Culture Nuri Card in Korea: Where to Use It, Deadlines and the Sports Voucher (2026)

The diagram below is a self-made illustration, not a real screen.

This guide covers where to use the Culture Nuri card and when it must be topped up and spent in 2026. It also covers the sports lesson voucher for basic livelihood recipients, near-poverty households and others. Heating and cooling support is in a separate guide.

Who this suits

• Basic livelihood recipients or near-poverty households
• Families who find sports lesson fees for children aged 5 to 18 a burden

1. Who gets the Culture Nuri card in 2026, how much, and where can it be used?

• Who: basic livelihood recipients and near-poverty households aged 6 or older (born on or before 31 December 2020)
• Amount: 150,000 won per person a year. Ages 13 to 18 and 60 to 64 get 10,000 won more, for 160,000 won.
• Issue and top-up period: 2 February to 30 November 2026, 18:00. It can close early if the local budget runs out.
• Use by: 31 December, counted from the issue date. Any balance left goes back to the state.
• Where to use it: about 35,000 partner shops nationwide for culture (films, shows, exhibitions, books, music), domestic travel (attractions, lodging, trains) and sports (games, sports goods, facilities)
• How to apply: at any community service center (it doesn’t have to be in your area), or on the Culture Nuri website or app (identity verification, age 14 or older). Top-ups alone can also be done by phone on 1544-3412.
• A card issued online must be registered as received before you can use it.

2. Who gets the sports lesson voucher, and how much?

• Who: ages 5 to 18 (born 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2021) in basic livelihood households, near-poverty households, legal single-parent families and similar
• Amount: up to 105,000 won a month toward sports lesson fees
• Support can stop if the voucher goes unused for 3 months in a row.
• How to apply: the nationwide application round (November 2025) is over. After that, you can apply when your city or district opens extra rounds, on the sports voucher website (after login) or at the community center.

3. Which phone bill discount should you apply for too?

• Basic livelihood recipients, near-poverty households, people with disabilities, national merit recipients and others can get mobile bill discounts. The size depends on the group (for example, up to 21,500 won a month for housing or education benefit recipients and near-poverty households).
• Apply any time via ARS 1523, a carrier store, the community center or Bokjiro. For basic pension recipients, see the basic pension guide.

4. How do you use up the Culture Nuri card balance?

1. Check the balance on the Culture Nuri site or app.
2. If not yet issued or topped up, do it before 18:00 on November 30.
3. Check merchant categories: movies, shows, books, domestic travel, sports goods.
4. Spend it before December 31; leftovers go back to the treasury.

Example (illustrative numbers): a 15-year-old gets 160,000 won and a 40-year-old parent 150,000 won.

Common mistakes

• Trying to top up the Culture Nuri card after 30 November
• Not spending it all by 31 December, so the balance is lost
• Leaving the sports voucher unused for more than 3 months

Checklist

• ☐ Culture Nuri card issued or topped up before 30 November, 18:00
• ☐ Balance checked and spent before 31 December
• ☐ Extra sports voucher rounds checked
• ☐ Phone bill discount applied for

Related guides

• Energy voucher guide
• Disability and low-income discounts guide
• Local currency guide

FAQ

How much in 2026?

150,000 won a year per person; 160,000 won for ages 13–18 and 60–64.

Where can it be used?

About 35,000 merchants nationwide in arts (movies, shows, exhibitions, books, music), domestic travel (sights, lodging, rail) and sports (games, sports goods, facilities).

Deadline to apply or top up?

18:00 on November 30, 2026; it may close earlier if local budgets run out.

Does the balance carry over?

No. Use it by December 31; the rest returns to the treasury.

Can I top up by phone?

Top-ups only, at 1544-3412.

Read next

• Free public e-books and lectures guide
• Transit refund (K-Pass) guide
• Senior discounts guide

We also have a $4.99 PDF guide that collects more everyday money-saving tips. Take a look if it’s useful →