'Seoul-style Weekend Childcare Centers' Receive Great Response... Expanding Nationwide

43% Increase in Users in Just 3 Months

The number of users of the ‘Seoul-style Weekend Daycare Center’ for caregivers who have to work on weekends, such as shift workers like nurses and police officers or self-employed individuals, has steadily increased. Due to the strong response from users, the ‘Seoul-style Weekend Daycare Center’ model is planned to be expanded nationwide.

On the 25th, Seoul City announced that from June, a total of 668 care sessions (210 children) were provided over three months at 10 daycare centers in Seoul operating as ‘Seoul-style Weekend Daycare Centers.’ In particular, as the demand from caregivers who needed a place to leave their children on weekends matched well, the number of users steadily increased by 43% compared to the first month.

The ‘Seoul-style Weekend Daycare Center’ is part of the ‘Mom and Dad Happiness Project’ under the ‘Niche Childcare SOS Service’ aimed at creating a ‘city good for giving birth to and raising children, Seoul.’ It is a childcare facility that provides temporary care on Saturdays and Sundays (excluding January 1st and Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays) regardless of enrollment status, with the city fully supporting the wages of up to two teachers and operating expenses. The fee is 3,000 KRW per hour.

The ‘Seoul-style Weekend Daycare Center’ will be expanded nationwide through corporate social responsibility projects. Hana Financial Group, which has taken the lead in fulfilling corporate social roles such as overcoming low birth rates and aging population issues, has adopted Seoul City’s ‘Seoul-style Weekend Daycare Center’ model and plans to expand it to daycare centers nationwide through a public contest.

Kim Seon-soon, Director of the Women and Family Policy Office of Seoul City, said, “Although the number of infants and young children is decreasing due to low birth rates, the demand for niche childcare such as nighttime and weekend care is increasing. The fact that the ‘Seoul-style Weekend Daycare Center’ has gained popularity and increased users within three months of implementation reflects these needs of caregivers. We hope that the ‘Seoul-style Weekend Daycare Center’ will spread nationwide to ease the concerns of families of weekend workers and self-employed individuals. Seoul City will continue to develop niche childcare policies to create a childcare-friendly city that is good for raising children.”