Is there an income limit?

No — Parental Allowance is a universal benefit with no income or asset test. Home-raising the child is the only core condition.

Can foreign-national parents in Korea apply?

Foreign nationals may qualify under certain conditions. Contact Bokjiro or the MOHW for your specific situation.

Do we receive double for twins?

Yes — the benefit is per child. Twin infants under 1 would each qualify for ₩1M/month, totaling ₩2M/month.

Can I receive the allowance while using daycare?

Partial overlap is possible — but the daycare voucher and cash allowance interact. The exact structure depends on the type of childcare used. Check the MOHW official guide or your community center.

What happens after the child turns 2?

Parental Allowance covers only children under 24 months. For age 2 and above, different childcare support schemes apply — check the MOHW or Bokjiro for current options.

Parental Allowance (부모급여)

Monthly cash payments for parents raising children at home — ₩1M/month for infants under 1, ₩500K/month for age 1.

Benefit Amount (2024 rates — currently in effect)

Parents who raise their child at home (not in daycare) receive a monthly cash deposit: ₩1,000,000 for children under 12 months, and ₩500,000 for children aged 12–23 months.

Under 1 year old (0–11 months)

₩1,000,000 / month

Age 1 (12–23 months)

₩500,000 / month

These are the 2024 rates, which remain in effect. Amounts may change with future budgets. Always verify the current figure at the MOHW official site.

Eligibility

Parents (or primary caregivers) of children born on or after January 1, 2022, aged 0–1 (under 24 months), who are raising the child at home (not enrolled full-time in daycare or a public childcare center). There is no income or asset limit. Foreign nationals — confirm eligibility at Bokjiro or MOHW.

How to Apply

Apply within 60 days of birth to receive payments backdated to the birth date. Applications after 60 days are paid from the application date onward.

1Online via Government 24 (www.gov.kr) — recommended for fastest processing
2Online via Bokjiro (www.bokjiro.go.kr)
3In person at your local community center (읍·면·동 주민센터)

Typically required: photo ID, bank account details. Confirm exact documents with the applying institution.

Replacing the Old Childcare Allowance

Parental Allowance replaced the previous childcare allowance (양육수당, ₩200–300K/month) starting in 2023. If you were receiving the old allowance, you were automatically switched. You cannot receive both simultaneously.

What Happens If You Use Daycare

If you enroll your child in a licensed daycare center (어린이집) or use full-day child care services, the Parental Allowance converts to a daycare voucher and the cash payment is reduced accordingly. When your child starts or stops daycare, you must update your benefit status to avoid overpayment issues.

Always report daycare enrollment or withdrawal to avoid benefit overlaps that may require repayment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an income limit?: No — Parental Allowance is a universal benefit with no income or asset test. Home-raising the child is the only core condition.
Can foreign-national parents in Korea apply?: Foreign nationals may qualify under certain conditions. Contact Bokjiro or the MOHW for your specific situation.
Do we receive double for twins?: Yes — the benefit is per child. Twin infants under 1 would each qualify for ₩1M/month, totaling ₩2M/month.
Can I receive the allowance while using daycare?: Partial overlap is possible — but the daycare voucher and cash allowance interact. The exact structure depends on the type of childcare used. Check the MOHW official guide or your community center.
What happens after the child turns 2?: Parental Allowance covers only children under 24 months. For age 2 and above, different childcare support schemes apply — check the MOHW or Bokjiro for current options.

Related Guides

Official Sources

Always verify with the official sources below