By Leah Garlock | Interim Executive Director
Thank you for your many years of generosity toward KKOOM’s Pre-School Scholarship Program, and our “Early education for Korean toddlers” project on GlobalGiving. Your support has helped young children in Korea access early childhood education during a time when government funding was limited. Today, we are writing to share an important update: we will be formally closing this program.
Why We Are Closing This Program
Over the past several years, the Korean government has significantly increased its investment in early childhood education. Beginning in July 2025, all 5-year-olds can attend kindergarten or daycare with full government financial support, and this expansion will continue until preschool is free for all children ages 3 to 5 by 2027.
This shift means that the tuition and early education costs children’s homes once had to cover are now funded directly by the Ministry of Education. As the Ministry explained, this policy represents “a crucial step toward equal opportunity at the starting line of life.” (The Korea Herald, July 29, 2025)
This is encouraging news for Korea’s children, and it means that KKOOM can now responsibly redirect resources to areas with greater current need.
Our Impact From 2007 to 2025
Thanks to your support, KKOOM was able to fill an important national gap for nearly two decades. Together, we achieved the following:
We are deeply grateful to every donor who helped make this possible.
What Happens to Remaining Funds
To ensure your donations continue supporting children meaningfully, any remaining one-time or recurring contributions will be allocated to our GlobalGiving project, “Hagwon Scholarships for Korean Youth.”
What Is a Hagwon Scholarship?
Hagwons are private tutoring academies that many students in Korea rely on for academic support, enrichment, or college preparation. Youth living in children’s homes often cannot afford these classes, even though they play a vital role in staying on pace with their peers.
KKOOM’s Hagwon Scholarship Fund provides academic tutoring, after-school enrichment, and support for students who need additional educational help. This ensures continuity of learning support from early childhood through adolescence. We will continue to share updates through this project throughout the year.
Other Ways You Can Support KKOOM
If you would like to stay engaged, we invite you to explore our additional GlobalGiving projects:
With Gratitude
Thank you for standing with KKOOM and the children we serve. Your generosity has shaped the lives of countless young learners and contributed to a more equitable educational landscape in Korea. We truly could not do this without you.
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