36,000 Beneficiaries of 'Seoul Learn' in 4 Years... 6th Local Government Joins for 'Nationwide Learn'

[Financial News]  The number of local governments participating in Seoul City's representative educational welfare policy 'Seoul Learn', which represents 'Companionship with the Weak', has increased to six. This is the result of proving the policy effectiveness of Seoul Learn, which has provided educational benefits to over 36,000 people over the past four years. The city is promoting the expansion to 'Nationwide Learn' by opening the Seoul Learn platform to each local government and signing joint utilization agreements.
Seoul City held a 4th anniversary event under the theme 'From Seoul to Nationwide, Seoul Learn for All of Us' at the multipurpose hall of Seoul City Hall on the 16th. The event was attended by Mayor Oh Se-hoon, representatives of six local governments cooperating with Seoul Learn, students and graduates, mentors, parents, and about 200 others.
Prior to the event, Seoul City signed a 'Business Agreement for Joint Use of the Seoul Learn Platform' with Yecheon County, Gyeongbuk, as the sixth partner of 'Nationwide Learn'. From next month, 600 middle school students in the Yecheon area will receive support for Seoul Learn online learning services.
The city said, "Starting with Chungbuk in December 2024, agreements have been signed with Pyeongchang, Gimpo, Incheon, Taebaek, and Yecheon County," and "We expect the nationwide expansion of Seoul Learn to accelerate."
At the event, the vision of 'Seoul Learn for All of Us' was declared and the commitment to expand to 'Nationwide Learn' was made. A vision declaration ceremony was held where Mayor Oh Se-hoon and representatives of each local government raised flags.
A policy briefing on the operation of the 'Nationwide Learn' project was also held for about 20 public officials from five local governments, Suwon, Dalseong, Chuncheon, Mungyeong, and Donghae, who visited to benchmark the Seoul Learn project.
Seoul Learn was introduced in August 2021 and began providing free online lectures, one-on-one mentoring, etc., to youth from vulnerable groups. Among the high school seniors who took the college entrance exam in 2024, 782 out of 1,154 (67.8%) were admitted to college. The acceptance rate improved by 4.9%p compared to the previous year.
The burden of private education on vulnerable households also decreased. According to the Seoul Research Institute's Seoul Learn effectiveness survey last June, 'households whose private education expenses decreased after using Seoul Learn' increased by 10.3%p compared to the previous year to 52.4%. The monthly average reduction in private education expenses for these households was 347,000 won, a decrease of 91,000 won compared to the previous year.
In the 'Seoul Learn Career and Academic Status Survey', 95% of 2025 college entrance exam takers said "Seoul Learn helped with exam preparation", and 98% said "I would recommend it to juniors".
The number of Seoul Learn learning companies, which was nine at the time of launch, has increased to 25 in four years. Support for teaching materials has also expanded from one book per person per year at the start of the project to 200,000 won per person per year, and up to 600,000 won for students in intensive support classes. From the second half of this year, 'Fast Campus' has been added to the extracurricular courses.
Real-time AI tutors, one-on-one essay mentoring, a customized diagnostic support system for slow learners, etc., have been introduced, and pilot projects for multi-child households and youth at local children's centers are being promoted, expanding and developing into a 'customized educational welfare platform'.
The city plans to announce 'Seoul Learn 3.0' next week, marking the fifth year of Seoul Learn's launch. It will present a path from career exploration and in-depth experience to employment, and develop Seoul Learn into an 'educational platform nurturing future talents'.
Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul, said, "Seoul Learn has proven over four years that even if the starting line is different, the finish line can be changed," and "We will continue to walk this path steadily and unwaveringly so that students nationwide can find their dreams and design their lives through Seoul Learn." 
chlee1@fnnews.com Lee Chang-hoon Reporter