100,000 Won Monthly Childcare Subsidy for Undocumented Foreign Children Attending Daycare Centers
Presenting a Life-Cycle Model for Child Rights and Basic Protections: From Birth to Childcare to Education
Starting in the new year, Gyeonggi Province will become the first metropolitan government in the country to implement a "Childcare Subsidy Support Program for Undocumented Foreign Children."
Undocumented foreign children refer to minors residing in Korea without legal residency status. While Korean children receive a monthly childcare subsidy of 280,000 to 540,000 won and registered foreign children receive 150,000 won per month, undocumented foreign children have not been eligible for any childcare support.
The province has designed this childcare subsidy for undocumented foreign children to address gaps in childcare and welfare, in accordance with the ordinance enacted last year on the discovery and support of undocumented children born in Gyeonggi Province.
The support is available to undocumented foreign children currently enrolled in daycare centers within the province, providing 100,000 won per child each month. The subsidy will be paid directly to the daycare centers rather than to the guardians in cash, to prevent misuse for non-childcare purposes and to enhance transparency in financial management.
Gyeonggi Province has selected Hwaseong, Anseong, and Icheon-three cities and counties-as pilot areas for the program in 2026, taking into account local population composition and administrative conditions. The province plans to expand the program to additional areas once the system is stabilized.
Kim Sunghwan, Director of the Immigration Society Support Division of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "This is highly significant as it marks the first step in guaranteeing rights and providing financial support to undocumented foreign children, who have long been treated as invisible. We aim to present an integrated rights protection model that covers the entire life cycle of a child, from birth and childcare to education and community settlement."
Meanwhile, in addition to the childcare subsidy, Gyeonggi Province plans to implement the "Official Confirmation System for Undocumented Foreign Children Born in Gyeonggi Province," which will issue certificates to undocumented foreign children born in Korea and residing in the province. This will enable them to access public services and connect with support programs offered by private organizations.
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