Guide · LIV · 101
Childcare & schools
Daycare, kindergarten, public and international schools. Costs, subsidies, and how to enrol.
In short
- Foreign children can attend Korean daycare (어린이집), kindergarten (유치원), and public schools. Getting subsidies and public spots is the harder part.
- With an ARC, foreign kids aged 0–5 in Seoul (and some other regions) can get flat-rate childcare vouchers, but you need a National Happiness Card (국민행복카드) and exact paperwork.
- Public daycare is cheapest but has long waitlists (a priority-points system); private centres and home daycare are easier to enter.
- Options scale by budget: public daycare (subsidised) → Korean kindergarten → private/English kindergarten (hagwon) → international school (most expensive).
Korea can be a good place to raise kids. The streets are safe, early education is strong, and there's more support for foreign families than before. The system does involve a lot of paperwork, though. Below is an overview. It's general info and not official guidance, so check with your district office (구청) or the Danuri Helpline (1577-1366).
The options, roughly by age & cost
| Option | Ages | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|
| 어린이집 (daycare) | 0–5 | Subsidised; private ~₩390,000–540,000/mo before subsidy |
| 유치원 (kindergarten) | 3–5 | National/public ~₩60,000/mo; private ~₩220,000+/mo |
| Private/English kindergarten (hagwon) | 3–6 | ~₩500,000–1,000,000+/mo (no subsidy) |
| Public elementary+ | 6+ | Free tuition (some fees/lunch) |
| International school | varies | Highest, often ₩20M–40M+/year |
2026 policy changes
- Yubo-tonghap merger: 어린이집 and 유치원 are merging into unified "Infant & Young Children Schools." During the transition you may still use the older systems/portals.
- Expanding free early education: Korea is phasing in free education/care (age 5 from 2025, age 4 in 2026, all ages 3–5 by 2027), with subsidies paid directly to institutions.
- Seoul foreign-child subsidies: foreign toddlers (3–5) with an ARC can get flat-rate vouchers (roughly ₩280,000–350,000+/month for private daycare as of 2026; amounts vary by age/type). Rules differ by city.
How to apply (childcare/kindergarten)
1. Get your ARC & wait ~90 days
Subsidy eligibility generally starts after you've been a registered resident (often ~90 days post-ARC). Undocumented children aren't eligible.
2. Get a National Happiness Card
국민행복카드 from a local bank is how state childcare money is paid. You'll also need a Korean bank account.
3. Register & join waitlists early
Use childcare.go.kr (i-Sarang) or Bokjiro for daycare, and the kindergarten portal (처음학교로) for 유치원. Apply as early as you can. In Gangnam/Seocho the wait can be over a year.
4. Match paperwork exactly
Names must match your ARC precisely (middle names included) or the system rejects you. Bring translation help if needed.
Public schools (age 6+)
- Foreign children can enrol in public elementary/middle/high schools; tuition is free (some fees/lunch costs). Enrol via your district education office.
- Kids pick up Korean quickly and often become fluent fast. For parents, talking with the school is the hard part (notices come via apps like KidsNote; Papago/Google Translate help a lot).
- The Korean school year starts in March; kindergarten enrolment opens the previous Nov–Dec. Enrolment is often by birth year.
International or local school
- International schools: English-medium, familiar curricula (IB, US, British), easier for non-Korean-speaking families and expats here for a few years. They're expensive, though, and some have enrolment restrictions.
- Local Korean schools: free/cheap, deep cultural & language immersion, best for longer stays and younger children. It's harder on parents who don't speak Korean.
- Many families mix: local daycare/kindergarten early, then reassess for elementary.
Common questions
Can my foreign child get free/subsidised daycare?
Often partly. With an ARC and a National Happiness Card, Seoul and some regions offer flat-rate vouchers. It's subsidised but not always free, and the paperwork has to be exact.
Why can't I use my card at the English kindergarten?
Those are hagwons (academies), not subsidised schools. No government support applies.
How long are public daycare waitlists?
Anywhere from a few months to two years depending on the district, so apply as early as you can.
Where do I get help in English?
The Danuri Helpline (1577-1366) and your district office; community groups (e.g. South of Seoul) share on-the-ground tips.
Sources: gov.kr (foreigner childcare), Korea Herald (2026 foreign-child subsidies), Ministry of Education (free early-education rollout 2025–2027), Seoul childcare guidelines, and expat parent guides. Amounts/rules vary by city and year.
Last verified: July 2026. Subsidies, portals and the Yubo-tonghap merger are changing, so confirm with your 구청 or 1577-1366. General information, not official guidance.
Raising kids here?
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