Expansion of foreign nanny program delayed

By Jung Min-ho

After the end of an experimental foreign nanny program in February 2025, Korean officials were going to expand it into a nationwide initiative, extending its availability beyond Seoul to include an additional 1,100 workers recruited from more partner nations.

This ambitious project, originally initiated by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, has been postponed indefinitely, with no clear timeline or confirmation on whether it will resume, an official familiar with the matter told The Korea Times recently.

“Officials need additional time to determine whether to expand it as a national project following the conclusion of the trial program,” the official said. “They plan to review the collected feedback, and based on the results, may consider increasing the number of Filipino caregivers and recruiting similar workers from other countries.”

The program, initially launched to help raise the country’s birthrate by easing childcare burdens for couples, particularly those in double-income households, was originally intended to expand to other cities and regions shortly after its six-month pilot phase.

But regardless of whether the program is expanded, the 98 Filipino caregivers who have been working in the capital since August will be permitted to extend their E-9 visas for up to three years, the official said.

In addition to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, some local administrative offices, such as those in Busan and Ulsan, have reportedly been evaluating whether to participate in the program. However, it remains uncertain whether sufficient demand exists to support an expansion.

The issue of cost is at the heart of the concerns regarding demand. Originally, the program was designed to provide affordable care services for those balancing parenting and work in Seoul.

Currently, the cost of hiring a full-time worker, including insurance fees, is 2.06 million won ($1,400) per month. This is regarded too expensive for most Korean households, which, on average, earn 5.44 million won a month.

However, a plan to implement a different wage system for non-Korean care workers, lower than the minimum wage applied to Korean workers, has been stalled due to opposition from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, which holds a majority in the National Assembly.