth study and become independent and has selected its first scholarship student.

This scholarship, which was previously operated for out-of-school youth, has been expanded to include ‘out-of-home youth.’

The city recruited applicants last April and selected a total of 112 scholarship students after three screenings last month. Among these, 9 out-of-home youth were included in the support program for the first time.

As a result, 9 youth living at youth shelters and independence support centers will receive scholarships totaling 3 million won per person per year in two installments.

The recipients of this scholarship are youth outside of the home living in mid- to long-term youth shelters and self-reliance support centers in Seoul, attending middle school, high school, or university, or preparing for the qualification exam.

Seoul City operates a total of 19 youth welfare facilities.

Among these, the mid- to long-term youth shelter is a place for youth who find it difficult to return home or need long-term protection, and the youth independence support center is a place to help youth who have difficulty returning to home, school, or society become independent even after receiving support from the facility for a certain period of time.

A youth shelter is a facility that protects youth who have escaped from their guardians and need social protection and support due to conflict, abuse, violence, neglect, family breakup, or runaway from home. It provides food, clothing, and shelter, and supports counseling, academics, and vocational training.

Seoul City plans to provide financial support to the scholarship students selected this time, along with education to strengthen basic capabilities in artificial intelligence (AI) and economic education necessary for independent living through a scholarship student networking program.

Jeong Jin-woo, director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Lifelong Education Department, said, "Starting from the second half of the year, we plan to provide financial fraud prevention education and one-on-one customized mentoring for youth using youth shelters and self-reliance support centers. We will continue to provide support so that youth who receive help from the city due to unstable home environments can become a stepping stone to prepare for independence."