Ranked 2nd among 62 cities, counties, and districts in the Seoul metropolitan area and 1st among Seoul’s autonomous districts in the ‘Childbirth and Childcare Welfare Index’ by city... Scored 61.13 points across six areas?welfare, childcare, safety, medical care, culture & leisure, environment?significantly above the metropolitan average of 52.22... Seoul ranks 1st in public childcare center public care rate, operates the nation’s largest working school bus system, maintaining top total fertility rate since 2017
Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced that it has firmly established itself as a city ideal for having and raising children.
In a recent survey on “Regions Best for Having and Raising Children” conducted by M Media across 17 cities and provinces nationwide and 62 cities, counties, and districts in the metropolitan area, Seongdong-gu ranked 2nd in the metropolitan area and 1st among Seoul’s autonomous districts.
This survey evaluated the “Childbirth and Childcare Welfare Index” by city, consisting of six major areas: ▲ welfare ▲ childcare ▲ safety ▲ medical care ▲ culture and leisure ▲ environment. It was composed of quantitative indicators and qualitative indicators based on surveys of local residents. Seongdong-gu ranked 3rd in quantitative indicators and 1st in qualitative indicators, placing it among the top ranks overall.
The evaluation score was 61.13 points, significantly exceeding the overall average score of 52.22 points, receiving high marks in childcare, environment, and medical fields. In particular, the medical sector scored a high 72.70 points. The number of pediatric and adolescent clinics per 100,000 people was 7.3, with many pediatric and adolescent clinics, obstetrics and gynecology clinics, and hospitals/clinics for children, including Hanyang University Hospital, contributing to the favorable evaluation.
Seoul’s No. 1 in Public Childcare Center Utilization Rate at 72.3%, Reliable Support through Elementary School Care
Since 2015, the district has made continuous efforts to establish the largest number of public childcare centers in Seoul (81 centers), maintaining the top spot in Seoul’s public childcare utilization rate at 72.3%.
They have expanded the “Teacher-to-Child Ratio Improvement Project,” which reduces the number of children per childcare teacher, to include children aged 4 and above, and are promoting the “Seongdong-type Childcare Service Support” project, which includes visiting nursing services for childcare centers and parent monitoring groups, creating a childcare environment that parents can trust.
There is no gap in support for elementary school care either. The district is running the nation’s largest “Working School Bus” project, with 124 traffic safety instructors ensuring the safety of lower-grade elementary school students’ commutes even during vacations. Additionally, 15 after-school elementary care centers called “Ai Kkum Nuriter” are operated to establish a whole-village care system.
Moreover, the “Our Child Safety Companion Center” operates one-stop “Hospital Accompaniment Services” and “Bedside Care Services,” providing essential customized care services for vulnerable groups such as dual-income parents.
Total Fertility Rate Ranked 1st for Four Consecutive Years from 2017 to 2020
Seongdong-gu is implementing various childbirth policies, including the city’s first housework care service for pregnant women and postpartum care cost support for childbirth families. It is also continuously expanding play and leisure facilities ideal for children to play nearby, such as Salgot-i and Children’s Dream Parks (Miso, Majang, Haengdang) water play areas, Rainbow Children’s Snow Sledding Hill, and children’s parks.
Thanks to continuous efforts to address low birth rates, Seongdong-gu’s total fertility rate, which was mid-level in 2014, ranked 1st in Seoul for four consecutive years from 2017 to 2020 and 2nd in 2021, maintaining a top position over the past six years. Seongdong-gu’s total fertility rate was 0.72, 0.13 higher than the Seoul average of 0.59.
Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “The result of implementing meticulous childbirth, childcare, and care policies with the mindset of having and raising children together has led to the evaluation of Seongdong as the best city for having and raising children. We will continue to build a more seamless public care system to complete Seongdong as a childcare city where people can raise children safely and happily.”
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