Complete Your Tomorrow Learning Card Application with Tailored Documents for Job Seekers and Employees

National Tomorrow Learning Card at a Glance (Support Limit & Basic Eligibility)

취업이나 이직, 혹은 직무 역량 강화를 위해 자격증 취득이나 실무 교육을 알아## National Tomorrow Learning Card at a Glance (Support Limit & Basic Eligibility)

The National Tomorrow Learning Card is a program where the government directly subsidizes training costs needed for job competency development, job changes, and employment preparation. Here is a summary of the essential support limits and applicant eligibility criteria you must know before card issuance.

1. Support Amount and Validity Period

• Basic support limit: 3 million KRW per person
• Additional support benefits: An additional 1 million to 2 million KRW depending on the category, such as vulnerable groups, low-income brackets, and specific employment crisis industries (expanded up to a maximum of 5 million KRW)
• Card validity period: 5 years from the date of issuance (can be used freely across multiple training courses within the period)
• Self-pay rate for training costs: Differentially charged at a level of 0% to 55% of the total tuition fee based on the employment rate of the job category and income level (National Key and Strategic Industry Training, such as K-Digital Training, is entirely free)

1. Target Audience (Basic Eligibility)

The scope of eligible applicants has been significantly broadened so that any citizen of the Republic of Korea can apply for job competency development.

• Job seekers: Job hunters, people seeking re-employment, unemployed youth
• Employees: Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) employees, large corporation employees (if age and income criteria are met), non-regular/fixed-term/dispatched workers
• Persons in special types of employment and freelancers: Those whose income is below a certain standard
• Self-employed individuals: Business registration certificate holders who meet the annual sales requirement criteria
• University (graduate) students: Enrolled students with 2 years or less of study remaining until graduation (for 4-year universities, eligible after completing the second semester of the sophomore year)

1. Excluded Categories (Ineligible to Apply)

Issuance is restricted if any of the following conditions apply.

Applications can be conveniently made online or offline through the Work24 (HRD-Net) portal and nearby employment centers. It is essential to check in advance whether the course you wish to take is fully government-funded and what the self-pay rate is, depending on the job field.

[For Job Seekers] Required Documents & Essential Preliminary Procedures

When applying for the National Tomorrow Learning Card as a job seeker, the most common issues are requests for document supplementation due to omitted preliminary procedures and insufficient supporting materials.

Before applying for the card, complete the two essential preliminary procedures below and prepare the supporting documents suited to your situation to receive approval at once without rejection.

1. 2 Essential Preliminary Procedures Before Application

These processes must be completed in advance on the Work24 portal before filling out the card issuance application form.

• Worknet job search application registration and job search verification

• You must register a basic resume and self-introduction letter in the Worknet Job Application menu on the Work24 website and complete the job application.
• The job search verification status must be activated for the screening to proceed under the “Job Seeker” qualification in the employment center’s network.
• Watching the National Tomorrow Learning Card Issuance Guidance Video

• This is a mandatory video of about 10 to 15 minutes covering program understanding, attendance management duties, penalty regulations, and more.
• You must watch the video to the end and have completion confirmation registered in the computer system for the final issuance application button to become active.

1. Customized Supporting Document Guide by Situation

General unemployed individuals (where the loss of employment insurance has been processed after leaving a previous job) can often apply without separate documents as the system is linked. However, university students, recent job quitters, and unemployment benefit recipients must attach supporting documents.

1. Practical Tips You Must Know When Applying as a Job Seeker

• Applying immediately after leaving a job: If the previous workplace delays reporting the loss of employment insurance, you may still be searched as an “Employee” in the system. If the departure processing is delayed, you must request the company to report the loss of employment insurance or directly attach a “Certificate of Retirement (Certificate of Career)” to prove your unemployment status.
• Receiving unemployment benefits (job search benefits): Even while receiving unemployment benefits, it is possible to be issued a National Tomorrow Learning Card and take training courses. However, the separate training incentive allowance (meal costs, transportation costs, etc.) paid when taking government-funded training cannot be received concurrently with unemployment benefits and will be excluded.
• Document registration format: Documents to be attached to the Work24 system must be uploaded as PDF files or clear image files (JPG/PNG) with the latter part of the resident registration number covered to prevent rejection due to inability to identify.

