Ock Mi-eun, 57, has been taking care of her grandson since he was born two years ago so that her daughter could return to work. She receives 1 million won ($830) a month for her services.
It is not unusual for South Koreans to pay their parents to take care of their children. But the number doing so is on the rise and the arrangement has become more professional-like as parents increasingly pay the equivalent of full baby-sitting rates.
"You've left your child with someone else, it's only being responsible to pay some compensation," said Ock, who picks up her grandson from his morning day care and looks after him until his mother retrieves him in the evenings.