Only 44.7% of children in protective care were placed in foster homes last year. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, August 2 (Korea Bizwire) — As South Korea’s foster care rate lags behind international standards, foster parents are sounding the alarm over growing financial burdens and administrative hurdles that discourage families from taking in vulnerable children.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, only 44.7% of children in protective care were placed in foster homes last year, far below rates in the U.S. (79%) and U.K. (72%). Experts attribute this disparity to insufficient economic support and inconsistent local policies.
Many foster parents say that despite government stipends ranging from 340,000 to 560,000 won ($260–$430) per month depending on the child’s age, actual caregiving costs far exceed these amounts.
A 2023 Seoul study found that average monthly expenditures for foster children reached 1.64 million won, with significant portions going to education, food, and clothing.
“I didn’t become a foster parent for the money, but it’s getting harder as the child grows,” said Kim Myung-hee, a 55-year-old foster mother. She explained that strict and inconsistent receipt documentation required to use welfare benefits makes daily expenses difficult to justify—like splitting gas money or restaurant bills.
Foster care is a system that provides temporary families for children who have been separated from their biological parents due to poverty, divorce, abuse, or other circumstances. By placing children in foster homes, the system aims to reduce emotional distress and allow them to grow through meaningful family interactions, offering a high level of protective support. However, in South Korea, the prevalence of bloodline-centered cultural norms and limited public awareness has hindered the expansion of non-kinship foster care, leading to a continued reliance on institutional care such as orphanages. (Yonhap)
Other foster parents echoed similar concerns, citing that educational needs, rising inflation, and adolescent costs, like cosmetics or after-school programs, are pushing their finances to the limit. “My child’s basic living allowance goes entirely to private education,” said one guardian of a middle schooler.
A key issue is that government support is paid into the child’s bank account. Some foster children, aware of the funds via online banking, treat the stipends as personal spending money, leading to conflict and emotional strain within households. Some foster parents report feeling guilt or even being treated like criminals when accessing the funds.
Additionally, discrepancies in foster care subsidies across regions remain stark. While Seoul and Incheon meet central government guidelines, other areas like Asan City fall up to 280,000 won short. Because the program is administered locally, equal enforcement is not guaranteed.
Calls are growing for a centralized and standardized system. “Children’s rights should not depend on their region,” said Jang Hwa-jung of Save the Children Korea, urging for a uniform national policy.
Beyond economic concerns, foster parents also lack access to broader family support benefits. They are often excluded from using family care leave, disability parking permits, and other protections available to legal guardians.
“Foster parents are acting as de facto parents,” said Kim Seung-hyun of ChildFund Korea. “They should be given equal status and support under the law.”
As South Korea aims to improve its child protection framework, advocates stress the need for sweeping reforms that reduce bureaucratic obstacles and provide robust, consistent support to foster families—especially those willing to step forward with open hearts and limited means.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