[For Employees] Guide to Submitting Supporting Documents by Type

When applying for the National Tomorrow Learning Card as an employee (worker), supporting documents and eligibility verification methods vary entirely depending on the work type (SMEs, large corporations, non-regular workers, special types of employment/freelancers, sole proprietors).

Most SME employees pass without separate documents as the 4 Major Social Insurances (employment insurance) network is linked. However, large corporation employees, non-regular workers, freelancers, and self-employed individuals must directly submit essential documents proving income or employment status so that the review is not delayed.

1. Customized Prepared Documents by Work Type

Check the required documents in advance according to the work type you belong to and scan them (PDF or clear image).

1. Common Rejection Reasons & Checkpoints When Employees Apply

• Calculation of income criteria for large corporation employees:

• Employees under age 45 at large corporations must have an average pre-tax salary of less than 3 million KRW over the last 3 months.
• If the salary of a specific month temporarily surges due to bonuses, performance incentives, etc., causing the average to exceed 3 million KRW, you will be excluded from card issuance. Therefore, a strategy is needed to coordinate the timing of the application to avoid months when performance incentives are paid.
• Employees preparing for a job change (Whether it is possible to apply without the company knowing):

• The fact that you applied for the card and enrolled in an academy is not separately notified to the company (HR team).
• You can freely take evening classes after work, weekend classes, online lectures, etc., so you can proceed with confidence.
• Workers holding a business registration certificate:

• If you hold a sole proprietorship (moonlighting, etc.) while working at a company, you must choose between worker criteria and business owner criteria to provide proof. In most cases, applying based on employment insurance enrollment as an employee involves much simpler document procedures.
• Guide to document issuing sources:

• Certificate of Value Added Tax Taxable Base / Certificate of Income Amount: Free online issuance at the National Tax Service Hometax or Government24
• Pay stub: Copy stamped by the company’s payroll department or electronic pay stub file

Work24 (HRD-Net) Online Application 5-Step Practical Guide

The National Tomorrow Learning Card can be easily applied for online without an in-person visit through Work24 (integrated portal of former HRD-Net).
To prevent sessions from expiring or temporary saves from being lost due to missing documents during application, follow the 5 steps below in order.
Step 1: Work24 Login and Accessing the Issuance Application Menu

1. Access the Work24 portal and log in. (Simple authentication, joint/financial certificates available)
2. In the top menu, select [Vocational Competency Development] → [National Tomorrow Learning Card] → [Issuance Application].
3. After resident registration number verification and real-name authentication, you will enter the basic application writing screen.

Step 2: Watching Mandatory Training Video (Cannot proceed if not completed)
Before writing the application, you must understand the system### Work24 (HRD-Net) Online Application 5-Step Practical Guide
National Tomorrow Learning Card issuance and training course application can be conveniently conducted online through Work24 (work24.go.kr), into which the existing Vocational Training Portal (HRD-Net) has been integrated. The core step-by-step procedures from advance preparation to card receipt are as follows.
Step 1: Sign up and register joint/financial certificate
Access Work24 and log in: Access the Work24 homepage and proceed with personal identity verification.
Identity verification: Log in via simple authentication (Kakao, Naver, PASS, etc.) or a joint/financial certificate. An electronic signature is required during the card issuance application and personal information verification stages, so a valid verification method must be prepared in advance.
Step 2: Verify eligibility for National Tomorrow Learning Card issuance
Support target: Any citizen who wishes to develop vocational competency, including job seekers, employees, persons in special types of employment, and the self-employed, can apply.
Check excluded categories: Check in advance whether you fall under support exclusion criteria, such as incumbent civil servants, private school faculty and staff, enrolled students other than prospective graduates, self-employed individuals with annual sales of 400 million KRW or more, and large corporation/special employment workers (under age 45) with a monthly wage of 3 million KRW or more.
Step 3: Complete preliminary training (video viewing)
Watch training guidance video: Selecting Vocational Competency Development → National Tomorrow Learning Card Issuance Application from the menu links to the preliminary guidance video viewing screen.
Mandatory completion: You must watch the essential training (taking about 10 to 15 minutes) regarding the purpose of the program, support limits (basic 3 million to maximum 5 million KRW), validity period (5 years), prevention of wrongful receipt, etc., to the very end without skipping to move to the next step.
Step 4: Fill out card issuance application and submit supporting documents
Enter basic information: Accurately write down your home address, contact information, and physical card delivery location (home/workplace).
Select card issuing partner: Choose between debit card or credit card format, and designate your main primary bank between Shinhan Card or NH Nonghyup Card.
Support category and document attachment:
Job seekers: Verify linkage of Worknet job registration completion status
Employees / Self-employed: Upload supporting document files (PDF or image) such as employment contract, Certificate of Income Amount, business registration certificate, etc., if necessary
Step 5: Competent employment center screening approval and physical card receipt
Final submission of application: Check the competent employment center and submit finally.
Screening period: The competent employment center reviews eligibility requirements after receipt, and approval results are typically notified via KakaoTalk Notification Talk or SMS within 3 to 7 business days.
Card issuance and receipt:
Postal delivery: Physical card delivered to the address entered at the time of application within 3 to 5 days
Bank branch pickup: If you desire rapid issuance, print the issuance confirmation certificate, visit the designated bank branch, and receive it immediately on the spot
Practical tip: After receiving the physical card, explore your desired training courses on Work24 and apply for enrollment so that government-funded benefits (payment of the self-pay amount) are applied properly. For courses with a total training duration of 140 hours or more, enrollment registration is completed only after going through additional counseling at the competent employment center (or Work24 online diagnosis/counseling).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) After Card Issuance Application

