By Emmanuel Nduka
The financial burden of raising children in South Korea increased in 2024, with households spending an average of 1.12 million won ($801) per month on childcare, education, food, and clothing.
This is up 140,000 won ($101) from 2021.
The latest data comes from the country’s Education Ministry, which conducted a nationwide survey involving 2,494 households and 3,058 daycare centers between August and December last year.
The study found that childcare costs now make up 17.8% of household income, down from 19.3% in 2021.
The survey, conducted every three years since 2004, revealed that 55.3% of households sent their children to daycare centers and 26.5% to kindergartens. Children spent an average of 7 hours and 31 minutes per day in daycare and 7 hours and 20 minutes in kindergartens.
Among the surveyed families, 97% of fathers and 64.2% of mothers were employed. A total of 3,007 infants and toddlers were part of the study.
