Determinants of Children's Social Exclusion in Korea

Background and purpose: Children have often been excluded from social exclusion research. In Korea it has been mainly focused on income poverty rather than social exclusion. But in recent years, growing attention has been given to the multi-dimensional nature of child poverty. This research seeks to understand multi-dimensional approach to poverty and social exclusion in Korea.

Methods: Using the Child-Youth Happiness indicator Survey of 2015, this study has examined the current status of Korean children's social exclusion and the main determinants.

Results: In the results of analyzing seven areas(Economy, basic desires & consumption, education, health, family & social relation, local & social participation, and subjective experience of social exclusion) of social exclusion, the distribution rate of social exclusion was 4.9~23.5% while the rate of children experiencing social exclusion for more than four indicators among 13 sub-indicators was 9.1%. In the results of analyzing the main determinants of social exclusion, in case when the school level was higher, their parents' academic background was lower than the graduation of high school, both parents were working, and children were raised by single parents or grand parents, the risk of social exclusion got higher. In the economic aspect, the variables related to socioeconomic position like parents' academic background and participation in economic activities were essential while the importance was generally decreased in the uneconomic aspect.

Conclusion and implications: Showing that the type and degree of social exclusion experienced by children can be different in accordance with their parents' socioeconomic characteristics, children's sex & developmental stage, and family type, this study also suggests that it would be necessary to have the customized-support suitable for each group depending on children's various sociodemographic characteristics, getting out of approaches simply focusing on income support.