Republic of Korea's universal cash benefit for infants aged 0–23 months: 1,000,000 KRW/mo (age 0) and 500,000 KRW/mo (age 1) for Korean-resident families — eligibility, application, daycare interaction
| Category | Monthly Amount | 24-Month Total |
|---|---|---|
| Age 0 (0–11 months) | 1,000,000 KRW | 12,000,000 KRW |
| Age 1 (12–23 months) | 500,000 KRW | 6,000,000 KRW |
| Total (2 years) | - | 18,000,000 KRW |
| Daycare (age 0) | Childcare voucher ~540,000 KRW + cash ~460,000 KRW = 1,000,000 KRW total |
| Daycare (age 1) | Childcare voucher ~475,000 KRW + cash ~25,000 KRW = 500,000 KRW total |
| Full-day sitter (age 0) | Voucher/subsidy deducted first, remainder paid as cash |
| Home care only | Full amount paid in cash to the guardian's bank account |
| Child Allowance (아동수당) | 100,000 KRW/mo for every child under 8 (stacks with parental benefit) |
| First Meet Voucher (첫만남이용권) | 2,000,000 KRW voucher per newborn (Gukmin Happiness Card) |
| Local birth grants | Varies by Korean municipality — check your si/gun/gu ordinance |
| Parental Leave Pay (육아휴직급여) | Separate program for employees — apply at Korean employment center |
This page is an informational summary about a South Korea–only program, based on the Ministry of Health & Welfare's parental benefit notice (as of April 2026). It does not replace official notices or administrative eligibility rulings, and applies exclusively to families with infants registered in the Republic of Korea. Daycare voucher amounts shown (~540k KRW at age 0, ~475k at age 1) are representative values; actual voucher rates change yearly per Ministry notice. Municipal birth grants, First Meet Voucher, and Child Allowance stacking rules follow local ordinances and current policy, so always verify the latest info on Bokjiro, Gov24, or your local Korean community center before applying. This site makes no warranty as to accuracy or timeliness and disclaims all liability for any loss arising from its use.
Parental Benefit (부모급여) is a universal cash transfer run by the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Health & Welfare, paid to Korean-resident families with infants aged 0–23 months to support intensive care during infancy. Since 2024, age 0 receives 1,000,000 KRW monthly and age 1 receives 500,000 KRW monthly, for a 2-year total of up to 18,000,000 KRW. There is no income or asset test — all Korean-national infants qualify. Families using daycare receive a childcare voucher first, with the remainder paid in cash; full-day sitter users receive cash net of government subsidy. Parental Benefit stacks with the Korean Child Allowance (100k KRW/mo) and First Meet Voucher (2,000,000 KRW).
No — Korea's Happy Birth One-Stop service lets you file parental benefit, child allowance, and the first-meet voucher together with birth registration, either at the community center or on Gov24.
Retroactive payment to the birth month is available only if you apply within 60 days. After that, benefits start from the application month, so apply together with birth registration whenever possible.
Daycare users receive a voucher (~540,000 KRW at age 0, ~475,000 KRW at age 1) applied first; the difference from the monthly amount is deposited as cash. At age 0, that means roughly 460,000 KRW cash per month.
Yes — Parental Benefit and the Child Allowance are separate programs. Every child under age 8 in Korea receives 100,000 KRW/mo in Child Allowance, so an age-0 child effectively receives 1,100,000 KRW/mo in cash equivalents.
Parental Benefit is independent of work status — it always pays. Korean Parental Leave Pay (from employment insurance) is a separate benefit, so you can receive both.
Yes — the benefit is per child, so twins receive two payments (2,000,000 KRW/mo total at age 0, 1,000,000 KRW/mo at age 1). The First Meet Voucher also pays 2,000,000 KRW per newborn.
South Korea's 2026 Parental Benefit pays Korean-resident families 1,000,000 KRW per month for age-0 infants (0–11 months) and 500,000 KRW per month for age-1 infants (12–23 months), totaling up to 18,000,000 KRW over two years with no income or asset test. Applications must be filed within 60 days of birth registration — via Bokjiro (www.bokjiro.go.kr), Gov24, or a community service center — to receive retroactive payment to the birth month. Daycare users receive the amount as a voucher (Gukmin Happiness Card, ~540k at age 0 and ~475k at age 1) plus the cash difference. The benefit stacks with the Korean Child Allowance (100,000 KRW/mo under age 8), the First Meet Voucher (2,000,000 KRW per newborn), municipal birth grants, and Parental Leave Pay from employment insurance. Twins and multiples receive the benefit per child. Inquiries: Korea's Ministry of Health & Welfare at 129 or Bokjiro at 1566-0133.