Hwaseong-si Expands 'Part-Time Childcare' Institutions from 8 to 24 Locations

One Independent Class and 15 Integrated Classes Added... Operation Starts from the 1st of Next Month

Hwaseong City in Gyeonggi Province announced on the 23rd that it will expand the number of 'hourly childcare' providers within the city from 8 to 24 starting next month.

'Hourly childcare' is a service where parents raising infants at home can use childcare services at designated institutions on an hourly basis when a short-term childcare gap occurs, paying only for the hours used.

The service is available to infants who do not attend daycare centers or kindergartens and receive either parental allowance (cash) or childcare benefits. It can be used for up to 60 hours per month with a government subsidy of 3,000 KRW per hour and a personal payment of 2,000 KRW per hour.

Providers are operated as 6 'independent classes' and 18 'integrated classes.' Independent classes cater to infants aged 6 months to under 36 months and are separated from the regular daycare classes, with hourly childcare teachers providing care in a separate space. Operating hours are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Integrated classes serve infants aged 6 months to 2 years within the regular daycare classes, with homeroom teachers providing care. They operate Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Among the 16 new hourly childcare providers, the independent class is only at 'Siril Bongdam 2 Daycare Center' in Bongdam-eup. The remaining 15 are operated as integrated classes. The new integrated class daycare centers by region are ▲ Pungnim, Hyangnam 6th Complex Booyoung Sarang-ro, Hyangnam 11th Complex Booyoung Sarang-ro in Hyangnam-eup ▲ Donggeure, Sirip Gounbyeol in Namyang-eup ▲ Kungkung, Daseotkong, Hanil Hwangto in Jinandong ▲ Gian Woolim in Gibaedong ▲ Dahae in Dongtan 3-dong ▲ Happy Prugio in Dongtan 5-dong ▲ Geumgang Raon in Dongtan 6-dong ▲ The Lake City 3rd Complex Booyoung Sarang-ro in Dongtan 7-dong. Those wishing to use the service can check detailed information for each childcare institution on the pregnancy and childcare comprehensive portal 'i-Sarang' website and make a reservation in advance.

A Hwaseong City official said, "We will support parents to efficiently balance work and family life by expanding the hourly childcare service."