Potential Demand for Childcare Services Reaches 630,000 Households... "Private Sector Cooperation Needed"

Mismatch Between Public Childcare Demand and Supply
One-Month Wait Even After Applying for Services
Private Childcare Costs Three Times More
"Need for Public-Private Cooperation Measures"
Gender Equality and Family Ministry Audit on the 4th

The waiting time to access public childcare services is increasing. With the potential demand estimated at 630,000 households, there are calls for cooperation between the public and private sectors.

According to data titled "Status of Applications and Usage of Childcare Services" received by the office of Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Yeonhee from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family on November 4, the number of households that applied for the service last year was 139,508, but the number of registered childcare workers was only 29,635. The average number of households on the waiting list for childcare services was 9,519, with an average waiting period of 32.8 days. This means that families have to wait for more than a month after applying before they can use the service.

Yonhap News Agency

Households unable to access the affordable public childcare services provided by the government are forced to use more expensive private childcare options. The number of households using private childcare is estimated to be around 110,000, which is comparable to the number using public services (118,126 households). However, the expenditure gap between public and private services is more than threefold. According to the National Childcare Survey, households using public childcare services paid an average of 462,000 won per month last year, while those using private services spent 1,428,000 won.

Meanwhile, estimates suggest that the potential demand for childcare services could reach up to 630,000 households. According to the Korea Development Institute's (KDI) research report, "Current Status and Improvement Plans for the Childcare Helper Market," if the quality of childcare services is improved and costs are reduced, the combined potential demand for public and private services is projected to be 630,066 households.

Industry experts believe that in order to address the massive demand for childcare, it is necessary to consider linking private childcare services with the limited public workforce. While private childcare services have been criticized for being less trustworthy than public ones, a legal amendment will introduce a national qualification system for childcare workers and a registration system for private childcare service providers starting in April next year. This provides a legal basis for managing and supporting private childcare services that previously operated outside the regulatory framework.

With the government reorganization plan to expand the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family into the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family being approved at the Cabinet meeting on the 30th, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will officially launch as the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family starting next month on the 1st. In the afternoon of the same day, the signboard replacement work is in full swing at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family in the Government Seoul Building, Jongno-gu, Seoul. 2025.9.30 Photo by Jo Yongjun

Assemblywoman Lee stated, "The government should use the introduction of the registration system as an opportunity to establish plans for private sector cooperation and close the cost gap between public and private users, creating a childcare environment where all parents can entrust their children with confidence." She added, "The state's responsibility for childcare should become a reality, not just a slogan."

This issue is expected to be addressed at the National Assembly Gender Equality and Family Committee's audit of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which is being held today. As the ministry has been reorganized and expanded from the former Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, questions regarding changes before and after the reorganization, as well as inquiries about President Lee Jaemyung's directive to address the issue of reverse discrimination against young men, are likely to be raised. Measures against new forms of violence, such as digital sex crimes and dating violence or stalking, are also expected to be topics of interest.

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