Jeonbuk State announced on the 3rd that starting in March, it will provide partial childcare fee support to foreign children attending daycare centers within the province.

 

With that measure, the support-previously limited to only some cities and countries-will be expanded to all cities and countries in the province, and as of December 2025, 406 foreign children attending daycare centers will receive childcare fee reduction benefits.

 

Under the Infant Care Act, only infants and young children with Korean nationality and a resident registration number had been eligible for children fee support. As a result, foreign children were required to pay the full childcare fees, or daycare centers had to independently reduce the fees and at their own discretion, placing a continued burden on the field. In response, the province promoted institutional improvements by reflecting suggestions raised by the provincial council, cities and countries, daycare center associations, and participants at on-site meetings.

 

The beneficiaries are foreign children aged 0 to 5 who have legally resided in the province for more than 90 days and are attending daycare centers; undocumented and unregistered residents are excluded. The amount of support is KRW 175,000 per month for 0-year-olds, and KRW 154,000 per month for 1-year-olds, and KRW 127,000 per month for 2-year-olds. For preschoolers(ages 3-5), the amount is KRW 84,000 per month. The support will be provided in the form of vouchers through the I-Haengbok Card.

 

Bang Sang-yoon, Director of the Welfare, Women and Health Bureau of the province, stated, “This support marks the starting point of inclusive childcare, ensuring that foreign children can also access childcare services without discrimination,”adding, “We will continue to reflect opinions from the field to create a childcare environment where children can grow up healthy.”