Complete Guide to the 2025 Korea Parental Benefits Program

Q: Can both parents receive the benefit?

No. Only one parent per child can apply, but the father is also eligible.

Q: When is the payment date?

Payments are usually made on the 25th of each month.

📚 Table of Contents

Overview
Eligibility
Monthly Payment Details
Application Process (Step-by-Step)
My Recommendations
FAQ
References

🍼 Overview

Starting in 2025, the Korean government enhanced the Parental Benefits Program to provide better financial support for parents of newborns.
This benefit, known as 부모급여 (Bumo Geupyeo) in Korean, offers monthly cash support for childcare to parents with children under 24 months.

The program’s goal is to reduce the burden of childcare costs and encourage parents to take more time off work for infant care.

👶 Eligibility

Category	Details
Eligible recipients	Parents or guardians raising a child under 24 months
Nationality	Korean citizens or foreign residents with a registered address in Korea
Condition	The child must live in Korea and not attend a government-funded daycare center
Number of children	Benefits apply to each child individually

If both parents work, either one can apply — but the benefit is given once per child.

💰 Monthly Payment Details

Child Age	2024 Payment	2025 Payment (Updated)
Under 12 months	₩1,000,000/month	₩1,500,000/month
13–24 months	₩500,000/month	₩700,000/month

💡 Tip: If your child is enrolled in a daycare center, the amount may be reduced since part of it goes directly to the institution.

📝 Application Process (Step-by-Step)

Here’s the most important part — how to apply for the 2025 Parental Benefits Program.
The process is straightforward, and you can do it either online or offline.

🖥️ Option 1: Apply Online (Recommended)

Visit 복지로 (Bokjiro) official website.
Log in using your Digital Certificate or Mobile ID (PASS).
Go to → “Parental Benefit (부모급여) Application” menu.
Fill in your personal and child’s information.
Upload necessary documents:
- Child’s birth certificate or family relation certificate
- Applicant’s bank account (for payment)
Review and submit the application.
You can track the approval progress on the My Page section.

🏢 Option 2: Apply Offline

Visit your local Community Service Center (주민센터).
Bring:
- Applicant’s ID (resident card or passport)
- Family relation certificate
- Bank account info
Fill out the Parental Benefit Application Form.
Submit the documents to a welfare officer.

📅 Processing Time

Generally takes 7–10 business days after submission.
Payments are usually made on the 25th of each month.

💬 In my opinion as a policy blogger, it’s best to apply online via Bokjiro. The process is much faster and avoids unnecessary waiting at local offices.

💡 My Recommendations

From a blogger’s perspective, I strongly recommend the following:

Apply immediately after your baby’s birth registration.
Use the Bokjiro portal to ensure faster processing.
Keep your child’s address and parental info up-to-date in the government registry — many rejections occur due to mismatched records.
Check with your local government’s welfare office if extra childcare allowances are available in your region.

🌟 “If you apply early, you could receive your first month’s benefit within the same month — don’t delay!”

❓ FAQ

Q1. Can both parents receive the benefit?

No. Only one parent per child can apply, but it doesn’t have to be the mother — the father is also eligible.

Q2. What if my child goes to daycare later?

You can still receive a reduced amount until the child turns 24 months old.

Q3. Can foreign residents apply?

Yes, as long as you have a registered address and the child is legally residing in Korea.

Q4. When is the payment date?

Usually around the 25th of each month.