South Korea daycare waiting periods increase amid facility closures

Despite South Korea's declining birth rate, the waiting period for daycare enrollment has increased. Data analyzed by National Assembly member Seo Bum-soo from the Ministry of Education shows the national average waiting time rose to 7.5 months as of June 2024, up from 5.3 months in late 2022.

The shortage is most acute for 1-year-old classes, which face an average wait of 8.5 months nationwide. For public daycare centers, the wait for 1-year-old classes has reached an average of 10.6 months. Regional disparities are significant, with Sejong and Seoul reporting some of the longest waiting periods.

This trend is attributed to the widespread closure of childcare facilities. Over the past four and a half years, 11,093 daycare centers have closed nationwide, primarily home-based and private facilities. The leading causes for these closures are declining child populations (43.9%) and management difficulties (31.3%).

Experts and lawmakers warn that these delays disrupt the return-to-work plans of dual-income parents, potentially exacerbating career breaks for women and increasing the childcare burden on families.