[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] No So-young, a member of the Nam-gu Council in Gwangju Metropolitan City, argued on the 30th that improvements are needed regarding the poor childcare environment.
In a 5-minute speech at the 290th 2nd Regular Session 2nd Plenary Meeting, Councilor No stated, “Dual-income couples who have no proper place to leave their children during the critical early childhood period when care is most needed end up taking turns using parental leave or one spouse quitting their job to become a full-time homemaker to raise the child, inevitably choosing career interruption.”
She added, “In these times of serious low birthrate issues, Nam-gu not only lacks suitable places where young children and parents can spend leisure time, but also has no facilities such as 24-hour emergency care centers or comprehensive childcare support centers where children can be left in urgent situations.”
She particularly pointed out, “After the upper grades of elementary school, the school-age population increases explosively, then sharply decreases after high school graduation, and education in our Nam-gu, an education-specialized district, mainly focuses on college entrance.”
Councilor No cited Seongdong-gu, which enacted an ordinance recognizing childcare labor as career experience, and urged, “An educational environment where children can be raised starts with early childhood care systems, and our Nam-gu must also continuously seek ways for dual-income couples to raise children while maintaining ongoing economic activities and social participation, constantly striving to become a true education-specialized district.”
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