Review Korean education benefits for each child
This calculator combines the 2026 household income threshold with annual educational activity vouchers for elementary, middle and high-school students in Korea.
It separates each child’s base amount, verified overlapping-aid offset, existing allocation and additional-aid estimate so parents can prepare a school budget and identify unfinished application steps.
Turn the result into an application review
Save the child-by-child TXT checklist and compare it with Bokjiro records, the school benefit decision and KOSAF voucher allocations.
The figures are planning references, not a final approval or a scheduled cash deposit.
All amounts are Korean won and the rules are specific to Korea in 2026.
Income and school conditions
The general 2026 education-benefit income test is recognized household income at or below 50% of the standard median income.
Recognized income combines assessed income and monthly income converted from property; it is not gross wages, take-home pay or the sum of wages and asset principal.
Household assessment
The separate family-support-obligor test does not apply to education benefits.
The assessed household and its income/assets still need verification.
Do not substitute the number of registered residents or a university National Scholarship income bracket without checking the relevant rules.
Covered enrollment
Confirm admission or enrollment in a covered school and the applicable school level.
Special schools, other covered schools and recognized lifelong-learning facilities require confirmation of the equivalent level.
Date of birth alone cannot establish enrollment.
2026 monthly thresholds by household size
Equality with the published amount passes the income threshold.
The five-person value is KRW 3,778,360: do not replace it with a rounded-down half of median income.
The tool supports one to ten household members; this is an input limit, not a statutory maximum household size.
2026 Korean education-benefit recognized monthly income thresholds in KRW| Household members | Monthly threshold (KRW) |
|---|
| 1 | 1,282,119 |
| 2 | 2,099,646 |
| 3 | 2,679,518 |
| 4 | 3,247,369 |
| 5 | 3,778,360 |
| 6 | 4,277,976 |
| 7 | 4,757,575 |
| 8 | 5,237,174 |
For eight or more people, add KRW 479,599 per person above the seven-person threshold.
When household membership changes, verify that the recognized-income figure also reflects the current household; changing only the number of people may misrepresent the assessment.
A once-yearly activity voucher for each student
Elementary school
KRW 502,000
Annual reference per student
Middle school
KRW 699,000
Annual reference per student
High school
KRW 860,000
Annual reference per student
Apply the relevant school-level amount to each covered student before combining the household estimate.
A new semester or school transfer does not mean adding a second annual allowance: verify the current-year allocation and enrollment records with the school.
This calculator excludes admission charges, tuition and textbooks at schools outside free high-school education.
Local education-office school-expense aid is a separate program and is not automatically added to activity vouchers.
Inputs and documents to prepare
- Direct mode: enter the education-benefit recognized monthly income from an assessment or official simulation.
Select Unknown if you do not know it; zero is not a substitute for missing information.
- Component mode: enter verified assessed monthly income after deductions and monthly property-conversion income.
Do not enter deposit balances, rental deposits or a home’s principal value in the property-income field.
- Overlapping-aid offset: use the school-confirmed deduction for the same supported item, for example single-parent school-supply aid.
Similar program names do not establish that an offset applies.
- Already allocated: enter the entire 2026 activity-voucher allocation for that child, including amounts spent.
This is different from the current point balance.
- Application stage: choose not applied, under review or approval verified, then indicate whether voucher application or automatic renewal has been checked.
These inputs guide the next action rather than changing the statutory school-level amount.
Names and dates of birth are unnecessary; the checklist uses child numbers.
If the number of entered children exceeds household size, calculation stops until the household or child list is corrected.
Formulas and interpretation
Recognized income = assessed income + monthly property income
Adjusted annual amount = school-level base − verified overlapping aid
Additional-aid estimate = max(0, adjusted annual amount − 2026 allocations)
The additional-aid estimate assumes the entered income is within the threshold and covered enrollment has been verified.
Unknown income or enrollment remains pending rather than automatically passing.
If any child has a pending calculation, the full household total is withheld and the calculable subtotal is shown separately.
Entered income above the threshold or confirmed lack of current covered enrollment produces zero additional aid under the general model.
An allocation exceeding the adjusted annual amount produces a review status, not negative support or a repayment amount.
Even a positive difference does not guarantee a further payment.
Step-by-step application preparation
- Choose the current assessed household size and whether recognized income is known.
Enter the official figure directly or through its two verified components.
- Add each child and check the actual school level and covered enrollment.
Preschool children and university students are outside this activity-support calculation.
- Enter verified overlapping aid and the full 2026 allocation.
Use whole Korean won; comma-separated numbers remain editable.
- Review each result and pending reason, then check benefit and voucher application stages.
Use Save checklist TXT to download the results and next actions.
- New households apply through Bokjiro or a community service center and check voucher procedures after the benefit decision.
