In 2026, canceling a reservation for the Basic or Comprehensive Hourly Childcare Service in South Korea between 24 hours and one hour before the scheduled start incurs a cancellation fee of ₩12,790 per reservation. Cancellations within one hour of the start can cost more depending on the reserved childcare hours. If three or more qualifying cancellations occur within 72 hours of the scheduled start during a single month, the household may face a one-month restriction on using the service. However, exemptions and exclusions apply depending on the reason for cancellation and the service type.
When canceling a reservation, two things must be checked separately: how much you will actually have to pay and whether the cancellation counts toward the monthly service restriction limit.
The key distinction is that cancellation fees are determined using a 24-hour threshold, while service restrictions are assessed using a 72-hour threshold. This means a cancellation may count toward the monthly restriction even if no cancellation fee is charged.
How Much Is the Childcare Cancellation Fee Within 24 Hours of the Start?
South Korea's Hourly Childcare Service calculates cancellation fees according to the time remaining before childcare begins. The same cancellation rules apply to the Basic and Comprehensive service types, but once childcare has started, the applicable service fee for each type is charged.
| When the reservation is canceled | Applicable charge |
|---|---|
| More than 24 hours before the start | Not subject to the standard cancellation fee |
| Between 24 hours and one hour before the start | ₩12,790 per reservation |
| Within one hour before the start | ₩12,790 × assigned childcare hours × 50% |
| After childcare has started | Applicable service hourly rate × assigned childcare hours × 100% |
A minimum cancellation fee of ₩12,790 applies to cancellations within one hour before the start. Here, assigned childcare hours refers to the childcare hours for which a childcare worker has been assigned through the reservation system.
For example, suppose childcare is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. A flat cancellation fee applies if the reservation is canceled within the preceding 24-hour period but before 5 p.m. From 5 p.m. until childcare begins, the fee is calculated according to the assigned childcare hours.
Once the service has started, the reservation cannot be canceled or shortened, and the full service fee for the originally requested hours must be paid.
Canceling Within One Hour: How Do Two-Hour and Four-Hour Reservations Compare?
When a reservation is canceled within one hour before childcare begins, longer reservations may result in higher cancellation fees. The calculation multiplies the standard Hourly Childcare Service cancellation fee of ₩12,790 by the assigned childcare hours and 50%. If the result is less than ₩12,790, the minimum fee applies.
Hypothetical examples · Author's calculations
| Reserved childcare hours | Calculation | Cancellation fee |
|---|---|---|
| 2 hours | ₩12,790 × 2 × 50% | ₩12,790 |
| 3 hours | ₩12,790 × 3 × 50% | ₩19,185 |
| 4 hours | ₩12,790 × 4 × 50% | ₩25,580 |
| 6 hours | ₩12,790 × 6 × 50% | ₩38,370 |
For a two-hour reservation, the calculated amount equals the minimum fee. A four-hour reservation, however, incurs a fee of ₩25,580, which is ₩12,790 more than the fee for a two-hour reservation canceled at the same time.
The standard weekday daytime service rate is ₩12,790 per hour for the Basic Hourly Service and ₩16,620 per hour for the Comprehensive Hourly Service. These hourly service rates and the reservation cancellation fees are calculated under different rules.
Even households receiving Korean government subsidies that reduce their out-of-pocket childcare costs must check cancellation fees separately.
Can Three Monthly Cancellations Trigger a Restriction Even Without Cancellation Fees?
Yes. Under South Korea's Childcare Service rules, the monthly cancellation restriction is based on reservations canceled within 72 hours before the scheduled childcare start. Three or more qualifying cancellations in one month constitute grounds for a one-month service restriction.
The important distinction is that cancellation fees and service restrictions use different time thresholds.
Canceled more than 72 hours before the start: Generally not counted toward the monthly cancellation restriction.
Canceled within 72 hours but more than 24 hours before the start: Even if no cancellation fee applies, the cancellation may count toward the monthly limit if a childcare worker had already been assigned.
Canceled within 24 hours before the start: Both the cancellation fee and the monthly cancellation count must be checked.
Canceled for an officially recognized fee-exemption reason: Also excluded from the three-cancellation monthly restriction count.
However, the monthly restriction applies only to cancellations made after a childcare worker has been assigned. Cancellations made before assignment do not count toward the limit.
Do Two Reservations Canceled on the Same Day Count as Two Cancellations?
If two or more childcare reservations for the same service date are canceled, they count as one cancellation when determining the monthly service restriction.
For example, if a household separately reserves childcare for two children on the same day and then cancels both reservations, cancellation fees may apply to each reservation. However, the cancellations count as only one occurrence for the monthly restriction calculation.
