Children of single-parent families suffer

By Kim Bo-eun

More than half of single-parent families experience chronic financial difficulties as spending usually surpassed income, a study showed Monday.

The average monthly income for single-parent families ranged from 933,000 to 989400 won. Expenditures exceeded income, ranging from 1,018,800 to 1,155,000 won, according to the study by Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs.

When comparing the figures, the income of single-parent families added up to only a quarter of the 3,631,700 won, an average family income. Similarly spending was half of the average of 2,286,900 won.

Child raising expenses took up about half of the expenditures for single-parent families.

The average monthly child rearing expense for one child in a single-parent family was 482,800 won, lower than half of the average of 1,009,000 won.

Of the expenditures for each child, educational expenses accounted for 50,000 won, or 33 percent of the 153,000 won average. Private education expenses added up to 83,700 won, or 36 percent of the 230,000 won average.

As for the total amount of child rearing expenses, lasting until university, the figure was 132,980,000 won, half of the average of 262,040,000 won.

Despite the low expenditures on education, single-parents wished for their children to receive higher education, the study showed.

Among single parents, 90 percent wished for their children to continue their studies after high school. Only 4 to 6 percent responded that they wanted their children to start working right away.

The report concluded that because a significant number of single parent families were on a deficit budget and the expenses for raising children are only half of the average of families in general, a vicious cycle of poverty would be difficult to break.

The law on single-parent families was revised last year to expand support for them. Accordingly, the amount provided for child rearing has increased to 150,000 won per month

Other welfare provisions available to these families include accommodation facilities and loans. There are also education programs that teach how to become financially independent.

However, there are limits to the effectiveness of these programs, since even if a parent decides to participate, he or she will have to miss out on earning money and will have no place to leave their children.

“The parents are not able to afford to utilize these programs,” said Kim Yeon-woo, a researcher at the institute. “More support therefore, is necessary based on these factors.”

“The amount of financial aid provided in general should also be increased as well as extended,” she added.