Oh Se-hoon says child-friendly Seoul is starting point for top global city goal

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon attended a policy forum titled "Child-Friendly City Seoul!" on Wednesday morning at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, hosted by the Korean National Council of Women, where he outlined the Seoul Metropolitan Government's policy direction for creating a safe and sustainable child-rearing environment.

The Korean National Council of Women currently comprises 53 member organizations, 17 regional women's councils across the country's cities and provinces, and approximately 5 million members.

"The vision of becoming one of the world's top three cities — the goal of the ninth elected Seoul city administration — is about building a city where residents enjoy happier lives," Oh said. "The starting point for that is making Seoul a place where people feel confident having and raising children."

He said the most practical solution to the low birth rate problem is helping parents balance work and family life while sharing the burden of child-rearing across society. "The Seoul Metropolitan Government will complete a child-friendly environment centered on the 'Seoul Ai Donghaeng Up Project,'" he said.

As part of the project, the city plans to expand child-care infrastructure — including Seoul-style kids cafes, community child centers and neighborhood care centers that have drawn strong support from caregivers — to a total of 1,258 facilities by 2030. The city also plans to provide grandparent care allowances and support for drop-off and pick-up services.

To fund the project, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to invest a total of 1.88 trillion won ($1.23 billion) over five years through 2030, pursuing 16 key initiatives across four areas.