The government is expanding eligibility for child care subsidies to ease the burden on young parents raising children while continuing their studies.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said on the 12th that it will loosen the income requirement for households in which both parents are 24 or younger. Starting next year, the median income threshold will rise to 66% or below, from the current 65% or below. Households selected for the program receive 250,000 won ($175) per child each month.
The ministry has provided child care payments to these households since 2022. The program is intended to help young parents build a foundation for independence while balancing child care with school or work. As of 2024, there were 1,688 such households nationwide, according to the National Data Agency's registry of statistics on households with children.
Won Min-kyung, minister of gender equality and family, said the ministry will step up outreach so that every young parent in need receives support. "We will expand assistance for the stable growth of children and the independence of young parents," she said.
