Gyeonggi-do to Expand 'Nurseries Exclusively for 0-Year-Olds' to 370 Locations by 2026

'Daycare Centers Exclusively for Infants Aged 0 Operated by Gyeonggi Province'

Gyeonggi Province will expand the number of "daycare centers exclusively for infants aged 0" to 370 by 2026.

The "daycare centers exclusively for infants aged 0" are facilities where Gyeonggi Province was the first in the nation to reduce the teacher-to-infant ratio to 1:2 (for 0-year-old classes) or 1:3 (for 1-year-old classes) in 2008.

Infants up to 18 months old can enroll and use the service until they turn 1 year old. Customized childcare services are provided, including programs tailored to the developmental stages of infants by month and complementary foods.

Currently, Gyeonggi Province operates 335 such centers across 29 cities and counties. Due to increasing demand, it plans to add 35 more centers over the next three years?15 in 2024, 10 in 2025, and 10 in 2026?bringing the total to 370. Additionally, annual training to enhance the capabilities of childcare teachers at these centers will be conducted.

Lee Jeong-hwa, Director of the Childcare Policy Division of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "Since these daycare centers are specialized to reflect the characteristics of infants aged 0, we plan to continuously expand them. We will strengthen the expertise of teachers to ensure systematic childcare services that support the healthy physical and cognitive development of infants aged 0."

Information and locations of the daycare centers exclusively for infants aged 0 can be found on the websites of the Gyeonggi Childcare Support Center and the Gyeonggi Northern Childcare Support Center.