The Hidden Shadow of the Presidential Office's Move to Yongsan: "The Children Were Left Behind"

Democratic Party Rep. Kwon Chil-seung: "No Budget Allocated for Relocating Yongsan Presidential Office Workplace Daycare"
Residents Urge Use of Blue House Daycare and Installation of Daycare at Presidential Office

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] It has been confirmed that no budget was allocated for relocating the Blue House workplace daycare center (‘Mugunghwa Daycare Center’) during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration’s process of moving the presidential office. It has been revealed that presidential office employees have to commute back and forth between the daycare center left at the Blue House and their workplace moved to Yongsan for dropping off and picking up their children.

Yongsan Presidential Office Building. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the 3rd, according to confirmation by Rep. Kwon Chil-seung of the Democratic Party of Korea through the presidential office, while relocating existing Blue House organizations such as the Presidential Secretariat, National Security Office, and Security Office, no relocation plan was made for childcare facilities for employees’ children.

Because of this, presidential office employees who leave their children at the workplace daycare center have to commute between the daycare center left at the Blue House and their workplace moved to Yongsan for drop-off and pick-up. When using a private car, they face the inconvenience of a 40-minute round trip. Due to this, the current number of children enrolled at the Mugunghwa Daycare Center has decreased compared to before the presidential office moved.

The presidential office is also guiding employees’ children to the Ministry of National Defense workplace daycare center (‘Ministry of National Defense Building Daycare Center’) in Yongsan due to these issues. Currently, six children of presidential office employees are using the Ministry of National Defense Building Daycare Center, and some children are waiting for vacancies. However, there are criticisms that this process violates regulations. According to the current Infant Care Act and its enforcement rules, “Employers who cannot establish a workplace daycare center independently must enter into a consignment contract with a local daycare center, specifying the consignment period and childcare costs, to support childcare (consigned childcare) for employees’ children,” but the presidential office has not signed a consignment contract with the Ministry of National Defense.

In front of Cheongwadae Chunchoomun ./ Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Rep. Kwon said, “The problem faced by the presidential office workplace daycare center contradicts the purpose of establishing workplace daycare centers to support work-family balance,” and added, “Since many vacancies have occurred at the Mugunghwa Daycare Center, it should be made available for use by residents near the Blue House, and a new workplace daycare center for presidential office employees’ children should be built in Yongsan.”

Earlier, President Yoon drew public criticism for showing a lack of understanding of infant care conditions during a visit to a daycare center in Sejong City on the 27th of last month.