Seoul education office quadruples Saturday, holiday childcare sites for young children

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said Wednesday it will quadruple the number of institutions running its hub-based gap-filling childcare program on Saturdays and public holidays, compared with last year, to ease care shortfalls for dual-income families and others.

The office will expand the pilot program — which serves children ages 3 to 5 — from two sites last year to eight this year. The initiative designates select kindergartens and daycare centers to provide childcare on Saturdays and public holidays for families unable to look after their children on those days. The education office selects hub institutions through an open application process and offers play- and rest-centered care programs for young children.

The eight pilot sites this year comprise four kindergartens and four daycare centers. The participating daycare centers are Baekkok, Jingwan Haengbokan, Neulpyeonghwa and Sein, while the kindergartens are Dongseon, Yewon, Gilmulbit and Useong.

A key feature of the program is that children may attend any hub site regardless of which type of institution they normally attend. Parents can apply directly to a hub institution whenever care is needed, whether their child is enrolled in a kindergarten or a daycare center.

Each pilot site provides eight hours of care per day on Saturdays and public holidays. Dedicated care instructors lead play- and rest-focused sessions, with tailored activities reflecting each child's interests and developmental stage, as well as hands-on programs suited to each institution's strengths. Meals and snacks are provided during care hours.

As the program grows, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will also strengthen its operational support and oversight. The office and district education support offices will collaborate to provide customized consulting to each institution, and a childcare support team will monitor operations on an ongoing basis.

"We expect the program to ease the childcare burden on parents by providing stable care services on Saturdays and public holidays, while giving young children access to a public care environment," Superintendent Jeong Geun-sik said. "We will continue to expand the number of hub-based gap-filling childcare pilot sites so that all young children, regardless of whether they attend a kindergarten or a daycare center, can access high-quality care services."