'Unrealistic 200,000 KRW Monthly Government Support'... 80% of Adolescent Parents Say "Childcare Costs Are Burdensome"

Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Surveys 402 Recipients of Childcare Support Payments

It was found that 8 out of 10 'youth parents' under the age of 24 who are raising children feel a heavy burden of childcare costs.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced the results of the 'Status of Youth Parents and Empirical Study on Childcare Cost Support' conducted on youth parents where both parents are under 24 years old on the 3rd.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family provides childcare support of 200,000 KRW per child per month to low-income (below 60% of the median income) youth parent households. This study was also conducted on 402 participants of the pilot project for youth parent childcare cost support, which was implemented in July last year, to analyze the effectiveness of the project.

The average age of youth parents was 22.5 years, with 27.4% aged 24, followed by 23.8% aged 23. The proportion of youth parents aged 20 or younger was 8.3%.

The average number of children was 1.4, with 69.1% of households having one child and 26.3% having two children, indicating that most households have 1 to 2 children. The average age of the children was 1.8 years.

At the time of the spouse's pregnancy, the most common occupation of youth fathers was part-time or non-regular jobs (34.5%), and the most common occupation of youth mothers at the time of their own pregnancy was unemployed (30.7%).

Although 96.1% of all respondents said they decided to have children on their own, only 41.3% responded that they became pregnant because they wanted to. The rate of those who had thought about not giving birth was 29.3%, and 9.5% had considered having someone else raise the child.

Seven out of ten youth parents (68.3%) experienced postpartum depression, but 9 out of 10 (90.1%) had never received professional counseling. The rate of postpartum depression was relatively higher among those with three or more children and those whose first childbirth occurred during their minor years.

43.1% of youth parents had no plans for additional children, while 29.1% had plans for more children.

Among youth parents planning additional children, the most common timing was 'after 2 years' (50.5%), followed by 'between 1 and 2 years' (26.0%) and 'within 1 year' (23.5%).

Many youth parents felt the burden of childcare costs and responded that child care services were necessary.

79.7% of youth parents felt difficulty in bearing childcare costs, with a higher proportion among females (82.1%) and those with more children.

The types of services desired when children are alone were activation of nighttime daycare centers (47.7%), activation of government-supported emergency childcare services (38.3%), meal provision services (4.4%), and child pick-up and drop-off services (4.1%), in that order.

The average monthly income was 2.96 million KRW, which is about 68% of the average household income (4.358 million KRW).

By category, earned income was 2.228 million KRW, government support was 555,000 KRW, and family allowances were 158,000 KRW.

56.7% of all households saved money, and 44.9% had debts.

The average debt amount for households with debt was 49.91 million KRW, and 5.5% of respondents were in a state of credit delinquency.

57.8% of youth parents reported being currently employed, which is double the economic activity participation rate (29.6%) of those aged 15 to 24.

However, more than half (54.7%) of the employment types were non-regular jobs, and only 34.4% were regular positions.

Only 11% of youth parents had received vocational training.

Challenges during training included 'lack of proper childcare' (44.9%), 'burden of training costs' (19.8%), and 'inability to earn living expenses during training' (18.2%).

15.8% of female youth parents experienced school dropout during pregnancy and childbirth.

The main reasons were 'not wanting the pregnancy or childbirth to be known to others' (45.2%) and 'lack of a place to leave the child' (33.1%). The timing of dropout was 53.1% at university level or higher and 46.9% at high school level.

Regarding the pilot project for childcare cost support implemented by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family since July last year, respondents said it was helpful, but more than half said the support amount should be doubled or more.

The majority responded that childcare cost support 'helps with raising children' (96.5%) and 'reduced the burden of childcare costs after support' (70%).

The most common appropriate support amount suggested was '400,000 KRW or more' (49.0%), followed by 300,000 KRW (35.8%). Only 6.1% said the current level (200,000 KRW) was appropriate.

Park Jeong-ae, head of the Family Support Division at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, said, "It is very hopeful that youth parents, who are facing the triple hardships of childcare, schooling, and employment, have plans for additional childbirth. We plan to expand government support to alleviate the burden of childcare costs and child care."

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