🚨 Child Support: Financial Support for Single-Parent Families and Parental Responsibility

Today Korean Social News | 2025.07.17

📌 7 out of 10 families don't get child support..."Government advance payment system may not last if recovery rate is low"

💬 70% of single-parent families have never received child support. The government started an advance payment system this month. The government pays first and then tries to get the money back from the person who owes it. But experts worry that if the recovery rate is low, it will cost too much money and the system may not continue. Experts say we need better laws, stronger powers for the Child Support Management Agency, better divorce systems, and changes in how people think about child support. The Child Support Management Agency is not a public organization, so it's hard for them to get the information they need.

Summary

• Child support is money that one divorced parent pays to the other parent who takes care of their child.
• Right now, 70% of single-parent families don't get child support, so the government made an advance payment system.
• It includes money for living, education, medical care, and more. It's a legal duty of parents.

1️⃣ Definition

Child support means money that one divorced or separated parent pays to the other parent who takes care of their child. It includes all costs needed for the child to grow up, like living expenses, education fees, medical bills, and housing costs.

Even if parents get divorced, they still have to pay for their child's needs until the child becomes an adult. This responsibility doesn't go away.

💡 Why is this important?

• It protects children's basic rights to live and get education.
• It helps single-parent families with money problems so children can grow up healthy.
• It reduces the money problems that divorce causes for children.
• It helps improve child welfare in society.

2️⃣ How Child Support is Calculated and Paid

📕 How Child Support Amount is Decided

• Child support considers many factors. Main factors include:

  • The child's age, health, and education level.
  • How much money the paying parent makes and owns.
  • The money situation of the parent taking care of the child.
  • How much it costs to live in that area.
  • Special medical or education costs the child might need.

• Courts use a standard child support table. Main features are:

  • The Supreme Court provides a standard table as a basic guide.
  • The amount depends on the paying parent's monthly income and number of children.
  • For example, if someone makes 3 million won per month, they pay about 400,000-500,000 won per child.
  • But this table is just a guide. The amount can change based on each family's situation.
  • The table is updated regularly to reflect rising costs.

📕 How Child Support is Paid and Problems

• Child support can be paid in different ways. Main payment methods are:

  • Monthly regular payments are the most common and recommended way.
  • Some people pay all at once, but this is not recommended.
  • Cash payment is the rule, but sometimes people agree to pay directly for things like school fees.
  • More people are using automatic bank transfers or the Child Support Management Agency.

• There are serious problems with child support payments. Main problems are:

  • 70% of all single-parent families have never received child support.
  • Even when families do get child support, it's often irregular or not enough money.
  • Many people who should pay hide their income or move their property to avoid paying.
  • Legal procedures to force payment are complicated and take a long time.
  • Sometimes the person who should pay moves away or can't be contacted.

Main Problems with Child Support Payment

1. Low payment rate: 70% of families don't get child support - this is very serious
2. Avoiding payment: People hide income, move property, or disappear to avoid paying
3. Legal system limits: Forcing payment through courts is complicated and slow
4. Wrong social attitudes: Some people think paying child support is optional
5. System gaps: Related agencies don't have enough power or access to information

3️⃣ Government Child Support Policies

✅ New Advance Payment System

• A child support advance payment system started in July 2025. Main details are:

  • The government pays child support first, then tries to get the money back from the person who owes it.
  • Single-parent families with children under 18 can apply.
  • Low-income families like basic livelihood recipients get priority.
  • The government pays up to 200,000 won per month, and may increase this later.
  • Families can apply if they have a court order or agreement for child support.

• The advance payment system has both good and bad points. Main features are:

  • It helps single-parent families get money right away.
  • But if the government can't get money back from people who owe it, it will cost too much.
  • The system only helps some people and doesn't solve the whole problem.
  • Some worry that people who should pay might feel less responsible.
  • The system needs a better way to get money back to continue working.

