-
01Introduction to the Republic of Korea
-
02Multicultural Families and Foreigner Support Services
-
03Residence and Naturalization
-
04Korean Culture and Life
-
05Pregnancy and Childbirth
-
06Education of Children
-
07Health and Healthcare
-
08Social Security System
-
09Employment and Labor
-
10References
-
Chapter Introduction Video
-
FAQ
-
Status of family centers
-
Current Status of Danuri Helpline
-
Migrant Background Youth Support Foundation
-
Current Status of Saeil Center (New Job Center for Women)
-
Immigration Offices
-
Major Tourist Destinations by Region
-
Contact Numbers for Key Foreign Embassies and Consulates in Korea
-
Guide to Personal Information Protection
-
Danuri Call Center : 1577-1366
가족상담전화 : 1644-6621
21F, 173, Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul (Chungmuro 3-ga, Namsan Square Building)
Copyright ⓒ KOREA INSTITUTE FOR HEALTHY FAMILY. All Rights Reserved
Infant Care and Early Childhood Education
- Home
- Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Infant Care and Early Childhood Education
Infant Care and Early Childhood Education
01Infant Care and Early Childhood Education
Before enrolling in elementary school, children may receive care or education from a nursery school or kindergarten.
(1)Nursery school
- Childcare centers are institutions established and operated under the Child Care Act (Article 2) that take care of infants and young children aged zero to five.
- Childcare hours are from 07:30 to 16:00, and extended care is provided until 19:30 for children who need additional care. Some institutions offer extended nighttime childcare or 24-hour childcare support.
- Childcare centers follow the standard childcare curriculum for ages zero to two and the Nuri Curriculum for ages three to five. They educate infants and young children on how to live healthily and safely and behave properly, and help them develop their physical, social, linguistic, cognitive, and emotional skills.
- Monthly childcare fees vary depending on the childcare hours, the child’s age, and the type of childcare facility. Government support is from KRW 394,000 to 540,000 for children aged zero to two (including children of multicultural families), KRW 280,000 per month for the Nuri Curriculum for children aged three to five (including children of multicultural families), and KRW 587,000 for children with disabilities under the age of 12 not enrolled in school.
(2)Kindergarten
- Kindergartens are preschools for children aged three to five.
- The curriculum lasts for four to five hours, which can be increased to 8 hours or more per day with after-school programs. Childcare services are sometimes provided for extended hours, depending on the circumstances of the kindergarten and the parental demand for additional childcare.
- A kindergarten focuses on laying a foundation of civil consciousness by promoting each child’s physical and emotional development. Education is provided based on a curriculum consisting of 5 main subjects: exercise/health, communication, social relationships, artistic experience, and nature research.
The curriculum mainly consists of integrated education that focuses on experience and activity (theme) to aid in holistic human development. - Monthly tuition support is provided for children aged three to five: KRW 100,000 per month for public kindergartens and KRW 280,000 per month for private kindergartens.
Kindergartens designated as multicultural education policy schools (kindergartens) offer play-based multicultural education through the Nuri Curriculum to develop multicultural sensitivity in all infants and young children. Also, customized education on language, basic learning, etc., is provided for multicultural infants and young children. You can find information on multicultural education policy schools (kindergartens) in your area through the city/provincial offices of education or the National Center for Multi-culture Education (www.edu4mc.or.kr).
02Support for childcare fees, infant school fees, parental benefits, and home childrearing stipends
Before entering elementary school, infants and young children (ages 0 to 5) can attend childcare centers (ages 0 to 5) or kindergartens (ages 3 to 5), and the government provides support for childcare or kindergarten fees appropriate for each age group. A parental allowance (cash) and home childrearing allowance are provided to reduce the financial burden on parents who do not send their children to childcare centers or kindergartens.
(1)Childcare Benefits
Nurseries (childcare centers) are institutions that care for children from the age of zero to five. The government provides support for childcare fees for children in nurseries.
Qualifications
Children aged zero to five who go to a childcare center before starting elementary school are eligible to receive a childcare fee subsidy if they meet the following criteria.
