2026 Youth Future Savings Account 2 Round Screening Results Announced in November: Eligibility for the Standard Plan If You Do Not Qualify for the Preferential Plan
If you have completed your application for the 2 round of the Youth Future Savings Account in 2026, the next step is to wait for the screening results. Eligibility screening begins on October 19, and final results are expected to be communicated individually between November 12 and 13. Even if you do not meet the preferential plan requirements, you may still enroll if you meet the standard plan's eligibility criteria.
However, failing to qualify for the preferential plan is different from failing to meet the eligibility requirements for the Youth Future Savings Account itself.
As of 2026-10-19, here is a look at the schedule following application submission and how eligibility is determined for each enrollment category.
When Will the 2 Round Screening Results Be Announced?
According to the 2 round recruitment schedule announced by South Korea's Financial Services Commission (FSC), final eligibility screening results are expected to be communicated individually on 2026-11-12 and 13.
Before then, applicants will have an opportunity to review their preliminary screening results and submit objections if their selected application category differs from the screening outcome.
| Category | 2026 Schedule |
|---|---|
| 2 round applications | October 7–16 |
| Eligibility and income screening | October 19–November 13 |
| Preliminary screening results | October 30–November 2 (tentative) |
| Objection submission period | November 2–5 (tentative) |
| Individual notification of final results | November 12–13 |
| Account opening | November 16–27 |
The preliminary screening notification and objection submission dates are tentative. Some dates may change depending on the number of applicants and the progress of the screening process.
In particular, preliminary screening results communicated from late October should not be interpreted as confirmation of final enrollment eligibility.
This is because the applicant's selected category and income, employment, and business eligibility requirements must still be verified before final results are issued.
Can You Enroll in the Standard Plan If You Fail the Preferential Plan Screening?
You Can Enroll in the Youth Future Savings Account If You Meet the Standard Plan Requirements, Even If You Do Not Qualify for the Preferential Plan
Starting with the 2 recruitment round, the Financial Services Commission changed the application process so applicants directly select their category from general income earners, employees of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and small business owners.
The category selected during the application process does not automatically become the applicant's final enrollment category. Eligibility for the standard or preferential plan is determined through income and qualification screening.
In particular, the guidance states that small business owners who do not meet the preferential plan requirements may still enroll as general income earners if they satisfy the applicable requirements, including those relating to comprehensive income.
Therefore, even if the preferential plan screening outcome differs from what you expected, you should also check whether you qualify for the standard plan.
However, the possibility of enrolling in the standard plan does not mean that every applicant rejected from the preferential plan is guaranteed enrollment. Applicants must also meet the basic eligibility requirements, including individual income, household income, and age.
How Much Do Government Contributions Differ Between the Standard and Preferential Plans?
A key difference between the standard and preferential plans is the government contribution rate applied to deposits.
Under the 2 recruitment round in 2026, the government contributes 6% of deposits for the standard plan and 12% for the preferential plan. However, depending on the income bracket, some enrollment categories receive only tax-exempt benefits without government contributions.
Assuming monthly deposits of KRW 500,000 over 3 years, the difference in government contributions is as follows.
| Category | Standard Plan | Preferential Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Government contribution rate | 6% | 12% |
| Contribution on a monthly deposit of KRW 500,000 | KRW 30,000 | KRW 60,000 |
| Total contributions over 36 months | KRW 1,080,000 | KRW 2,160,000 |
When the same amount is deposited each month, the total difference in government contributions is KRW 1,080,000.
This comparison covers government contributions only. It does not include interest earned on savings deposits or interest accrued on government contributions. The actual amount received at maturity will vary depending on the applicable interest rate and deposit history.
Therefore, not qualifying for the preferential plan does not mean losing all benefits available under the standard plan. It is important to identify which government contribution category applies to your income circumstances.
Eligibility Requirements to Check If Preferential Plan Qualification Is Not Recognized
Eligibility for the standard plan depends not only on the preferential plan screening result but also on individual and household income requirements.
For the 2 recruitment round in 2026, screening generally uses income for 2025 as finalized by South Korea's National Tax Service.
General income earners with total employment income of KRW 60,000,000 or less, or comprehensive income of KRW 48,000,000 or less, may qualify for standard-plan government contributions if they also meet the other enrollment requirements.
Applicants whose total employment income exceeds KRW 60,000,000 but does not exceed KRW 75,000,000 are classified in a category that may permit enrollment but provides only tax-exempt benefits without government contributions. Based on comprehensive income, this category covers income exceeding KRW 48,000,000 but not exceeding KRW 63,000,000.
Household income requirements also apply, so enrollment eligibility cannot be determined from individual income alone.
For small business owners, eligibility for the standard plan may vary depending on the applicable screening criteria, including sales revenue and comprehensive income.
What Should You Do If Your Preliminary Screening Results Are Different from Expected?
If the preliminary screening does not recognize your preferential plan eligibility or indicates a result different from your selected application category, you may submit supporting explanations during the designated objection period.
The objection submission period for the 2 recruitment round in 2026 was tentatively announced as running from November 2 through 5.
Employees of SMEs are assessed not only on individual and household income but also on whether their employer qualifies as an eligible SME under the program.
If the relevant authorities cannot verify the employer's eligibility using electronic records alone, applicants may be asked to submit an SME confirmation certificate.
For small business owners, the issuance status of their confirmation certificate is important. If a small business confirmation certificate has not been issued by the objection submission deadline, the applicant cannot undergo the small business eligibility assessment based on sales revenue and will instead be assessed using comprehensive income criteria.
Therefore, if your preliminary screening result differs from what you expected, it is advisable to follow the instructions provided by the financial institution where you applied and check which qualifications or supporting documents could not be verified.
When Can You Open an Account After Passing the Final Screening?
Applicants who receive final confirmation that they are eligible to enroll can open a Youth Future Savings Account through a participating institution's app from 2026-11-16 through 27.
Saturdays and Sundays are excluded from the account-opening period.
An important distinction is that submitting an application and actually opening an account are separate procedures.
Even if you completed your application in October, you must personally open the account during the November account-opening period after passing the screening to complete enrollment.
If you do not open an account by November 27, you will lose the opportunity to open an account under that 2 recruitment round.
There is also a separate procedure for applicants who want to switch from an existing Youth Leap Account (Cheongnyeon Doyak Account) to the Youth Future Savings Account.
The required sequence is to first pass the Youth Future Savings Account eligibility screening, open the new account, and then proceed with the special early termination of the existing Youth Leap Account.
This must be distinguished from simply closing the Youth Leap Account early through the ordinary early termination process.
What Applicants Should Check After October 19
2026-10-19 marks the beginning of eligibility screening for the 2 round of the Youth Future Savings Account. It does not mean that every applicant's results will be announced simultaneously on that date.
Applicants should check notifications in the following order.
1. October 30–November 2 (tentative): Review preliminary screening results and the selected application category.
2. November 2–5 (tentative): If you disagree with the result, submit supporting explanations through the designated procedure.
3. November 12–13: Check the final eligibility screening result.
4. November 16–27: Complete account opening if you have received confirmation of eligibility.
After applying for the 2 round of the Youth Future Savings Account, the most important thing is not simply to wait until mid-November for the final results.
You should review the preliminary screening results issued beforehand to ensure that your preferential plan eligibility has been correctly reflected and use the objection submission period if necessary.
Remember both that you may still enroll if you meet the standard plan requirements even when you do not qualify for the preferential plan, and that you must complete account opening after passing the screening.