North Gyeongsang Province launches first year-round care program for children with disabilities

North Gyeongsang Province announced Wednesday that it will launch a first-of-its-kind program starting in July to ease the caregiving burden on families with disabled children, offering support every day of the year.

The program, called "K-Bodeum 6000, 365-Day Care for Children with Disabilities," draws on the staff and accumulated expertise of specialized childcare centers for children with disabilities to provide tailored care during evening hours, weekends and public holidays.

Provincial officials described it as a core policy to expand support for children with disabilities and realize the K-Bodeum 6000 initiative's goal of "care for every child."

Families raising children with disabilities face a significantly heavier caregiving burden than other households, yet access to childcare services outside regular weekday hours has remained limited. The need for dedicated support to close that gap and reduce the strain on caregivers has been consistently raised.

The province said it designed the program around building "a care system for children with disabilities that families can rely on with peace of mind, even at night and on weekends," reflecting calls from the field.

Four specialized childcare centers in major areas of the province — Pohang, Gyeongju, Gimcheon and Gumi — have been selected to provide care services on weekday evenings and during weekends and public holidays.

To prioritize the safety of children with disabilities during those hours, at least two childcare teachers will be on duty at all times, enabling a swift response to emergencies or unexpected situations. The province said the arrangement is intended to raise both the quality and safety of care.

In addition, the province will separately fund dedicated teachers' wages and allowances, operating costs for disability-specific programs, teaching materials and equipment, and professional development training for teachers — all aimed at supporting the holistic development of children with disabilities and ensuring high-quality specialized care.

"Through this 365-day care program for children with disabilities, we will build a more comprehensive care system that gives children with disabilities and their families access to professional care services they can use with confidence, even at night, on weekends and on public holidays," North Gyeongsang Governor Lee Cheol-woo said.