Youth Leap Account, a representative policy-based financial product to help young people build assets.Let’s start by looking at exactly who can sign up and how much the government pays.
What is a Youth Leap Account?
The Youth Leap Account is a policy-type savings product that allows young people to save a certain amount every month, the government adds an additional amount (government contribution) according to their income level, and exempts taxes on the interest accrued at maturity.It is designed so that you can save a lump sum if you keep it for 5 years (60 months).
Subscription Requirements
Generally, all three conditions must be met:Age: 19 to 34 years old (the period of military service is excluded from age calculation)Personal income: Below a certain amount based on total salary (Not only wage and salary income earners, but also business and freelance income earners can apply based on global income)Household income: Below the median income standard depending on the number of household membersBecause household income standards are applied differently for single-person households and multi-person households, there are many cases of people being disqualified due to miscalculating qualifications before applying.It is recommended that you check again based on the number of people in your household.
Government contribution matching ratio by income bracket
Personal income rangematching ratenoteLess than 24 million wonApply highest matching rateTax exemption + contribution applied to bothLess than 36 million wonApply medium matching ratioTax exemption + contribution applied to bothLess than 48 million wonApply low matching rateTax exemption + contribution applied to bothLess than 60 million wonApply lowest matching rateTax exemption + contribution applied to both60 to 75 million wonNo contributionInterest income tax exemption only appliesThe lower the income, the more support the government provides.The exact matching ratio (%) and monthly limit amount may be adjusted depending on the period, so we recommend that you check the official information from the Korea Inclusive Finance Agency before applying.
How to apply
You can apply non-face-to-face through banking apps such as KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori, Nonghyup, and Industrial Bank of Korea.Operates by accepting applications for a certain period of time at the beginning of each monthAfter application, final subscription is determined through household income verification (health insurance premium inquiry, etc.)
Changes you must check in 2026
There is a series of announcements that there will be changes in the way new subscriptions to the Youth Leap Account are operated in 2026.The system itself is in a state of flux, with a separate period being operated for existing subscribers to switch to a new youth savings product.
For these policy-based financial products, new recruitment, contribution rates, transfer options, etc. are subject to frequent changes depending on the budget situation and government policy.Therefore, we recommend that you use this article as a reference to understand the overall structure, and be sure to check the latest announcements of the Korea Inclusive Finance Agency (1397 without area code) or the bank app you wish to sign up for before actually applying.
Things to keep in mind when canceling earlyIf you cancel before completing 5 years, you may not receive full government contributions and tax exemption benefits.However, if you cancel after maintaining it for more than 3 years, relaxation measures such as tax exemption and partial recognition of contributions may apply, so it is recommended to carefully review the conditions before termination.
Finishing Tips
If your income criteria is unclear, check first using the “Self-diagnosis of subscription eligibility” function in your banking app.Your account will remain open even if you don’t make the maximum monthly payment, but remember that government contributions are only paid in months when you actually make the payment.
There may be cases where overlap with other youth policies (Youth Tomorrow Savings Account, Youth Rent Support, etc.) is possible, so it is recommended to compare them together.This article is intended to provide general information and is not a recommendation to subscribe to a specific financial product.
Please check the official channels of the Korea Inclusive Finance Agency and your bank for accurate conditions and the latest schedule.