Gwangjin-gu Minimizes Care Gaps in Infant Care and Elementary After-School Programs

Emergency Care Provided During Temporary Closure of Community Child Centers and Woori Dongnae Care Centers...Disinfection and Distribution of Preventive Supplies Such as Masks at Child-Related Facilities

Our Neighborhood Care Center Branch 1 located in Jayang 3-dong

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Seon-gap) is working to minimize the childcare and elementary after-school care gaps caused by the postponement of school openings due to the spread of COVID-19.

First, since February 6, the district has conducted emergency disinfection and sterilization at child-related facilities over a total of 11 days, distributing preventive supplies such as masks, hand sanitizers, and thermometers.

Also, as the infectious disease crisis level was raised to 'serious,' all daycare centers were closed, but childcare staff continued to report to work normally, filling the emergency care gap.

Local children's centers and Our Neighborhood Care Centers have been operating normally even during the closure period, supporting children in need of emergency care to use the facilities, and checking daily on children who do not use the services.

In addition, to address concerns about child hunger due to the closure of local children's centers, temporary child meal (Kkum Namu) cards are issued or lunchboxes are delivered to homes.

Furthermore, the government’s relaxed use of babysitter services is being actively utilized, changing the service use and support procedures from a maximum of two weeks to immediate application, and expanding the number of babysitters by 24 to a total of 150.

Kim Seon-gap, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “As school openings continue to be postponed due to COVID-19, childcare issues have become a major difficulty for working couples. The district is continuously providing care services for children in need of emergency care to minimize childcare and elementary after-school care gaps, and we hope to overcome these difficult times together.”