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  • Ministry of Gender Equality and Family
  • Korean Institute for Healthy Family

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가족상담전화 : 1644-6621

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Support for Single-Parent Families

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Support for Single-Parent Families

In recent years, the number of single-parent families has been increasing due to divorce, death, and financial difficulties. The government has developed and currently operates diverse support programs for the stability and wellbeing of single-parent families.

01Types of Services

(1)Assistance for childcare expenses, etc. for single-parent families

Assistance for childcare expenses, etc. for single-parent families
Items Descriptions
Descriptions
  • Children who are younger than 18 years old of age and raised by single parent with low income (ratio of the medium income to recognized amount of income: 63% and less) are eligible; provided, if the child is in school, the child shall be younger than 22 years old of age in order to be eligible; if the child performed military services during his or her schooling years, the duration of his or her military services shall be added to the age limits for eligibility.
    • Single-parent family certificate issuance qualification: below 63% of the median income
Support contents
  • Childcare expenses: Children below 18 years, monthly assistance of KRW 210,000
    • However, if you are attending high school or lower (until December of your junior year of high school), you can apply until you reach the age of 21.
  • Additional childrearing expenses :
    • For children raised by grandparents or single parent (over 35 years old and not married), an additional KRW 50,000 is provided per child, if the child is below full 5 years
    • For children 5 years old or below raised by a single parent aged 25-34: additional KRW 100,000 provided per child
    • For children 6 years old or above raised by a single parent aged 25-34: additional KRW 50,000 provided per child
  • Child education expenses (school supplies): grant of KRW 93,000 per year for each middle or high school student
  • Supplementary living allowance: grant of KRW 50,000 per month for eligible single-parent families
Households excluded from support
  • Child support, additional child support
    • When receiving foster care (childrearing guardianship) subsidies under the Child Welfare Act
  • Cost of living (Livelihood subsidies)
    • When receiving basic livelihood benefits under the National Basic Livelihood Security Act
    • When receiving livelihood welfare support under the Emergency Welfare Support Act
    • When receiving foster care (childrearing guardianship) under the Child Welfare Act
  • Child education expenses (school supplies)
    • Educational benefits according to the National Basic Livelihood Security Act
    • Educational support according to the Welfare Law for Persons with Disabilities
    • Educational support according to the Emergency Welfare Support Act
Standards for Countable Household Income Eligible for Single Parent Family Support Act (as of 2024)
(Unit: KRW / Month)
Standards for Countable Household Income Eligible for Single Parent Family Support Act (as of 2020)
Classification 2 members 3 members 4 members 5 members 6 members
Single parent and grandparentled family 63% of standard median income 2,320,044 2,970,234 3,609,845 4,218,313 4,799,572

(2)Support of single young parents seeking independence

Support of single young parents seeking independence
Items Descriptions
Qualifications
  • The child’s mother or father is under the age of 24, and reported income is below 65% of the median income level.
    • Single-parent family certificate issuance qualification: below 72% of the median income
Support
  • Childrearing expenses: KRW 350,000 worth of monthly support is provided per child for a young one-parent family household
    • However, for children aged up to 1, the fee is KRW 400,000 per month per child.
  • Schooling support for school qualification exams: KRW 1.54 million worth of annual support is provided when a mother or father of a young single-parent family studies for a qualification exam.
  • Allowance for facilitating self-sufficiency: KRW 100,000 worth of monthly support is provided when a father or mother of a young single-parent family engages in self-development activities such as schooling or employment.
Households excluded from the support
  • Childcare expenses, supplementary living allowance
    • If receiving Livelihood Benefits in accordance with the National Basic Livelihood Security Act
      • Childcare expenses provided
    • If receiving Livelihood Benefits in accordance with the Emergency Welfare Support Act
    • If receiving domestic foster care subsidy in accordance with the Child Welfare Act
  • Child education expenses (school supplies), study expenses for school qualification exams
    • Educational benefits according to the National Basic Livelihood Security Act
    • Education expenses according to the Welfare Law for Persons with Disabilities
    • Educational support according to the Emergency Welfare Support Act
The standard for reported income for young one-parent families in 2024
2023년 청소년 한부모가구 소득인정액 기준
Classification 2 members 3 members 4 members 5 members 6 members
Youth single parent 65% of standard median income 2,393,696 3,064,527 3,724,443 4,352,228 4,951,940
72% of standard median income 2,651,478 3,394,553 4,125,537 4,820,929 5,485,226