- Regardless of the income and asset level of the household, a government subsidy of KRW 394,000 to 540,000 is provided for children aged zero to two (including children of multicultural families), KRW 280,000 won per month for children aged three to five (including children of multicultural families) for the Nuri Curriculum, and KRW 587,000 for children with disabilities under age twelve who are not enrolled in school.
| Age | Subsidy | Subsidy for Children with Disabilities | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Childcare fee for age 0 | 540,000 | 587,000 | - |
| Childcare fee for age 1 | 475,000 | ||
| Childcare fee for age 2 | 394,000 | ||
| Childcare fee for ages 3 to 5 | 280,000 |
- According to the reorganization of childcare support in March 2020, the costs are fully covered for basic childcare (07:30~16:00). Additional support is available for children in need of extended childcare.
- A childcare fee subsidy is provided to children with disabilities under age five who have a Disability Card (registration certificate), regardless of their family’s income level. As an exception, children aged three to five who are selected to receive special education under Article 15 of the Act on Special Education for Persons with Disabilities can also receive support if they submit a diagnosis or evaluation result showing that they need special education. Also, the submitted medical certificate does not necessarily need to specify the degree of disability, but the medical findings on the certificate must meet the Types and Criteria of Persons with Disabilities stipulated in Attachment 1 of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities or the Criteria for Selecting Persons Eligible for Special Education in the Attachment of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Special Education for Persons with Disabilities.
Application procedure
The guardian (parents or other guardians) can apply by visiting the respective eup, myeon, or dong community service centers in their area of residence or via online on the welfare website Bokjiro (www.bokjiro.go.kr). Note, however, that unregistered disabled children who wish to receive benefits must apply in person (online application unavailable).
centers of each eup,
myeon, and dong
and child is eligible for
use of childcare
Documents for submission
A social security benefit (social service voucher) application (revision) form, a statement of the reason for applying for extended childcare and supporting documents for corresponding reasons, a National Happiness Card application form, and a consent form for viewing, providing, and using personal credit information
A social security benefit (social service voucher) application (revision) form, a statement of the reason for applying for extended childcare and supporting documents for corresponding reasons, a National Happiness Card application form, and a consent form for viewing, providing, and using personal credit information
(2)Child education expense benefits
Scope of subsidy
| Age | Division | Scope of support |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 5 | Tuition for infants | For all children aged three to five attending national, public, and private kindergartens, regardless of their parents’ income level |
| Tuition for after school courses | For children who participate in after-school programs following the kindergarten curriculum (eight hours, or six with guardian agreement, including the regular daily curriculum) |
- Tuition support is not provided to the infants without the nationality of the Republic of Korea (Refugees are exceptional).
Support amount
| Items | Age | Amount of subsidiary (monthly) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| National and public kindergartens | Private kindergartens | ||
| Tuition | 5 | 100,000 | 280,000 |
| 4 | |||
| 3 | |||
| Tuition for afterschool courses | 3 to 5 | 50,000 | 70,000 |
Application procedure and method
- (Application) The child’s guardian can apply at the respective eup, myeon, or dong community service centers in their area of residence or via online application (www.bokjiro.go.kr).
- (Decision of benefit) Verification of the beneficiary's date of birth
- (Support) Support for tuition for infants and after-school programs is provided after attendance at the kindergarten is checked.
- Eligibility is verified and the support amount is checked/applied through an electronic card (National Happiness Card).
(3)Parental benefit support
Parental benefits are paid to compensate for income lost as a result of childbirth and childcare, and to provide thorough support for early childhood care catering to the characteristics of child development where direct care by the primary caregiver is important.
- Support eligibility :
- Children aged up to 1
- Support details :
- KRW 1 million per month for less than 1-year-olds, KRW 500,000 per month for 1-year-olds
- Payment method :
- Cash when childrearing from home, or a voucher when using a daycare center or full-time child care.
- If the voucher support amount is less than the parental benefit support amount, the difference is compensated in cash.
- Application :
- Parents/guardians can apply by visiting the infant/toddler's administrative welfare center (community center) or apply online (www.bokjiro.go.kr or through the mobile app “Bokjiro”)
(4)Homecare Allowance
- Eligibility for support :
- Children aged 24 to 86 months (pre-elementary school age) who do not go to a childcare center or kindergarten, or use a full-day childcare service (parental allowances are provided for children aged 0 to 23 months.)
