Jung Da-hyun is a reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues in Korea, including foreign residents, education, environment and politics. Driven by a deep interest in people’s stories, she focuses on investigative and feature reporting through direct interviews and field coverage. She received the Amnesty International Korea Media Award for her “Deepfake Crisis at Schools” series. Reach her at dahyun08@koreatimes.co.kr. Always open to hearing your stories.
Philippine caregivers express expectations for cultural experiences, financial opportunities in Korea
Philippine caregivers arrive at Incheon International Airport, Tuesday, as part of Korea's pilot project aimed at supplying foreign workers to domestic households. Joint Press Corps
By Jung Da-hyun
Philippine caregivers, who arrived in Korea, Tuesday, for a pilot project designed to supply foreign workers to domestic households as part of government efforts to help counter the nation's plunging birthrate, have expressed high expectations for cultural experiences and financial opportunities here. They are also optimistic about their new roles in Korean homes.
"I studied marketing at a university in the Philippines. I want to make good memories in Korea," said Cailing Glory Masinag, a 32-year-old Filipino caregiver, speaking slowly but clearly in Korean to reporters.
At around 7 a.m., 100 Filipino workers arrived at Incheon International Airport to take part in a pilot project initiated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Employment and Labor.
In response to a decreasing number of domestic workers due to an aging society and the rising costs of child care, the city and the government have introduced foreign caregivers for the first time.
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The group of Filipino workers, dressed in blue uniforms symbolizing the Philippines, entered the arrival hall in three orderly groups. The uniforms were provided by the Philippine Employment Permit System.
All caregivers, aged between 24 and 38, completed over 780 hours of training at a job training center in the Philippines and obtained government certification, according to the city government.
Cailing Glory Masinag, a Filipino caregiver, answers questions after arriving at Incheon International Airport, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps
Masinag, holding a certificate for domestic household work, shared that she studied Korean diligently before her arrival.
"I came here because I wanted to learn more about Korean culture. When I found out I was accepted, many people in the Philippines congratulated me and envied me," she said.
She noted that many Filipinos are eager to come to Korea.
Masinag also expressed her financial aspirations, saying, "I want to make a lot of money in Korea and start a business in the Philippines. I want to help my family and pursue further graduate studies in the Philippines."
Seoul residents using this service must pay a minimum wage of 9,860 won ($7.18) per hour. Households will pay 1.19 million won per month to hire Philippine caregivers for four hours a day and 2.38 million won for eight hours.
When the pilot project was first announced, concerns were raised about its costs and the scope of caregivers' duties. However, the newly arrived Philippine caregivers expressed more anticipation than apprehension about life in Korea.
According to a city government official, households participating in the pilot project expressed the highest demand for four-hour daily services over a six-month period.
"There were many applications from double-income and multi-child households. It appears that families want to use care services for after children finish school and day care for the day," a city government official said.