Application of the Population Diversity Index in Measuring Childcare Service Accessibility for Children with Immigrant Backgrounds in South Korea

Abstract

Using nationality data from the Population Census, this study calculated a township-level “Population Diversity Index.” The migrant-background population is steadily rising and spreading beyond the industrial zones of the Seoul metropolitan area into rural communities, fishing villages, and tourist destinations. Among children aged 0–5 years old, the share of foreign-born youngsters is increasing rapidly, indicating more active family migration and settlement. Access to childcare, however, varies greatly by location. Although declining birth rates have slightly eased overall supply pressures, many neighborhoods with large numbers of foreign or multicultural families still suffer from a clear “high-demand, low-supply” imbalance. Usage rates underline this gap: about 60% for Korean children versus roughly 40% for foreign-born children. Factor analysis shows that additional childcare subsidies from local governments and nearby multicultural or family centers significantly boost enrolment among migrant-background preschoolers. Areas with higher proportions of marriage-migrant households also display higher uptake, underscoring the importance of local networks and information channels. Nevertheless, complicated procedures, Korean-only information, and shortages of interpreters or cultural mediators leave many families under-served. Therefore, beyond expanding facilities and subsidies, integrated policies are needed to improve cultural accessibility and information reach: multilingual guidance with streamlined applications, on-site interpreters and cultural mediators, and culturally responsive teachers and learning materials.