01 Infant 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
- A nursery school is a facility that provides care and education for children ages 0-5 and which hasbeen designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare pursuant to Article 10 (Type of Nursery) ofthe Infant Care Act.
- Operation hours are from 7:00 in the morning to 7:30 in the evening during weekdays. Some institutesprovide extra support such as extended operation hours, or 24 hour support for childcare, etc.
- A nursery school provides educational contents that promote a young child's health, safety, andmoral consciousness, including contents that promote physical, social, linguistic, cognitive, andemotional development.
- Monthly care cost differs by care time, age of children, and type of nursery facility. Government aid for 0-2 year-olds (including children of multicultural families) attending nursery school is KRW 353,000~484,000 depending on the age of the child. Government aid for 3-5 year-olds (including children of multicultural families) attending school is KRW 260,000 per month under the common Nuri course and KRW 502,000 for disabled preschool children aged 12 and below.
(2) Kindergarten
- A kindergarten is a school for young children aged 3 to 5 years.
- The standard education time is 09:00-17:00. Some education facilities may provide extended hoursof 07:00-22:00 for households in which both parents are working full time.
- A kindergarten focuses on laying a foundation of civil consciousness by promoting each child’sphysical and emotional development. Education is provided based on a curriculum consisting of 5main subjects: exercise/health, communication, social relationships, artistic experience, and natureresearch.
The curriculum mainly consists of integrated education that focuses on experience and activity (theme)to aid in holistic human development.
- For the education cost of young children aged 3-5 years, the government provides a subsidy ofKRW 60,000 per month for national/public kindergarten and KRW 240,000 per month for privatekindergarten.
Useful Information
Multicultural Education Policy School (Kindergarten)
Kindergartens designated as multicultural education policy schools (kindergartens) supportcustomized education for multicultural children including language, basic learning, etc. throughNuri curriculum and operate programs for understanding multicultural families for all children andparents. There are 131 kindergartens nationwide that are designated as multicultural kindergartens(as of 2018). You can check for the local multicultural education policy school (kindergarten)through the Education Offices of si (city) and do (province) or on the National Center for Multicultural Education website (www.nime.or.kr).
02 Childcare Subsidy/Preschooler Education Subsidy
Before enrolling in elementary school, young children (0-5 years) may enroll in nursery school (0-5years) or kindergarten (3-5 years); the country fully subsidizes all costs for their care or education inaccordance with each age group. A subsidy of a lesser amount is also provided to parents who do notuse daycare centers or kindergartens.
(1) Childcare Benefits
A nursery school is an institution that provides childcare for young children ages 0-5. When a child isenrolled in a nursery school, the government subsidizes the cost.
Qualifications
Young children (ages 0-5) who go to a nursery school and fall into the following categories receive the childcare benefits :
- Regardless of the income level of the children’s family, government aid for 0-2 year-olds (including children of multicultural families) attending nursery school is KRW 353,000~484,000 depending on the age of the child. Government aid for 3-5 year-olds (including children of multicultural families) attending school is KRW 260,000 per month under the common Nuri course and KRW 502,000 for disabled preschool children aged 12 and below.
Qualifications| Age | Subsidy | Subsidy for Children with Disabilities | Note |
|---|
| Childcare for age 0 | 470,000 | 502,000 | - |
| Childcare for age 1 | 426,000 |
| Childcare for age 2 | 353,000 |
| Childcare for age 3~5 | 260,000 |
- According to the reorganization of childcare support in March 2020, the costs are fully covered for basicchildcare (07:30~16:00). Additional support is available for children in need of extended childcare.
- Disabled children under the age of 5 who have a handicapped welfare card (certificate of registration) are provided with childcare benefits regardless of their household’s income. Likewise, exceptions apply for children ages 3-5 who are diagnosed/evaluated as requiring special education as per Article 15 of the Special Education Laws for Persons with Disabilities and Others. In addition, the degree of disability may not be indicated on the submitted doctor’s diagnosis, but the doctor’s opinion about the disability must be acceptable in accordance with 「the types and criteria of the disabled」 in the enforcement decree of the Welfare Law for Persons with Disabilities (Appendix 1) or pursuant to 「the selection standard for children with special educational needs」 as specified in the enforcement decree of the Act on Special Education for Persons with Disabilities and Others (Appendix).
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).
