Seocho-gu Idle Space Reborn as Neulbom Cafe for Senior Baristas

[Seoul District News] Seocho-dong-based Local Public Enterprise Evaluation Institute Partners to Transform Idle Space into Senior Neulbom Cafe Creating Jobs for 10 Senior Baristas and 1 Manager... Gangdong-gu Expands Part-Time Childcare Services

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seocho-gu (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) held an opening ceremony on the 30th for the 6th branch of the senior ‘Neulbom Cafe,’ where elderly people work as baristas, at the Local Public Enterprise Evaluation Institute located in Seocho-dong.

The senior ‘Neulbom Cafe’ is a project that helps elderly people participate in social activities and create jobs by having them work directly as baristas. Following the 5th branch at Bangbae Nutina-mu Shelter earlier this year, the sixth branch opened in the basement level 1 of the Local Public Enterprise Evaluation Institute.

In particular, the 6th branch is a space reborn as Neulbom Cafe through a business agreement between Seocho-gu and the Local Public Enterprise Evaluation Institute, utilizing a cafe space that was previously operated by the employee mutual aid association but was suspended due to COVID-19.

Additionally, the Local Public Enterprise Evaluation Institute provides the basement level 1 space and all equipment free of charge and supports exemptions from utility fees.

At this 6th branch, 10 senior baristas and 1 manager will be working.

The senior Neulbom Cafe, where elderly people aged 60 and over work as baristas, started with the 1st branch in 2018 and currently employs a total of 116 people, including 114 senior baristas and 2 managers.

Jeon Seong-su, Mayor of Seocho-gu, said, “I hope the coffee aroma filled with the love of the elderly at Neulbom Cafe will reach everyone who visits here as fragrantly as the scent of flowers,” and added, “We will continue to strive to create jobs and support social activities for the elderly.”

If a caregiver in a household that does not use daycare suddenly has an urgent matter and there is no one to take care of the child, there is no more difficult situation than this while raising a child.

At times like this, the ‘Hourly Childcare Service’ is essential.

The ‘Hourly Childcare Service’ is a temporary care service that allows parents raising infants aged 6 months to under 36 months, who do not use daycare centers but receive infant allowance or home care allowance, to use childcare by the hour when temporary care is needed due to hospital visits, short-term work, education for reemployment, or other personal tasks, and pay the childcare fee according to the time used.

Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Soo-hee) has additionally designated a childcare room within Gangdong Hanbyeol Daycare Center as an hourly childcare room, enabling more residents to use the ‘Hourly Childcare Service.’

Previously, hourly childcare rooms were operated only at five locations: ▲Gangdong-gu Office Workplace Daycare Center (Seongnae 1-dong), ▲Public Raemian Hillstate Daycare Center (Godeok 1-dong), ▲Public Godeok Forest Daycare Center (Sangil 1-dong), ▲Public Raemian Solvenue Daycare Center (Myeongil 1-dong), and ▲Public Ttobagi Daycare Center (Sangil 1-dong). With the recent addition of Gangdong Hanbyeol Daycare Center, the total number has expanded to six.

Hourly childcare rooms are staffed by professional teachers with over three years of childcare experience and qualifications, and each class accommodates up to three children. The service hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, and the usage fee is 1,000 KRW per hour for those receiving infant allowance or home care allowance, up to 80 hours per month.

If usage exceeds 80 hours per month or if the child is already enrolled in a daycare center, the service can still be used by paying a self-pay fee of 4,000 KRW per hour.

To use the service, register as a member and register the hourly child on the pregnancy and childcare comprehensive portal ‘i-Sarang’ website, then make a reservation online or by phone. After use, payment is made via the National Happiness Card.

A district official said, “Building a care infrastructure where parents can trust and leave their children when needed is most important,” and added, “We hope the hourly childcare service, which can be used anytime, will help reduce the psychological burden of childcare.”

Going forward, Gangdong-gu plans to strengthen local linkage promotion through parent-use institutions such as pediatric clinics and postpartum care centers to raise awareness and activate the use of the hourly childcare service, and to carry out various promotional activities using online media such as parenting communities and apartment media boards.