Continuing recipients should first compare automatic-renewal and allocation records.
Worked example: two children in a four-person household
Assume a fictional household has recognized monthly income of KRW 3,000,000 and verified elementary and middle-school enrollment.
It is KRW 247,369 below the KRW 3,247,369 threshold, and the combined annual base is 502,000 + 699,000 = KRW 1,201,000.
Elementary-school child
With a verified offset of KRW 100,000 and no existing allocation, 502,000 − 100,000 − 0 = KRW 402,000.
The offset is a fictional household-specific confirmed amount.
Middle-school child
With no offset and KRW 699,000 already allocated, 699,000 − 0 − 699,000 = KRW 0.
Do not count the already allocated voucher again in the additional-aid budget.
The household additional-aid estimate is KRW 402,000.
Entering assessed income of KRW 2,500,000 plus property income of KRW 500,000 gives the same recognized income and result.
If the elementary child’s enrollment becomes unverified, the household total is pending and only the middle child’s calculable subtotal remains.
Practical household scenarios
Applying for the first time
Do not rule yourself in or out based only on wages or asset ownership.
Confirm deductions and property assessments, then compare recognized income.
Check documentation and investigation steps with Bokjiro or the community center, and save a new checklist when the inputs change.
Only some siblings have received support
A single household total can hide which child has an unfinished step.
Separate the benefit decision, voucher application and allocation for each student.
Do not transfer one child’s remaining point balance into another child’s received amount.
Income or enrollment has changed
After moving, a household change, transfer or enrollment change, verify the current assessment.
A zero additional-aid result does not automatically cancel or recover previously allocated points.
Ask the school or benefit authority about the effective date and treatment of those changes.
Voucher dates and budgeting limits
Dates for the 2026 award
Voucher applications run from 2026-04-01 through 2027-02-28; allocated vouchers may be used through 2027-03-31.
Benefit eligibility applications are available throughout the year and are separate from voucher applications.
Allow time for assessment and data transfer, and check current official notices before the deadline.
Confirm merchant and payment restrictions with KOSAF and the payment provider.
Do not budget the annual voucher as an unrestricted cash deposit or assume that separate school-expense programs are included.
The calculator does not predict processing dates, allocation dates or merchant acceptance.
These amounts and thresholds apply only to 2026, not automatically to 2027 or later.
Use whole won; blank, negative, fractional, excessive amounts and overlap offsets above the annual base are rejected.
Frequently asked questions
Are wages below the threshold enough?
No.
Korean education benefits use recognized income: assessed income plus monthly income converted from property.
Household membership, deductions and asset assessments matter.
Confirm the education-benefit assessment or official simulation before entering a number.
Does exact equality qualify at the income threshold?
The threshold is inclusive.
For four people, KRW 3,247,369 meets the income test, while KRW 3,247,370 exceeds it.
Meeting this income test does not replace the official school benefit-decision notice.
Is there only one payment per household?
The annual reference applies to each covered student.
One elementary and one middle-school child have a combined base of KRW 1,201,000 before offsets.
Enter each child separately because application status, overlapping aid and prior allocations can differ.
Is the amount monthly or per semester?
Activity support is a once-yearly voucher.
Do not multiply KRW 502,000, KRW 699,000 or KRW 860,000 by twelve months or two semesters.
High-school admission charges, tuition and textbooks are not added by this calculator.
Should all other scholarships or allowances be deducted?
Only enter a verified offset for the same supported item, such as single-parent school-supply aid.
Do not automatically deduct unrelated scholarships, child allowances or separate school-expense support.
Ask the school to confirm the program, year and amount.
Must previous recipients apply again?
Continuing recipients may have automatic voucher renewal.
Check the current-year KOSAF application result first; payment method and eligibility circumstances can differ.
New recipients must complete the benefit eligibility process and then check the separate voucher application step.
Can I enter the remaining voucher balance as already allocated?
Enter the full activity-support amount allocated to that child for 2026, including points already spent.
Entering only the remaining balance would incorrectly make used support appear available again.
Exclude previous-year awards.
Do income changes or conflicting receipts mean repayment?
This tool does not determine repayment.
A current additional-aid estimate differs from a review of earlier payments.
Ask the school about the effective date of changes and the actual allocation history.
Special schools, recognized facilities and statutory exceptions also need individual confirmation.
Official sources and application links
Verified 2026-09-20 using the National Law Information OPEN API: National Basic Living Security Act Articles 2, 12 and 12-2, MST276653, effective 2025-10-01; Enforcement Decree Article 16, MST281585, effective 2026-01-02.
The 2026 monetary thresholds, voucher amounts and dates also come from the operational sources below.
After saving the checklist, check the next steps on Bokjiro and the education voucher website.
Review each child’s progress as well as the amount to avoid leaving an application unfinished.