For Children Aged 6 Months to 7 Years Before School Enrollment
Unified Usage Fee of '2000 Won'
Operated 3 Hours Longer Than Government Childcare
Seoul City will operate hourly childcare centers where parents can leave their children for short periods of 1 to 2 hours for urgent work or daily errands such as grocery shopping. The usage time is longer than the government's hourly childcare service, and the fee is relatively affordable at '2000 won.'
On the 12th, the city announced that as part of the 'Birth Support Seoul Project' to overcome low birth rates, it will newly start the 'Seoul-type Hourly Specialized Childcare Centers,' which preschool children can use on an hourly basis whenever needed. These hourly specialized childcare centers utilize the unused spaces of existing childcare centers and can be used on weekdays during daytime hours. There is a maximum limit of 4 hours per day and 60 hours per month, and all children of pre-school age can use the service.
A Seoul city official explained, "This is intended to complement the government's hourly childcare service and provide broader childcare services to caregivers," adding, "We aim to reduce the fatigue of caregivers, who often experience 'dokbak-yuga' (sole parenting) exhaustion, by allowing them to use the service not only in urgent situations but also to have time for exercise, self-development, and recharging with peace of mind."
While the government's hourly childcare mainly targets home-cared children who do not attend childcare centers, the Seoul-type Hourly Specialized Childcare Centers are equally available to children already enrolled in existing childcare centers. The usage fee is also unified at 2000 won, unlike the government's hourly childcare, which charges 2000 won for home-cared children and 5000 won for children attending childcare centers. The operating hours are extended by 1 hour and 30 minutes before and after the government's hours, running from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The Seoul-type Hourly Specialized Childcare Centers will begin pilot operations at seven childcare centers across different districts and plan to expand to all 25 autonomous districts next year. To ensure operational capability and safety, the city conducted a public contest targeting childcare centers certified as 'Seoul-type Childcare Centers' and selected seven centers. Each selected center can operate up to three hourly specialized childcare classes, with the city supporting staffing for childcare teachers and assistants per class, as well as operational costs. Detailed childcare will be provided, including age-specific specialized programs for the children using the service. The childcare activity details will also be shared with caregivers.
The seven centers starting pilot operations are ▲ Seongbuk Supsokbandi Eorini Childcare Center ▲ Dobong Sein Childcare Center ▲ Eunpyeong Eunhwa Childcare Center ▲ Geumcheon Donghwanara Childcare Center ▲ Gwanak Danggok1 Childcare Center ▲ Songpa Little Gym Childcare Center ▲ Gangdong Jihyeroun Childcare Center. Eunpyeong Eunhwa Childcare Center will start operating from July 1, and the other six centers will begin from the 17th of this month. The city plans to select three additional centers next month in districts lacking hourly childcare providers.
To use the service, reservations must be made in advance from 14 days to 1 day before the desired date through the Seoul Childcare Portal website. Same-day use is possible by phone until 12 p.m. Usage will be available from the 17th when the centers open, and reservations start at 9 a.m. on the 12th.
Kim Seonsun, Director of the Seoul City Women and Family Policy Office, said, "Among caregivers, especially those who provide home care, childcare fatigue is high, so it is important to have time to recharge or to have the time flexibility to carry out necessary daily activities." She added, "We will continue to develop highly practical policies that caregivers truly need to make Seoul a city where it is good to have and raise children."
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