Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bewolff]

My son goes to Daycare here in Korea, however because he is not a Korean citizen, as neither of his parents are Korean, we have been told he does not qualify for the assistance that Korean kids qualify for.

We pay a pretty hefty 400k per month for quite frankly, a sub par daycare center.

Does anyone know anything about this? Is this iron clad about non-Korean kids not qualifying for support? Is there some sort of phone number I can call?

[coralreefer_1]

You can check this site. Of course the English version doesnt provide as much detail, but this is the government site for government provided welfare assistance. www.bokjiro.go.kr. ( scroll down a bit for the English version)


Here is what the English version says concerning your question.

http://www.bokjiro.go.kr/nwel/html/world/en/WII00000416.html

Phone numbers can be found on the site.

[Lazio]

Not to be a jerk but it would make sense if the subsidy is only available for citizens. It is paid by their fellow citizens in form of various taxes etc. Yes, I know you pay tax too. This whole thing was created so that the dangerously low birth rate in the country would get a boost.

Temporary residents are different from citizens and enjoy different benefits. Not just in Korea.

If it makes you feel any better, the system doesn't work too well. Local governments should come up with the funding for this program but many have no budget for it. So in many areas they just stopped paying it or will soon. Even if there is subsidy available, you would still need to pay about 150 -200k/month for a bunch of additions like meals, bus pick-up, various educational programs etc.

There is no such thing as completely free day-care as far as I know. The local government operated centers (시립, 구립) come close, but still not entirely free. And since such places only have capacity for about 10% of the children, you can imagine how hard it is to get in.

[Fox]

[Lazio]

[Coltronator]

Nationally Subsidized Daycare covers you dropping your kid off between 9am to 10am and picking them up yourself at 3:30pm if the family includes a stay at home parent or before 6pm if both working (this rule is quite new, used to be 6pm for everyone before June 20th.) It also guarantees your child a healthy lunch and 2 snacks (usually one porridge and one fruit/ricecake/potato/corn). As a national Daycare you also receive daycare not preschooling programs. Which means about a 2/1 ratio of play time to structured activity time(exlcuing Lunch/snack time from ratio) For this your total costs are 100k/month, and about 75k/3 months for field trip fees. When you join you are also required to buy a uniform for about 30k X 2 (summer/winter) and an entrance fee in the neighbourhood of 200k. Even with subsidization you would have a monthly Bus fee if you choose to take advantage of the bus.

If you do not qualify for subsidization then what you say is quite likely all legit. 400k+/month. At this point it may be worthwhile to look at a private preschool as they receive no subsidization and therefore will pay the same as all other parents. As a Korean Preschool the ratio of free to structure will be about 1:1 for the 2, 1:2 for 3 year olds and 1:3 for 4s and 1:4 for 5s (about, certain places vary as they are private businesses) This could cost anywhere from 700k/month to 1000k/month.

[Lazio]

Nice details.

Apparently this change in the schedule has been postponed. At least where we are. Ajummas are bitching about it for obvious reasons. The daycares are complaining as their budget would be trimmed. Even those mothers complaining that would pick up their children after work, because many other kids would leave hours earlier so their kids' friends would be gone etc. Seems like it's not going to happen until the end of July. Or maybe never.
Children from multicultural families however are able to stay until six even with only one parent working.

[Stain]

Have you tried hagwons?