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Korea GapYear’s mission is to create meaningful life changes for each individual.
We focus on each participant and design education meticulously and thoughtfully.
The reasons to live and the exciting changes you will encounter on your GapYear journey
are the core direction and purpose of Korea GapYear.
Korea Needs a Gap Year Culture
Young people are pressured to achieve high grades and enter prestigious universities without having sufficient time to explore their true dreams and career paths. After entering university, they are expected to follow a uniform route—obtaining certificates and passing exams to secure jobs in large corporations, public enterprises, or government positions. The most essential aspects of life for young people—their sense of direction, career choices, and happiness—are often ignored. Youth challenges have long been seen as problems that individuals must solve through personal effort. With statistics such as 72.7% of university students mismatching their majors, 740,000 young people in their 20s without a clear dream, a 44.5% employment rate among graduates, and a 40% turnover rate within a year of employment, youth issues are becoming increasingly serious. These problems are no longer just personal matters—they are public issues that require collective solutions.
Korea GapYear believes that a Gap Year is the solution to these youth challenges.
Founded in 2010 to foster a Gap Year culture, Korea GapYear has led various initiatives to bring this vision to life. We established the first Korean definition of a "Gap Year" and, in 2011, proposed the institutionalization of the Gap Year system to the Blue House Policy Advisory Committee. Korea GapYear was also established as a social enterprise addressing societal issues and has been recognized with awards including the Prime Minister’s Commendation, two Foreign Ministry Awards, the Minister of Health and Welfare Award, the National Productivity Award in the social economy category, and the Outstanding Social Enterprise Award.
In addition, Korea GapYear has made various efforts to expand the Gap Year culture. We have collaborated with major broadcasters and media outlets such as EBS, KBS, MBC, and SBS to lead conversations on the Gap Year, and actively promote the Gap Year culture through a variety of campaigns and projects. Furthermore, we create and run educational programs in partnership with corporations like Samsung, Hyundai Motor, Hanwha, and universities such as KAIST and POSTECH, implementing cultural change through education.
Currently, Korea GapYear operates over 800 programs across 51 countries, including volunteer work, internships, travel, one-month stays, professional courses, and language study programs. Each year, approximately 2,000 participants engage in these programs, taking on new and diverse challenges to support their personal growth, define their life direction, and discover careers and dreams that align with their interests.
Korea GapYear continues to provide diverse programs and ongoing administrative support to ensure that all young people can discover careers and dreams suited to their talents and preferences. Our mission is to firmly establish a Gap Year culture in Korea, allowing youth to live purposeful and self-directed lives.
Winner of the 2nd Outstanding Social Economy Enterprise Award
(Amazon AWS·Korea Social Enterprise Promotion Agency)
Globally Accredited as a
Quality English Authorized Agency
Selected as an Outstanding Enterprise at the 'Social Design Demo Day' (Hosted by the Ministry of Trade and the Korea Institute of Design Promotion)
Selected as an Outstanding Company in the Youth and Social Entrepreneur Cultivation Program
Winner of the National Productivity Awards 「Hidden Champions of Productivity – Social Economy Sector」 (Hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Organized by the Korea Productivity Center)
Consecutively Selected as a Key Annual Trend: ‘Gap Year’
Recognized as a Major Travel and Youth Keyword by Trend Korea and Expedia Korea
Korea GapYear Established
Government Commendation for
「Contribution to Vitalizing the Social Economy」 Recipient of the Prime Minister's Citation (Ministry of Economy and Finance)
Certified as a Creative & Innovative Social Enterprise (Ministry of Employment and Labor)
Official Internship Institution Certification under the Netherlands Vocational Education & Labor Market Cooperation
“갭이어” and “GAPYEAR” are registered trademarks of Korea GapYear.
They must not be used without Korea Gapyear's permission. Unauthorized use constitutes trademark infringement and may result in civil liability and criminal penalties.
Korea Gap Year will take strict legal action against any trademark infringement.