Therefore, the number of canceled reservations does not necessarily equal the number of cancellations counted toward a service restriction.
Can an Exemption Charge Prevent a Service Restriction After Three Cancellations?
By paying an exemption charge equal to twice the applicable cancellation fee, a household can have one qualifying cancellation deducted from the count used to determine a service restriction. This charge does not automatically erase every cancellation. Instead, it allows one specific cancellation to be removed from the restriction count.
For example, if the applicable cancellation fee is ₩12,790, the exemption charge is ₩25,580.
Author's calculation: ₩12,790 × 2 = ₩25,580
If a household already has three cancellations that count toward the monthly restriction, deducting one would reduce the count to two. However, the household must confirm eligibility for the payment and whether the deduction can be processed with the relevant childcare service provider agency.
The exemption charge must be distinguished from the ordinary cancellation fee. Households should not assume they can avoid service restrictions indefinitely by repeatedly paying exemption charges whenever reservations are canceled.
Is a Cancellation Fee Charged If a Child Suddenly Becomes Ill?
If a childcare reservation is canceled because the child becomes ill or is involved in an accident, the cancellation fee is waived when the required supporting documents are submitted. Cancellations officially recognized as exempt are also excluded from the monthly three-cancellation restriction count.
Common grounds for exemption include:
Child's illness or accident: Submission of a medical certificate, doctor's opinion, confirmation of medical treatment, prescription, or other accepted documentation.
Death of a family member: Submission of documents proving both the qualifying family relationship and the death, as required by the applicable rules.
Family member's infectious disease or hospitalization: A legally designated infectious disease or hospitalization affecting a cohabiting family member or relative covered by the rules.
Natural disasters and similar circumstances: Situations recognized by the relevant local government, supported by documentation such as emergency disaster text alerts or notices of childcare facility or school closures.
Changing the child receiving care to another child in the same household: Cases that satisfy the prescribed conditions for changing the childcare recipient.
If a child suddenly develops a fever and visits a hospital, it is advisable not only to cancel the reservation but also to obtain the necessary supporting documents, such as confirmation of medical treatment or a prescription.
A child's illness does not automatically exempt every cancellation. Households must confirm with their childcare service provider agency whether the circumstances qualify for an exemption and which documents must be submitted.
Is Cancellation Free Immediately After a Worker Is Assigned for Short-Term Childcare?
For South Korea's Short-Term Childcare Service, a cancellation fee may be waived if the cancellation is requested within one hour after a childcare worker has been assigned. However, when the cancellation is attributable to the user, this exemption is limited to three cancellations per month.
Two different times must be distinguished here.
The first is the scheduled time when childcare actually begins. The second is the time when a childcare worker is assigned to the reservation.
The standard 24-hour cancellation rule is measured from the scheduled childcare start time. In contrast, the short-term service exemption immediately after assignment is measured from the time the childcare worker is assigned.
Short-Term Childcare Service also has a separate rule excluding cancellations made 24 hours before the scheduled start from the monthly cancellation restriction count.
Therefore, households using Short-Term Childcare Service should check both the worker assignment time and the scheduled childcare start time before submitting a cancellation.
Where and How Can a Childcare Reservation Be Canceled?
As a general rule, reservations for South Korea's Childcare Service can be canceled through the user website before childcare begins. If unavoidable circumstances make it difficult to use the website, users may request cancellation through the childcare service provider agency.
To cancel through the provider agency, users must contact the responsible staff member by telephone on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. After processing the cancellation, the agency informs both the household and the assigned childcare worker of the result.
Before canceling, it is advisable to check the following in order:
1. Confirm the scheduled childcare start time and the assigned childcare hours.
2. Calculate whether the cancellation falls within the 72-hour, 24-hour, or one-hour period before the scheduled start.
3. Check whether a childcare worker has been assigned and how many cancellations have already been counted during the same month.
4. If an exemption may apply because of illness, an accident, or another qualifying reason, prepare the relevant supporting documents.
5. Confirm that the cancellation has been processed and whether a cancellation fee has been charged.
In particular, households that already have two qualifying cancellations within 72 hours of scheduled childcare should contact their service provider agency before canceling a third reservation to confirm the applicable restriction count and whether an exemption is available.
If you plan to use South Korea's Childcare Service during a public holiday period, it is also worth reviewing the holiday service conditions. Holiday childcare rates and reservation cancellation fees must be considered separately.
When canceling a childcare reservation, the three most important things to check are the time remaining before childcare begins, the number of cancellations counted during the current month, and whether an exemption applies. Reviewing these factors helps households determine not only the expected cancellation fee but also whether a service restriction could affect future reservations.
