On September 1, 2023, the Seoul Childcare Fee program began, providing a monthly stipend of 300,000 won to grandparents, uncles, aunts, and other relatives who care for grandchildren.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the program is designed to support families with childcare gaps, such as dual-income, single-parent, and multi-child families, where it is difficult for parents to care for their children themselves.
It is the flagship program of the “Mom and Dad Happiness Project,” which aims to make Seoul a better place to raise children.
According to a survey by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, 47% of the parents in Seoul who are raising children aged 0 to 12 years old are raising their children at home, and in this case, the main caregivers are grandparents (66.9%) or relatives (4.2%).
If a person in a fourth-degree kinship relationship, such as a grandparent, takes care of a child for more than 40 hours a month, the government will support a monthly care fee of 300,000 won. (If relatives are unavailable or prefer to use private services, they will receive a voucher worth 300,000 won per month to use private services. Benefits are paid for up to 13 months.)
For two infants, the support is 450,000 won per month (60 hours or more per month), and for three infants, 600,000 won per month (80 hours or more per month).
Eligible families are those with a child between 24 and 36 months of age as of October this year who have a childcare gap due to working two jobs. Dual-income families will receive a 25 percent reduction in their combined income.
Residents of other cities and provinces can also receive support as childcare assistants.