Seoul City Provides Special COVID-19 Support for 'Idolbom Service'... Up to 90% Discount on Fees

Expansion of 'Idolbom Service' Support Funds to Ease Childcare Burden for Families with Children Aged 3 Months to 12 Years
Out-of-Pocket Fees 10-60% Based on Income, Support Also for Families Exceeding 150% Median Income

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City announced on the 15th that it will begin a special COVID-19 support program this month to temporarily expand the subsidy for 'childcare service' usage fees up to 90% in order to alleviate the economic burden on families using the service due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose is to strengthen support so that there is no care gap at home caused by school closures, remote classes, or daycare center closures with the start of the new semester.

With this special support, families using the service will only need to pay 10-60% of the usage fee (1,055 to 6,330 KRW per hour) based on household income criteria. Previously, they had to pay 15-100% of the fee (1,583 to 10,550 KRW per hour). In particular, this special support includes families with income exceeding 150% of the median income as eligible recipients. Previously, families exceeding 150% of the median income were excluded from support and had to bear the full cost (10,550 KRW per hour), but under this special support, 40% of the fee is subsidized, so they only pay 6,330 KRW per hour.

This special support applies only to hourly services (basic and comprehensive types) and full-day infant care services used between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. Eligible families are those who, according to childcare support criteria, have ▲ children aged 12 or younger, ▲ experience a caregiving gap, and ▲ wish to use the 'childcare service.' Additionally, while the annual usage fee subsidy limit for hourly services is 840 hours, under this special support, families using the service between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays can receive subsidies without any limit.

The special support has been in effect since the 2nd to coincide with the start of the new semester and will be operated flexibly depending on budget conditions or the COVID-19 situation. To use the service, families must obtain a National Happiness Card → register as a member (apply for full membership) on the Childcare Service website → apply for the service and prepay the existing fee before use, and later receive reimbursement of the special support subsidy from the local service provider.

Meanwhile, the special support for COVID-19 medical and quarantine personnel (government subsidy rate 60-90%), which has been in effect since March last year, is applied separately. Kim Seon-soon, Director of the Seoul City Women and Family Policy Office, said, “We expect this special support to help dual-income families struggling with childcare due to remote schooling caused by COVID-19,” and added, “We will continue to make policy efforts to provide a reliable 'childcare service' that families can trust.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.