The Renewal of Standard of Estimating Child Support
We have previously posted an article about child support in Korea. This article was about the Standard of Estimating Child Support announced in 2017, and the way to interpret the table.
| Income Age | 0~1,990,000 | 2,000,000~2,990,000 | 3,000,000~3,990,000 | 4,000,000~4,990,000 | 5,000,000~5,990,000 | 6,000,000~6,990,000 | 7,000,000~7,990,000 | 8,000,000~8,990,000 | 9,000,000~9,900,000 | 10,000,000~11,900,000 | More than12,000,000 |
| 0~2 | 621,000 | 752,000 | 945,000 | 1,098,000 | 1,245,000 | 1,401,000 | 1,582,000 | 1,789,000 | 1,997,000 | 2,095,000 | 2,207,000 |
| 3~5 | 631,000 | 759,000 | 949,000 | 1,113,000 | 1,266,000 | 1,422,000 | 1,598,000 | 1,807,000 | 2,017,000 | 2,116,000 | 2,245,000 |
| 6~8 | 648,000 | 767,000 | 959,000 | 1,140,000 | 1,292,000 | 1,479,000 | 1,614,000 | 1,850,000 | 2,065,000 | 2,137,000 | 2,312,000 |
| 9~11 | 667,000 | 782,000 | 988,000 | 1,163,000 | 1,318,000 | 1,494,000 | 1,630,000 | 1,887,000 | 2,137,000 | 2,180,000 | 2,405,000 |
| 12~14 | 679,000 | 790,000 | 998,000 | 1,280,000 | 1,423,000 | 1,598,000 | 1,711,000 | 1,984,000 | 2,159,000 | 2,223,000 | 2,476,000 |
| 15~18 | 703,000 | 957,000 | 1,227,000 | 1,402,000 | 1,604,000 | 1,794,000 | 1,964,000 | 2,163,000 | 2,246,000 | 2,540,000 | 2,883,000 |
Most of the contents in the article remain the same, but as the table of standards has been renewed in December 2021, we are here to update the news for you.
The way to read this table is still the same. The horizontal axis is the amount of both parents’ monthly income (not only their monthly salary but also rental income, interests, pension, etc.) combined. The vertical axis is the child’s age. The more the parents’ monthly income is, and the older the child gets, the standard amount of child support increases. To learn more about how to read this table, please check the previous article.
Major Changes in the standard
For the renewal, Seoul Family Court has established a “Standing Committee for Child Support Standard Study,” which used to be just a temporary committee. This made it possible for a constant and continuous study of the criteria and standards for child support. The committee is expected to build up a more delicate and accurate standard for child support. The followings are the reason for the change.
- Standard became more detailed. The standard had divided the category ‘more than 9,000,000 won’, which used to be the highest income category, into three detailed categories: ‘9,000,000~9,900,000 won,’ ‘10,000,000~11,900,000 won,’ and ‘more than 12,000,000 won.’
The reason for the renewal of this section is to make it more accurate. The committee concluded that there is inequality among the highest income family. As the number family having dual incomes has increased for decades, it became possible for the summed family income to be more than 9,000,000won. However, the lifestyle and expenses of the family over 9,000,000won income shall be diverse. Thus, it is required to be divided more detailedly to make it accurate.
- The criteria for ages have also been subdivided. The new table classifies the ages into six groups, which used to be only five groups. Specifically, the category ‘6~11’ into two categories of ‘6 to 8’, and ‘9 to 11.’ The reason for the subdivision is that lower grades and the higher grades of elementary school children are different. The higher-grade children shall require more education expenses (mostly private institutes, hagwons). Therefore it is reasonable to distinguish those two groups of age.
Conclusion
As with the establishment of the new committee, Standing Committee for Child Support Standard Study, it is expected that the committee shall renew the child support renewal more frequently and more accurately. We also will update the renewed news timely. Seoul Law Group has various experiences with divorce and child support cases. If you need any help, please do not hesitate to contact us.