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Childcare Information
The National Happiness Card
What is the National Happiness Card?
- The National Happiness Card is an integrated card that facilitates the use of government vouchers such as ‘childcare services support,’ 'preschool fees,' 'health insurance support for medical expenses related to pregnancy and childbirth,' ‘support for medical expenses related to pregnancy and childbirth for teen mothers,' and 'social service e-vouchers.'
- The National Happiness Card can be used in all childcare centers and kindergartens.
We’ve made big changes in 2021.
- A single card can now be used for childcare centers, kindergartens and social service vouchers!
- The National Happiness Card can be used for childcare centers (paying childcare service fees), kindergartens (certification of kindergarten fees), health insurance support for medical expenses related to pregnancy and childbirth, and social service e-vouchers.
- Choose from a selection of credit card companies!
- The card now comes with a wide range of options --- issued by five credit card companies and 18 financial institutions nationwide.
| 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|
| I-Happiness Card | National Happiness Card | National Happiness Card |
| KB Kookmin Card, Woori Card, Hana Card, NH Nonghyup Card, Shinhan Card, Lotte Card, BC Card (IBK Industrial Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Daegu Bank, Busan Bank, Kyongnam Bank, Jeonbuk Bank, Suhyup Bank, Gwangju Bank, Post Office, Jeju Bank, Credit Union) |
Lotte Card, Samsung Card, BC Card (Busan Bank, Daegu Bank, Hana Bank, IBK Industrial Bank, Jeonbuk Bank, Jeju Bank, Gwangju Bank, Kyongnam Bank, Post Office, NH Nonghyup, Woori Bank, SC First Bank, Suhyup) |
KB Kookmin Card, Shinhan Card, Lotte Card, Samsung Card, BC Card (Busan Bank, Daegu Bank, Hana Bank, IBK Industrial Bank, Jeonbuk Bank, Jeju Bank, Gwangju Bank, Kyongnam Bank, Post Office, NH Nonghyup, Woori Bank, SC First Bank, Suhyup, Credit Union) |
How to Apply
Online
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Applying for Subsidies
Apply for a government subsidy to cover the cost of childcare centers and obtain certification on kindergarten fees.
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Subsidy Application Form
Bokjiro website (www.bokjiro.go.kr)
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Issuance of Cards
Select one of the five credit card companies to have your card issued. There is no annual fee.
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Where to Get Your Card Issued
Bokjiro website (www.bokjiro.go.kr) i-Sarang, a pregnancy and childcare web portal (www.childcare.go.kr), websites of the five credit card companies (KB Card, Shinhan Card, Lotte Card, Samsung Card, BC Card)
※ For your convenience, each credit card company provides a special consultation service for the National Happiness Card.
Offline
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Applying for Subsidies
Apply for a government subsidy to cover the cost of childcare centers and obtain certification on kindergarten fees.
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Subsidy Application Form
Eup/ Myeon/ Dong community service centers
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Issuance of Cards
Select one of the five credit card companies to have your card issued. There is no annual fee.
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Where to Get Your Card Issued
Eup/ Myeon/ Dong community service centers, branches of banks and key credit card companies located nationwide
it is necessary to submit an application to change your eligibility for childcare services and educational subsidies through the Bokjiro website or Eup/ Myeon/ Dong community service centers.
| Credit card company | Main number |
|---|---|
| KB Kookmin | 1599-7900 |
| Shinhan | 1544-8868 |
| Lotte | 1899-4282 |
| BC | 1899-4651 |
| Samsung | 1566-3336 |
Payment Methods
How to Receive Childcare Service Fees
You can visit the childcare center and make a monthly payment in person. Other payment methods include automatic payment systems, Internet payment, ARS payment and mobile phone payment.
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In-Person Payment
Visit your childcare center monthly and pay the amount covered by the government subsidy and the parental copayment with a credit card.
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ARS Payment
Call 1566-0244 and make the payment by entering your National Happiness Card number and the last digits of your resident registration number as the cardholder. Before making the payment, you will need to confirm which child the payment applies to.
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Internet Payment
Visit the i-Sarang web postal (www.childcare.go.kr) and pay in the ‘Pay Childcare Service Fees’ menu. You need to register with an authentication certificate before using the i-Sarang web portal.
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Smartphone Payment
If you have an i-Sarang membership, you can pay through the i-Sarang application.
How to Certify Kindergarten Fees
Kindergarten fees are provided separately from childcare service fees. For kindergarten fees, the amount covered by the government subsidy is processed through certification, while the parental copayment is processed through a regular payment.
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Certification by In-Person Visit and Payment
The certification for each kindergarten renews monthly or quarterly. This certification allows the target child to receive subsidy for kindergarten fees. The parental copayment and the cost of special activities are billed for at a later date.
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ARS Payment
From September 2015, parental copayments can be paid via ARS.
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Internet Certification and Payment
Government subsidy certification is currently processed in the Confirm Certification menu of the e-Kindergarten website (www.childschool.moe.go.kr). From September 2015, parental copayment can be paid via the Internet (e-Kindergarten, www.childschool.moe.go.kr).
Q&A
- Can I pay childcare service fees and certify kindergarten fees using a previously issued I-Happiness Card?
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Yes. I-Happiness Cards currently in use can also be used to pay childcare service fees and kindergarten fees until they expire.
Certification is also possible. - Can I use an I-Happiness Card to receive health insurance support for medical expenses related to pregnancy and childbirth and social service e-vouchers?
- No. A single card is sufficient to certify kindergarten fees and pay for daycare services.
- My eldest child is in kindergarten and I have two younger children who attend a daycare center. If I have three children, do I need to get three cards?
- No. Only childcare service fees and certified kindergarten fees are covered by the I-Happiness Card.
- Is it possible to receive support for childcare service fees at a daycare center and certify kindergarten fees immediately after receiving the National Happiness Card from a credit card company?
- No. You have to visit an Eup, Myeon, or Dong community center or visit the Bokjiro website (www.bokjiro.go.kr) to apply for childcare service fees or kindergarten fees.
- If my child moves from kindergarten to childcare center, do I have to submit a separate application for childcare service fees?
- If your child moves from a childcare center to kindergarten or kindergarten to a childcare center, you must apply to change your eligible status from childcare service fees ↔ kindergarten fees, or else you will not be able to receive the government subsidy.