'Single-Parent Family Household Service' Expanded from 3 to 4 Times per Month This Year... 4 Hours per Session

Seoul Single-Parent Family Support Center Provided 6,067 Household Services to 335 Families Last Year
Free Support for Those Below 52% of Median Income

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 21st, Seoul City announced that it will expand support for the ‘Single-Parent Family Household Service Support Project,’ first introduced in 2018 to balance work, rest, and life for single-parent families, by increasing the number of monthly service provisions. This year, Seoul City plans to increase the monthly service provision from 3 times to 4 times and provide free services to low-income single-parent families with urgent livelihood needs below 52% of the median income.

The eligible users are single-parent families who meet at least one of the following conditions: currently working or studying, having a child under 36 months old, or having a family member with illness or disability. The conditions for using the household service are three in total, and if the household income is below 120% of the median income and meets at least one of the following criteria, they can apply for the household service.

This year’s Single-Parent Family Household Service Support Project will provide household services through organizations selected via public competition: ▲Home Story Life Proxy Housekeeper ▲Rihoz Your Butler ▲Dundun People Reliable Housekeeper ▲Korea Household Workers Association Ureonggaksi.

Last year, 335 households received Seoul City’s single-parent family household services, totaling 6,067 sessions. According to a satisfaction survey conducted by Seoul City targeting these households, 96% of respondents reported positive changes in family relationships through the household service.

Specific changes included ▲reduction in nagging and family quarrels (81 people, 32.4%) ▲easier care for family members needing care (50 people, 20%) ▲increased frequency of conversations with children (37 people, 14.8%) in that order. The causes of changes in family relationships were reported as ▲improved living environment (100 people, 40%) ▲reduced household stress (76 people, 30.4%) ▲secured rest time (64 people, 25.6%) in that order.

Additionally, 95.6% of respondents reported changes at work. Changes included ▲increased work efficiency (75 people, 30%) ▲reduced work stress (75 people, 30%) ▲increased sleep time before going to work (69 people, 27.6%). The causes of these changes were ▲reduced household stress (146 people, 58.4%) ▲secured rest time after work (70 people, 28%) ▲increased sleep and preparation time before work (26 people, 10.4%) in that order.

Kim Seon-soon, Director of the Women and Family Policy Office, said, “Reflecting users’ opinions that household service support is effective in solving the time poverty of single-parent families and realizing work-life balance, we have expanded the number of household service provisions this year,” adding, “Seoul City will spare no effort to provide various supports to help restore family relationships and assist in future life planning beyond household service support.”