Lowered Threshold for Child Care Services... Four-Person Households with Monthly Income up to 16 Million Won Now Eligible

Expansion of Government Support for Child Care Services
Eligibility Raised from 200% to 250% of Standard Median Income
National Certification System for Child Care Providers to Launch in April

Starting this year, the government will significantly expand the eligibility for its child care support services, which is expected to further ease the burden of child-rearing for dual-income households and others.

On January 16, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced that it has raised the income threshold for government support for child care services from "at or below 200% of the standard median income" to "at or below 250%." As a result, households that were previously ineligible for government support due to income limits are now newly included.

For example, in the case of a four-person household, those with a monthly income above approximately 12.19 million won-200% of last year's standard median income (6,097,773 won)-were not eligible for government support for child care services. However, this year, with the standard median income raised to 6,494,738 won per month and the eligibility threshold expanded from 200% to 250%, households with a monthly income of up to approximately 16.23 million won can now receive government support. For three-person households, the maximum monthly income eligible for support has increased from 10.05 million won last year to about 13.39 million won this year. This change is expected to be especially meaningful for dual-income families and households of professionals or self-employed individuals, who often had higher incomes but still faced gaps in child care coverage.

Yonhap News Agency

The professionalism and reliability of child care services will also be strengthened. Starting in April, the "national certification system for child care providers" and the "registration system for private child care service agencies" will be fully implemented. The national certification system grants certificates from the Minister of Gender Equality and Family to those who have completed a standard training course and passed an aptitude test. As a result, only individuals who have undergone the prescribed education and verification procedures will be able to work as certified child care providers. The private registration system allows private child care agencies that meet certain legal requirements to register with the government. These agencies can request criminal background checks for their staff from the government. By enabling verification of disqualifying factors for child care providers, parents are expected to feel more secure when using these services.

To ensure the stable supply of child care services and improve the treatment of child care workers, support for child care personnel will also be strengthened. The usage fee for child care services (care allowance) has been increased by 5% compared to the previous year, rising from 12,180 won per hour to 12,790 won per hour. The related budget has been increased by 12.03 billion won. The infant care allowance has also been raised from 1,500 won to 2,000 won per hour, and new allowances have been introduced for preschool care (1,000 won per hour) and emergency night care (5,000 won per day).

Minister Won Minkyoung of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family stated, "The expansion of child care services is a national commitment to sharing the burden of child-rearing not just with individuals and families, but with society as a whole." "We will continue to reflect feedback from the field to enhance the effectiveness of the system, and do our utmost to create a child care environment where both parents and children can feel safe and secure," she added.