FAQs about Child Support

The child’s age, the total incomes of the parents are considered. There is a guideline of child support published by Korean Family Court. Please refer to the following table. The horizontal axis is the total amount of the parents’ incomes and the vertical axis shows the child’s age. You can find the cell of the appropriate amount of the child support based on total amount of the parents’ income and the child’s age, and the amount in the cell will be proportionally divided according to the proportion of each parent’s income to total amount of their income. The guideline is not absolutely applied, and other factors like each parent’s property and their financial situation can be considered.

Yes, paying child support is the parent’s duty for the welfare of the child. 

Yes, it is possible to request decrease or increase of the child support after it is confirmed in the process of divorce if there is a significant change of the situation after it is decided. When the court decides the change of the amount of the child support, the welfare of the child is a priority. However, actually, it is very difficult to decrease the amount of the child support.

Yes, it is possible, but even if certain amount of child support comes out based on the parents’ income, all the amount is not always granted as paying all the amount at once may be burden to the non-custodial parent.   

It is possible to file for court order for payment and providing security to the non-custodial parent, and to execute the parent’s property. If the parent refuses to pay the child support even after the court order, it is possible to file for the request of the parent’s detention.