Can foreign children also attend daycare centers? What about childcare fee support?

Yes, foreign children can also attend daycare centers. Childcare fee support is not the same across the country. It differs by the area where you live (city/province, city/county/district).

How to enter a daycare center

• Foreign children can use daycare centers. The admission priority rules apply only to children with Korean nationality, so foreign children are admitted under the general order.
• A city/county/district officer must register the child in the Integrated Childcare Information System (보육통합정보시스템) before the child can enter.
• To apply for the waiting list for a foreign child, call the I-Sarang Call Center (아이사랑 콜센터) at 1566-3232 (press 1).

Fee support differs by area

The national childcare fee and child-rearing allowance are for children with Korean nationality who have a resident registration number. There are only a few exceptions, such as refugees. So foreign children get support from each local government. Below are examples.

| Area | Support |

|---|---|

| Seoul | About 50% for ages 0-2, about 70% for ages 3-5 (age 0: 292,000 KRW per month, age 1: 257,500 KRW per month, age 2: 213,000 KRW per month) |

| Incheon | 280,000 KRW per month for ages 3-5 (must live in the area for more than 90 days and have a stay registration) |

| Suwon | 150,000 KRW per month for ages 0-5 |

In Seoul, the amount for ages 3-5 depends on the type of daycare center. For national/public and Seoul-type centers, it is 196,000 KRW per month. For private, home-based and other centers not supported by the government, it is 352,310 KRW per month for age 3 and 337,470 KRW per month for ages 4-5.

How to apply (usually)

1. Complete the Alien Registration for the child and the parent.
2. Apply for support at the daycare center your child attends. In Suwon, you submit the application form, a copy of the Alien Registration Card, and a certificate of Alien Registration facts.
3. Get a National Happiness Card (국민행복카드) and use it to pay the childcare fee. The support money goes to the daycare center through the card company.

⚠️ Things to watch out for

You need an Alien Registration Card. If your stay is not registered (illegal stay), you are excluded from support. Amounts and conditions can change by area.

Check once more with your community service center (주민센터) or the childcare department of your city/county/district office. If you tell me where you live, I can give you more specific guidance.