As the number of dual-income households increases and the participation of grandparents in childcare becomes common, a bill has been proposed to provide subsidies to grandparents caring for their grandchildren.
Kim Jang-gyeom, a member of the People Power Party (proportional representative), noted on the 24th that he has introduced a bill titled 'Twilight Care Support Act' (partial amendment to the Child Care Support Act) to institutionally support grandparents raising their grandchildren.
Some local governments, including Seoul, are providing 'grandparent care subsidies'; however, the selection criteria are strict, including the requirement of completing relevant training, and the duration of support is limited, raising concerns about its effectiveness. Consequently, there is growing recognition of the need for systematic support at the national level that acknowledges the social value and contribution of grandparents' caregiving.
This amendment seeks to provide a legal basis for the government to grant care subsidies whenever grandparents take care of their grandchildren on behalf of their children. It stipulates that the standards for subsidy payments, the amount, and procedures will be determined by presidential decree. Provisions for penalties for fraudulent claims are also included.
Kim emphasized, “As the participation of grandparents in childcare becomes normalized, conflicts within families regarding the value of caregiving are also increasing,” and added, “Support for grandparents' twilight childcare is a policy closely linked to resolving low birth rates, preventing career interruptions for women, and consolidating work-family balance.”
According to data released by the Statistics Korea in 2023, 56.8% of households with children under 18 are dual-income households. The dual-income ratio for households with children under 6 years old was 51.5%, while it reached 62.6% for households with children aged 13 to 17.
Kim said, “I hope the grandchild care subsidy will reduce the childcare burden on the parent generation and serve as a small but meaningful step toward creating a society where families can raise children together.”