This program is jointly run by the Korea Finance Industry Public Interest Foundation and the Labor and Human Rights Center. It supports young people and workers with migration backgrounds (ages 18 to 39) who are preparing to find work or build a financial foundation in Korea. The program covers vocational training costs, job interview expenses, a savings-matching scheme, and TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) exam fees. It launched in 2023 and is now in its third year in 2025, running at a scale of approximately 180 million Korean won per year.

Who Can Apply

Three of the four programs (employment training costs, interview costs, and asset-building) are open to anyone who falls into the following categories:

  • Recognized refugees (residence status F-2)
  • Humanitarian stay permit holders (refugee applicants) (residence status G-1-6), newly added from 2025
  • Spouses of humanitarian stay permit holders (residence status G-1-12), newly added from 2025

The TOPIK exam fee support is open to all foreign nationals, not just the three residence status categories above.

The Four Support Programs

1. Employment Training Cost Support

Covers up to 300,000 won toward the cost of vocational training or obtaining a qualification certificate for employment purposes.

2. Asset-Building Support (Savings Matching)

If you save a set amount each month, the Labor and Human Rights Center adds extra funds on top of your savings. This program is designed to help you build a meaningful lump sum through consistent saving.

  • How the matching works: When you deposit 100,000 won or 200,000 won per month into a regular savings account, the program adds a 20% matching bonus every six months based on your total deposits during that period
  • Application periods:
    • Round 1: 20 December 2024 to 19 January 2025 (closed)
    • Round 2: Date to be announced (Round 2 notice)
  • Details and how to apply: Labor and Human Rights Center notice

3. Job Interview Cost Support

Covers expenses such as transport and preparation costs for attending job interviews.

  • Amount: 70,000 won per interview, up to 3 interviews (maximum 210,000 won total)
  • Application period: January to July 2025, with a deadline on the 10th of each month
  • Details and how to apply: Labor and Human Rights Center notice

4. TOPIK Exam Fee Support

If you sit the TOPIK exam and submit your score report, you will receive a reimbursement of 50,000 won for the exam fee.

  • Amount: 50,000 won, one time only
  • Eligible exams: TOPIK sittings on or after 13 October 2024
  • Who can apply: All foreign nationals, including youth and workers with migration backgrounds
  • Details and how to apply: Labor and Human Rights Center notice

Multilingual Guides

The same information is available in English, Vietnamese, Chinese, Mongolian, and Russian.

Please Check Before You Apply

  • Specific details such as application periods, required documents, and support amounts may change each year. Before applying, please check the latest notices on the official Labor and Human Rights Center website.
  • If you have questions about your residence status or the documents you need, you can call 1345 (Immigration Contact Center, available 24 hours a day in multiple languages) or visit your local Korea Immigration Service office for assistance.