Parents
Application
Community service
centers of each eup,
myeon, and dong
Confirmation
Parents
The childcare fee is paid,
and child is eligible for
use of childcare
Childcare facility
Documents for submission
Social security benefits (social service) application (alteration) form, confirmation form reasoning of allday care, documents proving the qualifications (if applying for all day care), I-Haengbok Card application,and personal credit information access agreement Eligible applicants are given an I-Haengbok Card,which can be used to pay childcare fees (government subsidiary is deposited into the card account)
Eligible applicants are given an I-Haengbok Card, which can be used to pay childcare fees(government subsidiary is deposited into the card account)
(2) Child education expense benefits
Scope of subsidy
Scope of subsidy| Age | Division | Scope of support |
|---|
| 3-5 years old in full | Tuition for infants | Assistance for children ages 3-5 who go to National-Public-Private Kindergartens regardless of their parents' income levels |
| Tuition for after school courses | Assistance for children ages 3-5 who join after school courses which areoperated in connection with official kindergarten education (facilitiesoperating courses including the basic course for more than 8 hours per day; 7hours if parents are agreed) |
- Tuition support is not provided to the infants without the nationality of the Republic of Korea (Refugees are exceptional).
Support amount
Support amount| Items | Age | Date of birth | Amount of subsidiary (monthly) |
|---|
| National and public kindergartens | Private kindergartens |
|---|
| Tuition | Age 5 | January 1 ~ December 31, 2014 | 60,000 | 240,000 |
| Age 4 | January 1 ~ December 31, 2015 |
| Age 3 | January 1, 2016 ~ February 19, 2017 |
| Tuition for afterschool courses | Between 3 and 5 | January 1, 2014 ~ February 29, 2017 | 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) The recipient household must remit the balance to the kindergarten after subtracting the childcare benefit amount from the tuition.
- Recipient verification and confirmation/application of benefit amount through electronic card (I-Haengbok Card)
(3) Homecare Allowance
- Qualification :
- Preschool children under 86 months of age who do not attend nursery, kindergarten, or whole-day I-Dolbom services.
- In the case of infants without Korean nationality, homecare allowance support is not provided (exception applies to refugees)
Support amount
- Homecare allowance (by age of child): Below 12 months (KRW 200,000 per month), 12-24 months (KRW 150,000 per month), and 24-86 months (KRW 100,000 per month)
- Allowance for disabled children (by age of child): Below 36 months (KRW 200,000 per month), 36-86 months (KRW 100,000 per month)
- Allowance for farming and fishing areas (by age of child): Below 12 months (KRW 200,000 permonth), 12-23 months (KRW 177,000 per month), 24-35 months (KRW 156,000 per month),36-47months (KRW 129,000 per month), 48-86 months (KRW 100,000 per month)
Support amount| Age | Homecare allowance | Age | Allowance for farming and fishing areas | Age | Allowance for disabled children |
|---|
| 0-11 months | 200,000 | 0-11 months | 200,000 | 0-35 months | KRW 200,000 |
| 12-23 months | 150,000 | 12-23 months | 177,000 |
| 24-35 months | 100,000 | 24-35 months | 156,000 |
| 36-86 months | 100,000 | 36-47 months | 129,000 | 36-86 months | KRW 100,000 |
| 48-86 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
Retroactive allowance for newborn babies
- For those who register for childcare allowance within 60 days of birth of the child (60 days including the day the child was born), the date of birth is considered the initial date of benefit for retroactive allowance.
- Method of payment: Retroactive allowance if paid on the month of the first payment
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 fromthe month of application until February of the year the child enters elementary school; allmonthly allowances are paid without additional calculation.
- Calculation of supporting period: the child's birth year + until the February of the child’s 7th year
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.)
Approval qualifications| 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 from farming and fishing households
(Verification of agricultural management body registration, etc.) | Registered disabled children Certificate of registration of disabled person |
Application
- The child’s guardian can apply at the respective eup, myeon, or dong community service centers intheir area of residence or via online application (www.bokjiro.go.kr or mobile app Bokjiro).
(4) Childcare Support Program
The government provides a childcare program in which a childcare giver visits to take care of childrenaged 12 or under for double-income families that do not have sufficient time for child-rearing. Theprogram 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
- 223 organizations that provide I-Dolbom services across the nation
Main Services
- Part-time and comprehensive care services: commuting to school and childcare centers, preparation for supplies, temporary childcare until the parents are back, play activities, and giving prepared meals and snacks, etc. for children between three months and 12 years old
- Comprehensive care service includes household chores.
- All-day service for infants: provides all-day care service for infants between 3 months and 36 months
- Special support service for ill children: if a child between three months and 12 years of age cannot usefacilities such as a childcare facility, kindergarten, school, etc. due to an infectious disease or epidemic,the program protects the child at home by accompanying him or her to a hospital and providing careservice.
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 visitingeup, myeon, or dong community service center withjurisdiction for registered residence of the childWhen both parents are insured by the employer orone parent is registered under the Single-ParentFamily Support Act and insured by the employer,one can apply for government support viathe 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 accountsin 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)
본 저작물은 '한국건강가정진흥원'에서 '2020년' 작성하여 공공누리 제4유형으로 개방한 '한국생활가이드북'을 이용하였으며, 해당 저작물은 '한국건강가정진흥원, www.kihf.or.kr' 에서 무료로 다운받으실 수 있습니다.
