Nearly four out of 10 households in Seoul that will hire Filipino caregivers starting in September are located in the affluent southern parts of the capital, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Wednesday.
The hiring of Filipino caregivers by parents in the wealthiest areas under the government’s pilot program to address the nation’s low birthrate suggests that the program may not fully meet expectations. It indicates that the initiative, designed to provide affordable support through foreign caregivers, may not be achieving its goal of making assistance accessible to all parents.
The city government announced that it selected 157 households from 751 applications submitted by residents seeking to employ Filipino caregivers between July 16 and Aug. 6.
The pilot project saw significant interest from wealthier areas, with 318 households, or 43 percent of all applicants, concentrated in the 추천 Gangnam, Seocho and Songpa districts.
As a result of these applications, 59 households, or 37.6 percent of the selected ones, are concentrated in three districts and the relatively affluent Gangdong District.
The higher-than-expected cost of employing foreign caregivers seems to be a significant factor influencing the demand pattern.
These workers will earn 2.38 million won ($1,749) per month for an eight-hour workday, based on the minimum hourly wage. This amount is roughly half of the median income for an average household in their 30s, which is 5.09 million won.
Some critics argue that “Gangnam mothers,” known for their emphasis on high-quality education and substantial household income, see Filipino caregivers primarily as a means to enhance their children’s English education rather than for actual caregiving.
“When applying for the program, many applicants indicated preferences such as conversing in English during caregiving hours or having caregivers read storybooks in English,” a Seoul City official said.