- In the case of infants without Korean nationality, homecare allowance support is not provided (exception applies to refugees)
Support amount
| Childcare Allowance | Childcare Allowance for Children in Agricultural and Fishing Regions | Childcare Allowance for Children with Disabilities | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | Amount | Age | Amount | Age | Amount |
| 24~85 months | 100,000 | 24~35 months | 156,000 | 24~35 months | 200,000 |
| 36~47 months | 129,000 | 36~85 months | 100,000 | ||
| 48~85 months | 100,000 | ||||
- Supported until February of the year the child enters elementary school
- Allowance payment date :
- Payment is made on the 25th of the month (payment is made on the business day immediately prior if the date falls on a weekend or a holiday)
Method of payment
- Cash allowance (direct deposit to the bank account of the child or parent)
- Limited to parents that reside in the child’s household
- The allowance is deposited after verification of the receiver's account qualifications by the mayor, head of gun, or head of gu
Payment of allowance for change of address
- Move-in date is on or before the 15th of the month: payment provided by the mayor, head of gun, or head of gu of the new address
- Move-in date is on or after the 16th of the month: payment provided by the mayor, head of gun, or head of gu of the old address
Once a child is approved as qualifying for childcare allowance, the allowance is paid from the month of application until February of the year the child enters elementary school; all monthly allowances are paid without additional calculation.
- Calculation of supporting period: the child's birth year + until the February of the child’s 7th year (Preschool)
Approval qualifications
- Supported to all classes regardless of income (However, if the child is registered as disable, and a resident of farming and fishing district then the child qualifies to receive the corresponding child allotment.)
| Category | Homecare allowance | Allowance for farming and fishing areas | Allowance for disabled children |
|---|---|---|---|
| Additional Approval Requirements Required Documents | Copy of the bankbook of a parent or the child | Children of agricultural/fishing households (agricultural/fisheries business entity certificate, etc.) | Registered disabled children Certificate of registration of disabled person |
Application
- The child’s guardian can apply at the respective eup, myeon, or dong (township) community service center in their area of residence or via online application (www.bokjiro.go.kr or mobile app Bokjiro).
(5)Childcare Support Program
The government provides a childcare program in which a childcare giver visits to take care of children aged 12 or under for double-income families that do not have sufficient time for child-rearing. The program aims to reduce parents’ child-rearing burden and to close the gaps in facility childcare coverage.
Eligibility
- Children aged 3 months to 12 years with Korean nationality
Commissioned organizations
- 231 organizations that provide I-Dolbom services across the nation
Main Services
- Part-time service: Some services for children ages three months to twelve years include school/nursery pick-up and drop-off, assistance with preparing materials for school/nursery, temporary childcare until parents arrive, playtime activities, and prepared meals and snacks.
- Full-day infant care service: Provides full-day care for infants aged three to thirty-six months
- Special support service for children infected with diseases: Special support for hospital transport and care services for children aged 3 months to 12 years old to safeguard them at home due to infectious or epidemic diseases.
How to Apply for the Service-Process
Person applying for the service (Issuance of National Happiness Card in the applicant’s name)
- Those who are not qualified for government support
- Sign up as a member
After signing up on the homepage (idolbom.go.kr)
request approval of full membership - Approval of full membership
(agency providing competent service)
- Those who are qualified for government support
- Visit local community service center
Apply for government support by visiting the eup, myeon, or dong community center with jurisdiction over the child’s registered address. If both parents are employees enrolled in the employer-based National Health Insurance or if the parent is a single parent registered as an employer subscriber of national health insurance under the Single-Parent Family Support Act, you can apply for government support on the Bokjiro website (www.bokjiro.go.kr).
- Decision notice (via mail and text message)
- Sign up as a member
After signing up on the homepage (idolbom.go.kr)
request approval of full membership
- Service application
Apply for service on the desired date and time from the website
- Payment
When using National Happiness Card, pay the deductible to the card company
*Virtual account users need to make payments to their assigned virtual accounts in advance by one day before using the service - Service use
- For more information, inquire at a nearby local childcare service center, or search the website, idolbom.go.kr For more help, call ☎1577-1366 (Danuri Helpline)