02How to Apply

  • Visit eup, myeon or dong community service center of residence of the householder for counseling or application. Online application is also available at bokjiro.go.kr
  • Applicants who qualify for support after household and income inspection is completed by the city, gu, or gun of the residential area, will be notified by mail.
  • Counseling and inquiry: Call for single-parent counseling at Tel. No. (☎1644-6621) or avail of online counseling at (website of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, www.mogef.go.kr)
I have divorced my husband.
I don't know how I'm going to support myself. Is there any way I can get help?

If your child has Korean nationality and your income is not enough to support you and your child, then you are eligible to be a beneficiary of welfare services or national basic living security. Whether or not you can be a beneficiary of this program is determined by the public official in charge, based on the results of an official evaluation of income, assets, etc. If you are faced with an emergency situation, you can apply for emergency welfare services. For more information and to determine which program is right for you, please contact your local community service center (eup, myeon, dong), or the Health and Welfare Call Center (☎129), or One-parent Call Canter (☎1644-6621). If you are unable to communicate in Korean, please enlist the help of a Korean speaker in order to receive counseling.

  • Foreign mother or father of single-parent households supported by the Single-Parent Family Support Act residing in Korea (foreigners who have completed alien registration as per Article 31 of the Immigration Control Act) and who is raising children of Korean nationality on her/his own.
Useful Information
Service for Child Rearing Expenses

This comprehensive service will provide counseling, negotiation, legal filing, claim recovery, or measures so that a parent raising a child after divorce or a single parent with a child can receive stable child support from the other parent.

Qualifications
  • Parent or grandparent raising a child under the age of 19 pursuant to 「Act on Enforcing and Supporting Child Support Payment」
  • Parent or grandparent raising a child pursuant to 「Single-parent Family Support Act」
    • If child is in college, support until the child becomes 22 years old (for child returning to the college after military service, 22 years + military service period)
    • For multicultural family or a family in which one parent is an immigrant, if the child has citizenship of the Republic of Korea, he/she can receive support.
Descriptions
  • Telephone counseling, online counseling, and personal counseling related to child support
  • Support for negotiation between parties related to child support
  • Support for legal procedures such as lawsuits for child support
  • Support for claiming bonds of child support
  • Taking measures against those who default on payment of child support
  • Monitoring of the progress
  • Support of emergency expenses for childcare
Support of emergency expenses for childcare

When there is the risk that a child may not grow in a healthy environment due to delayed payment of child support, emergency child rearing expenses will be provided on a temporary basis.

  • Support conditions
    • Creditor of child rearing expenses who applied for service of performance to the Child Support Agency
    • Applicable if the household income is below 75% of the standard median income
    • If you are not receiving livelihood welfare benefits under the National Basic Living Security Act or livelihood welfare support under the Emergency Aid Support Act.
  • Support amount: KRW 200,000 monthly per child
  • Support period: Nine months (can be extended by three months if necessary)
  • All of the above conditions should be met to obtain support.
How to Use
  • Telephone counseling : ☎1644-6621
  • Online counseling : www.childsupport.or.kr
  • Visitation counseling : Child Support Management Office, 21 & 24 FL, 173 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul (Chungmuro 3-ga, Namsan Square), (reservation required)
  • Application must be made online, by mail, or in person.
  • If interpretation is required, call Danuri Helpline ☎1577-1366 for more information.
Korea Open Government License
This work can be used according to the “KOGL (Korea Open Government License) Type 4: Source Indication+Prohibition of Commercial Use+Prohibition of Change” condition.
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