The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced that since the implementation of the child support advance payment system in July last year, a total of 16.73 billion won has been provided to 6,923 households and 10,917 minor children over the past year.
The child support advance payment system is a program in which the state first provides up to 200,000 won per month in child support to single-parent families who have not received support from their separated spouse, and later recovers the advanced payments from the non-custodial parent who owes the debt.
Starting this October, the income criteria for the system are scheduled to be abolished.
The recovery process is conducted on a six-month basis and follows the same procedures as the compulsory collection of national tax arrears.
Out of the 7.73 billion won in child support advanced during the second half of last year, 640 million won has been recovered. The remaining 7.09 billion won is expected to be collected soon as the public notice service process is currently underway.
An official from the Child Support Agency, which handles the advance payment system, explained, "Even among basic livelihood security recipients who lack the ability to pay back child support, there are cases where they pay even 10,000 won or so per month," adding, "We are continuing our efforts in mediation and consultation to persuade them to make voluntary payments."
(Photo: Yonhap News)