Chungnam, 'City and County Support Promotion' for Foreign Children Left in Blind Spots

[Asia Economy (Hongseong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungnam Province is promoting a plan for cities and counties to individually support foreign children who are in welfare blind spots.

According to the province on the 8th, as of the end of September, there are 683 foreign children aged 3 to 5 enrolled in local daycare centers.

By nationality, children of Chinese nationality are the most numerous with 311 (45.6%), followed by Kazakhstan (100 children, 14.6%), Uzbekistan (85 children, 12.4%), Russia (65 children, 9.5%), Kyrgyzstan (32 children, 4.7%), Mongolia (28 children, 4.1%), and Vietnam (13 children, 1.9%).

The number of foreign children enrolled in daycare centers by city and county in the area is identified as 221 in Cheonan, 295 in Asan, 58 in Dangjin, 42 in Nonsan, and 31 in Seosan.

Currently, these foreign children’s families pay necessary expenses such as standard childcare fees (?431,900 for age 3, ?396,500 for ages 4 to 5), special activity fees, and field trip fees individually, unlike domestic children.

In this regard, the province judges that it is premature to support childcare fees for foreign children at this time, as an approach based on reciprocity is necessary in relations with foreigners. The Framework Act on Social Security and the Ministry of Health and Welfare also do not include foreigners as support targets.

However, considering that South Korea ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991, the province holds the view that it is necessary to explore support measures for foreign children depending on the development of a legal basis.

In line with this, the province plans to discuss ways for cities and counties to individually support foreign children until a legal basis is established.

Nationwide, basic local governments that provide childcare fee support to foreign children include Ansan and Gimpo in Gyeonggi Province.

In Chungnam, Cheonan, Asan, and Nonsan are expected to start supporting foreign children from next year.

A provincial official said, “Social consensus is needed first on whether to provide foreign nationals with the same level of childcare fee support as domestic children,” adding, “The province will consider support measures after a legal basis is established, but until then, it plans to continue discussions so that cities and counties other than Cheonan, Asan, and Nonsan can also support foreign children.”