Single-Parent Families in Seoul with Middle and High School Children Spend 800,000 Won Monthly... Top Support Priority Is "This"

Publication of "Policy Tasks for Customized Care Support for Single-Parent Families in Seoul by Life Cycle"

Single-parent families in Seoul with middle and high school-aged children spend an average of over 800,000 won per month on childcare and education.

On December 21, Yonhap News reported, citing the Seoul Foundation of Women and Family's report titled "Policy Tasks for Customized Care Support for Single-Parent Families in Seoul by Life Cycle," that single parents raising middle and high school-aged children spent an average of 808,800 won per month on childcare and education expenses.

This result is based on an online survey conducted in May among 378 single parents living in Seoul, using a structured questionnaire. The survey categorized respondents based on whether their youngest child was in middle or high school, elementary school, or was younger than school age.

Single parents raising middle and high school-aged children spent an average of 808,800 won per month on childcare and education. Those with preschool-aged children spent 579,100 won, while those with elementary school-aged children spent 637,500 won.

Additionally, when asked about preferred types of support among "educational expense support," "meal and transportation expense support," and "living and medical expense support," 76.3% of single parents with middle and high school-aged children and 70.0% of those with elementary school-aged children expressed a preference for educational expense support. Support for living and medical expenses was preferred by 20.0% of single parents with middle and high school-aged children and 23.0% of those with elementary school-aged children.

The average monthly household income of single parents eligible for Seoul's single-parent family support program-those earning less than 63% of the median income-was found to be 2,281,400 won. Those who answered "never received support" had a monthly income of 3,832,400 won, those who "received support in the past" had 2,414,400 won, and those who "did not know about the system" had 2,997,900 won per month.

When unmarried or divorced single parents (excluding those who were widowed) were asked whether they had received child support from the non-custodial parent in the past year, 74.4% said they had not. Only 25.6% said they had received support. Among those who did receive child support from the non-custodial parent, the average monthly amount was 648,900 won.

The report stated, "There is a need to expand educational support policies for single-parent families beyond the elementary school level," adding, "We also propose relaxing the income criteria for child support to alleviate the childcare burden."