✅ Role of Child Support Management Agency

• The Child Support Management Agency helps with child support payments. Main roles are:

  • They give advice on calculating child support and help people reach agreements.
  • They help transfer child support payments between parents.
  • When child support isn't paid, they send reminder notices and help apply for court orders.
  • They help find information about the paying parent's property and help with legal procedures.
  • They provide legal advice and information about child support.

• There are limits to how well the agency works now. Main challenges are:

  • It's not a public agency, so it's hard to get the information it needs.
  • It can't check tax office or bank information in real time.
  • It has limited power to force payment, so it's not very effective.
  • There aren't enough staff or money to handle all cases properly.
  • Some people think it should become a public agency with more power.

4️⃣ Related Terms

🔎 Single-Parent Family

• A single-parent family means one parent raises children alone.
• A single-parent family is when one parent raises children under 18 alone because of death, divorce, separation, or unmarried birth. This includes both mother-only and father-only families.
• Features of single-parent families include: First, they often have money problems and need government help. Second, one parent has to handle both raising children and working. Third, children may have emotional and educational difficulties. Fourth, they may face social prejudice and discrimination.
• The government provides various support for single-parent families like child care money, education support, and living allowances. The government also runs the Child Support Management Agency and created the advance payment system to help these families get child support.

🔎 Child Support Enforcement Order

• A child support enforcement order is when a court forces someone to pay child support.
• A child support enforcement order is when a court orders someone to pay child support within a certain time if they haven't paid without good reason. This system started in 2015 to make child support payment stronger.
• Features of enforcement orders include: First, you can apply if someone hasn't paid for 3 months or more despite having an agreement or court order. Second, the court orders the person to pay within a certain time (usually 30 days). Third, if they don't follow the order, they can get up to 1 year in prison or a fine up to 10 million won. Fourth, the application process is relatively simple and cheap.
• Enforcement orders have helped improve child support payment rates, but they don't work well when the person has no income or property. This is why the government created the advance payment system.

🔎 Forced Execution

• Forced execution is a legal procedure to make someone follow a court order.
• Forced execution means using government power to force someone to follow a court judgment, mediation agreement, or notarized document when they won't do it voluntarily. For child support, this means seizing the person's property to get money.
• Types of forced execution include: First, forced sale of real estate to get money. Second, seizing movable property like cars or jewelry. Third, seizing debts like wages, bank deposits, or rent. Fourth, wage garnishment can take up to half of monthly salary.
• Limits of forced execution include: it's hard to execute if someone hides or transfers property, and it doesn't work if someone has no job or income. Also, the process is complicated and takes a long time, so you can't expect immediate results. This is why we need additional measures like the child support advance payment system.

5️⃣ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How long do you have to pay child support?

A: In principle, you must pay child support until your child reaches adulthood (age 19). But even if the child becomes an adult, you may need to continue paying if they're still in college or can't support themselves due to illness. Courts decide the payment period based on each case, and usually order payment until college graduation (age 22). If the child serves in the military, the payment period extends by the length of military service. If the child gets a job early and can support themselves, the child support obligation may end. The payment period is agreed upon during divorce or decided by the court, and can be adjusted through a child support modification application if circumstances change. The important thing is that decisions are based on the child's actual financial needs and ability to be independent.

Q: What should I do if I'm not receiving child support?

A: If you're not receiving child support, you can take several steps. First, contact the Child Support Management Agency (☎1644-6621) for professional help. They provide services like sending reminders to the paying parent, checking their property, and helping reach agreements. Second, if you have an agreement or court order for child support, you can apply to the court for a child support enforcement order. This is a relatively simple procedure that orders the person to pay. Third, you can use forced execution procedures to seize the paying parent's wages, bank deposits, or real estate. Fourth, you can apply for the child support advance payment system that started in July 2025 to receive money from the government first. Fifth, if the person deliberately avoids payment, they can face criminal punishment for violating the enforcement order. All these procedures are difficult to handle alone, so it's recommended to get help from the Child Support Management Agency or the Legal Aid Corporation.