Korean-Chinese gain popularity as babysitters

Tens of thousands of foreign nationals were estimated to be working as domestic workers ― such as nannies and babysitters ― in Korean households as of last year, according to a report by Korea Institute of Child Care and Education.

The majority of such domestic workers were ethnic Koreans from China ― many of whom speak fluent Korean ― according to the report.

The research suggested that foreign-born nannies and housekeepers are more satisfied with their jobs than the Korean parents who hire them, and the government should organize training and certification programs for foreigners who wish to work as domestic helpers here.

The research institute surveyed a total of 259 Korean parents who have hired a foreign-born babysitter, as well as 256 ethnic Koreans who have worked as babysitters in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province for the report.

An ethnic Korean from China earned an average of 1.62 million won ($1,467) a month last year, as a live-in nanny who works five days a week, according to the report.

While 1.62 million won is much more than the cost of the government’s all-day child care service ― a maximum of 1.1 million won a month ― it is still cheaper than the cost of hiring a Korean live-in nanny from private agencies, which can cost more than 2 million won a month.

While 92 percent of the surveyed ethnic Koreans from China said they were satisfied with their jobs as nannies, only 55 percent of the Korean parents said they were happy with their their babysitters and housekeepers from China.

Also, 93 percent of the ethnic Koreans said their spoken Korean language skills were excellent, while only 65 percent of the Korean parents said the same of their nannies’ language abilities. A total of 62.5 percent of the surveyed ethnic Koreans from China said they wanted to settle down in Korea.

Meanwhile, 79.3 percent of the Korean mothers who hired a Korean Chinese as her live-in housekeeper were employed full-time.

The number of Korean households that hire a live-in nanny has been increasing since 2011, from 1,204 to 3,693 in 2013, according to another report released by the Gender Equality Ministry.

Of those who hired a live-in nanny, 45.6 percent said they made the decision because they were worried that their child is too young to be in a day care center, while 18.3 percent said they did not have anyone ― including their parents ― to look after the child.

A total of 67.3 percent of Korean mothers who hired a full-time housekeeper said the greatest benefit they gained from the service was that they did not have to quit their jobs.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)