Much care and attention must be given to physical growth and immunity enhancement during the infant stage. In particular, vaccinations are extremely important for infant health care. If not properly vaccinated, children may contract infectious diseases or develop serious complications, thus vaccination must be administered at the appropriate times.
- What is vaccination?
- Vaccination is a process where vaccines are injected into children, who generally have weaker immune systems, to artificially strengthen their immunity.
National Immunization Program
As an immunization program recommended by the country, it is recommended that all infants receive vaccination to prevent against infectious diseases targeted in the National Immunization Program.
Vaccinations listed in the National Immunization Program are available at health centers and designated medical institutions.
- Vaccinations included in the National Immunization Program are free for children aged 0 to 12years.
National Immunization Schedule
based on year 2017
| Vaccination Type | Number of Inoculations | Recommended Age | |
| Tuberculosis (intradermal vaccination) | Once | Within 4 weeks after birth | |
| Hepatitis B | 3 times | At 0, 1 and 6 months after birth | |
| Diphtheria/ Tetanus/ Pertussis | DTaP | 5 times | At 2, 4 and 6 months after birth, between15~18 months after birth and between ages 4~6 |
| Tdap or Td | Once | Between ages 11~12 | |
| Polio (IPV) | 4 times | At 2, 4 and 6 months after birth and between ages 4~6 | |
| Hib (Haemophilus) | 4 times | At 2, 4 and 6 months after birth and between | |
| 12~15 months | |||
| Measles / Mumps / Rubella (MMR) | 2 times | Between 12~15 months after birth and between ages 4~6 | |
| Chicken Pox | Once | Between 12~15 months after birth | |
| Japanese Encephalitis | Inactivated vaccine | 5 times | Between 18 months after birth (3 times), |
| at age 6 and age 12 | |||
| Live vaccine | 2 times | Between 12~36 months after birth | |
| Influenza | Once every year | At 6 months after birth and between ages 12 | |
| Hepatitis A | 2 times | Between 12~36 months after birth | |
| Streptococcus pneumoniae | 4 times | At 2, 4 and 6 months after birth and between | |
| 12~15 months | |||
| Human Papilloma Virus | 2 times | At age 12 | |
Child Care Subsidy
- Ministry of Health and Welfare, Pregnancy/Child Total Care Portal website: www.childcare.go.kr
- Health and Welfare Ministry Call Center ☎ 129
- i-sarang Help Desk ☎ 1566-0233
- e-Kindergarten ☎ 1544-0079
In Korea, child care subsidy is given in many ways to ensure fair child care and education opportunities for children. (※ In the case of multicultural families, it is only applicable to children born to foreign spouses who have acquired citizenship)
- More details on selection criteria and procedures may be obtained from the Ministry of Health and Welfare website or the Dong Community Service Center.
How to Apply (For All)
- In order to receive child care subsidies, one have to apply for a Happy Child Card (i-haengbok card). Government subsidies may only be received when child care fees are paid using the Happy Child Card.
- What is a Happy Child Card?
- An electronic card (Happy Child Card) containing service vouchers for parents who fulfill a fixed set of conditions such as child's age and income levels etc. It may be used to pay for child care services at day care centers. When parents pay for child care fees (government subsidized child care fees + cost borne by parents), government subsidized child care fees are automatically calculated and paid to the day care centers.
Parents are only required to pay card fees for the cost borne by parents later.
- An electronic card (Happy Child Card) containing service vouchers for parents who fulfill a fixed set of conditions such as child's age and income levels etc. It may be used to pay for child care services at day care centers. When parents pay for child care fees (government subsidized child care fees + cost borne by parents), government subsidized child care fees are automatically calculated and paid to the day care centers.
- For child care subsidy application and Happy Child Card issuance, Visit the dong community service center or a major credit card company in person, or apply online via the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Bokjiro website ( www.bokjiro.go.kr )
- STEP1
Application for child
care support and
Happy Child Card
(in person or online) - STEP2
Assets Examination
Decision and Notice
(city, county, ward) - STEP3
Happy Child Card
Issuance and Shipping
(financial institutions) - STEP4
Child Care Services
Utilization
(child care payment)
- Nuri (play school) Program for Children aged 3 to 5 years
In the 3 years directly before entering elementary school, child care fees and school fees will be subsidized regardless of parents' income for all children who go to kindergarten or day care.- In Korea, the 'Nuri Program' is provided to ensure fair child care and education opportunities for children aged 3 to 5 years. Through this program, common child care and education services may be received at all child care centers and kindergartens.
- In Korea, the 'Nuri Program' is provided to ensure fair child care and education opportunities for children aged 3 to 5 years. Through this program, common child care and education services may be received at all child care centers and kindergartens.
- Eligibility : Children aged 3 to 5 years who go to a national, public or private kindergarten, or day care center
- Assistance given : School fee subsidy for children aged 3 to 5 years. (Applicable to kindergarten school fees and child care fees of day care)
- Child Care Subsidy for Children Aged 0 to 5 Years
Child care subsidy for children who go to day care.- Eligibility: Any child aged 0 to 5 years who goes to day care may receive the subsidy.
- Subsidy amount by age
- Child Home Care Allowance
Child care allowance for children who do not go to kindergarten or day care and are cared for at home.- Eligibility : Children should be under 5 years of age (0 to 85 months) at time of application. They must be cared for at home and must not receive child care services from day care centers, kindergartens or full day child care programs.
- Assistance given
| General child | Child Care | Farming and fishing village child | Child Care | Handicapped child | Child Care Allowance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 ∼ 11 | 200,000won | 0 ∼ 11 | 200,000won | 0 ∼ 35 | 200,000won |
| 12 ∼ 23 | 150,000won | 12 ∼ 23 | 177,000won | ||
| 24 ∼ 85 | 100,000won | 24 ∼ 35 | 156,000won | ||
| 36 ∼ 47 | 129,000won | ||||
| 48 ∼ 85 | 100,000won | 36 ∼ 85 | 100,000won |
- Alien children aged 5 years old residing in the Incheon Metropolitan City can receive KRW 280,000 in childcare support, KRW 113,000 for parental care support, and KRW 175,000 to cover necessary expenses. However, this applies to parents and children who have resided in Incheon for at least 90 days.
- Additional documents to be submitted (for children and guardians): Submit a copy of your alien registration card and proof of alien registration to the daycare center
