[K Population Strategy] "Kakao Daycare, No Resignation Allowed Until Child Graduates"

Song Yuna Kakao Daycare Director
4 Locations Including Jeju and Pangyo Can Care for 907 Children
Planning Children According to Admission

Song Yuna, Head of Kakao Daycare Center
Photo by Kakao

Kakao's workplace daycare boasts the largest scale in the IT industry. It operates four daycare centers catering to children up to 5 years old, not only in Pangyo, where Kakao Agit is located, but also in Jeju, where the headquarters is based. The reason Kakao pays close attention to workplace daycare is that a stable childcare environment can enhance job satisfaction and work efficiency. It is also considered advantageous for attracting top talent. Starting with the 'Space Dot Kids' daycare in Jeju City in 2014, workplace daycare has now become a distinctive welfare benefit at Kakao.

Yuna Song, head of Kakao's daycare centers, reports that workplace daycare is very popular. In the annual satisfaction survey conducted among parents, it consistently receives high scores. She said, "There is even a saying that 'no one resigns before their child graduates' once they are admitted to the daycare, which shows how highly regarded this welfare benefit is," adding, "Some even plan their children based on the daycare admission criteria." She continued, "Especially for the 0-year-old class, since admission is possible from after the child turns one, the competition rate is the highest," and noted, "There have been cases where the birth date was scheduled by cesarean section to secure admission."

Kakao operates the Space Dot Kids daycare in Jeju City, and in Pangyo, the 'Neul Yesol,' 'Ajitteul,' and 'Byeolideun' daycare centers. These are operated through a specialized workplace daycare management agency. Considering the high admission competition rate, the average age of employees, and the number of preschool children, the Byeolideun daycare was added in April 2023. Currently, a total of 907 children can be cared for.

Reflecting the flexible commuting nature of the IT industry, the centers are open on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Yuna Song explained, "Since this is a space where our children spend a long part of their day, the facility was designed, constructed, approved, and prepared with great care and effort to create a safe and comfortable environment."

Besides the scale and operation style tailored to the IT industry environment, Kakao's workplace daycare has three key strengths: ▲spatial environment ▲childcare programs ▲child-to-teacher ratio. Song said, "We focused on safety using eco-friendly materials, applying curved finishes and spatial layouts, and utilizing elements suitable for developmental stages by age," adding, "Since the centers are located inside offices and lack outdoor play areas, we created various indoor play spaces to compensate."

In November last year, two daycare centers won awards for the first time at the childcare contest hosted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service. Byeolideun and Ajitteul daycares received the grand prize and excellence award, respectively, in the spatial environment design category.

Regarding childcare programs, Kakao applies its own specialized education methods. In addition to English, science, art, physical education, and music, children are provided with various experiences including coding. Also, about 280 staff members work across all workplace daycare centers, maintaining a high child-to-teacher ratio and providing stable support.

Workplace daycare also plays a positive role in promoting gender-equal parenting. Song said, "We often see male employees dropping off and picking up their children, and fathers actively participate in parent meetings and special lectures for parents," adding, "It seems that a culture where male participation in childcare is normalizing is taking root."

Children at Kakao Ajitteul Kindergarten are participating in a cooking experience class.
[Photo by Kakao]

Song emphasizes that workplace daycare plays a clearly positive role not only in childcare but also in addressing the low birthrate issue. She herself is a working mom raising children while working. Although she initially felt guilty about entrusting her children to daycare at a young age, the support from workplace daycare helped ease those feelings.

"Seeing my child happily spending time at the daycare helped reduce my guilt a bit, and they can engage in activities that are difficult to do at home, so I am always grateful. Having a place where I can trust and leave my children while working allows me to focus comfortably on my tasks. I hope there will be more facilities where people can trust and leave their children, to help those considering childcare or childbirth. I also hope that support from companies and the government will expand."