We have compiled questions and points of caution that trainees are most curious about after submitting the National Tomorrow Learning Card application in a Q&A format.
Q1. How long does it take to receive the physical card after applying?
Postal delivery: After approval of the screening by the competent employment center (approx. 3 to 7 business days), the card company delivers the physical card to your home or workplace, typically taking around 1 to 2 weeks from the date of application.
Same-day immediate pickup tip: If your course start date is imminent, select “Bank branch pickup” when applying. After employment center approval, print (or check on mobile) the [National Tomorrow Learning Card Issuance Confirmation Certificate] from Work24 and visit the designated bank branch to receive the physical card immediately on the same day.
Q2. Is there a penalty if I do not use the card immediately after issuance?
There is absolutely no disadvantage for simply not using the card.
You can freely search for government-funded courses and make payments at any point during the 5-year validity period.
However, please note that if you fail to meet attendance requirements (less than 80%) or drop out midway after registering for a course, penalties deducting from the card support limit will occur as follows:
1st midway drop-out: 200,000 KRW deducted from the card support balance
2nd midway drop-out: 500,000 KRW deducted from the support balance + increase in self-pay rate
3 or more midway drop-outs: 1 million KRW deducted from the support balance and card usage suspended
Q3. I received the card as an employee, but if I quit… Q1. How many days does it take for delivery after applying for card issuance?
Normally, you can receive it within 3 to 5 business days after application completion and passing the review. However, it may take up to 7 to 10 days if applications surge around holidays, new launch promotions, etc. The progress can be checked in real time via the “Card Issuance/Delivery Inquiry” menu of the card company app.
Q2. Can I make payments online or offline in advance before the physical card arrives?
Yes, it is possible. Once the issuance screening is completed, you can register the card directly to the card company app (App Card) even before physical receipt to use online simple payment or offline on-site payment (barcode/QR/NFC). However, please note that overseas payment or some transit card functions may only be activated after registering following physical receipt.
Q3. Is proxy receipt or storage at the security office possible if I cannot receive it myself?
Since credit cards fall under securities, direct receipt by the applicant is the principle.
Proxy receipt by family: Receipt by immediate family members is often possible through ID card verification and delivery agent confirmation procedures. In the case of proxy receipt, the applicant must directly complete usage registration (card registration) through the card company app or ARS before payment is possible.
Storage at security office/mailbox: In principle, this is not possible due to concerns over loss, and delivery agents will not leave it unless it is a special case directly agreed upon by the applicant.
Q4. Will they contact me for “employment verification” or additional document submission during the issuance screening?
If income and employment proofs are automatically linked through Public MyData or similar services, most pass through document-free automatic screening. However, if there are recent job changes, freelance work, homemaker status, changes in credit information, etc., the screening team may request a wire confirmation call to the workplace or additional documents such as a Certificate of Income Amount or Health Insurance Payment Confirmation.
Q5. What should I do if I entered application information incorrectly or want to change the delivery destination?
If it is in the screening-in-progress stage, you can change the delivery address, payment account, and billing destination through the card company customer center or app. If it has already moved to the “Card dispatch completed (delivery agent assigned)” status, you must speak directly with the express delivery company or delivery agent handling the shipment to coordinate the receipt location or time.