Lee Jae-myung "To Solve Low Birthrate, State Responsibility System for Childcare Must Be Introduced"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung visited the 'Gyeonggi-do Childcare Paju Center' on the 12th and greeted the children receiving care services at the center.

[Asia Economy (Paju) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, visited the Gyeonggi-do Childcare Paju Center on the 12th and stated, "As long as childcare issues remain in the realm of personal responsibility, it will be difficult to create a better society," adding, "It is time to introduce a national responsibility system for childcare."

On the afternoon of the same day, Governor Lee visited the Gyeonggi-do Childcare Paju Center located at the Unjeong Administrative Welfare Center in Paju City to encourage on-site workers and held a meeting with related officials including Jeong Jeong-ok, CEO of the Gyeonggi Women's Family Foundation, and Han Areum, Director of the Gyeonggi-do Childcare Paju Center. Also present were Choi Jong-hwan, Mayor of Paju City, and National Assembly members Hong Jeong-min and Seo Young-seok.

The governor diagnosed, "Our society is said to have the most serious low birthrate problem in the world. Low birthrate is an expression of frustration and despair that tomorrow will be worse than today because everything such as childcare, upbringing, education, and employment is very uncertain when having children," adding, "The social burden on parents raising children is increasing, and this is causing a vicious cycle leading to career breaks."

He continued, "Childcare issues have become the greatest burden in our society not only for children but also for patients, the disabled, and the elderly," emphasizing, "As long as it remains a matter of personal responsibility, it will be difficult to become a better country or a hopeful society than now. It is now time to seriously introduce a national responsibility system for childcare."

He also added, "The Gyeonggi-do Childcare Center is being piloted by Gyeonggi Province and is highly likely to continue expanding in the future. It is a very important project that especially needs to be expanded nationwide," and said, "I hope it will develop into a project implemented under national responsibility and become a good opportunity for the introduction of a national responsibility system for childcare in all other areas."

The Gyeonggi-do Childcare Center is a childcare service provided by Gyeonggi Province to address the childcare gap for elementary school students. It provides childcare services to elementary students during weekdays, holidays, and vacation periods and serves as a hub center supporting various types of childcare facilities in the region. Unlike the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s regional child centers, which operate mainly for vulnerable groups under 18 years old, this center is available to children aged 6 to 12 regardless of income level.

Last year, the province invited applications from cities and counties wishing to establish centers through the Gyeonggi Women's Family Foundation and selected four locations: Hwaseong City (metropolitan type), Gwangmyeong City (complex type), Paju City (industrial complex type), and Yeoju City (rural type). Except for the Yeoju Center, scheduled to open in September, the other three centers have been operating since March this year. Each center has a capacity of 20 children and employs three childcare professionals who provide services from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays after school and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during vacations. They offer basic meals and snacks, homework guidance, physical activities, as well as special activity programs such as reading discussions and basic foreign languages.

Before visiting the childcare center that day, Governor Lee inspected the COVID-19 vaccination site at the Paju Unjeong Vaccination Center and encouraged the staff.