Paju city in Gyeonggi Province will provide 100,000 won per child as enrollment congratulatory payments to new elementary school students this year.
Eligible recipients are first-grade students registered as Paju residents as of March 1. Students entering alternative education institutions are also included. However, children who have not enrolled, foreign nationals, and those who have already received enrollment payments from other municipalities are excluded.
Applications must be submitted online through the Paju City Hall website. Guardians must first register for the Gyeonggi Regional Currency app, then register for Paju Pay using a mobile phone under their own name. For those who have difficulty applying online or need to apply on behalf of someone else, in-person applications will be available at local administrative welfare centers starting April 16. The payments will be disbursed in Paju Pay, the local currency, the month following the application date. Applications are accepted through August 31.
A Paju city official said, "We hope this enrollment payment will help ease the educational expenses burden on parents and support our children as they begin an exciting new chapter in school life." The official added, "As the payment is made in local currency, we expect it will also have a positive impact on revitalizing the local economy."
The city has operated the enrollment congratulatory payment program as an independent initiative since 2023. Last year, a total of 390.5 million won was distributed to 3,905 students. Inquiries can be directed to the Paju City Lifelong Education Division or the city's civil service call center.