Naju-si Wins 'Minister of the Interior and Safety Award' at Active Administration Competition

'365-Day Hourly Childcare Room' First Introduced by Jeonnam Local Government

Naju City in Jeollanam-do received the Minister of the Interior and Safety Award at the 2024 Active Administration Best Practices Competition jointly hosted by the Office for Government Policy Coordination, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and the Ministry of Personnel Management.

According to the city on the 27th, the awarded case of operating a 365-day hourly childcare room was introduced last year by Naju City as the first local government in the province, as part of fulfilling the 8th term administration pledge to "create a safe childcare environment by expanding support for infant and toddler facilities."

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae, the Family and Children Department staff, are taking a commemorative photo for the award. Photo by Naju City

In cases where parents with preschool children urgently need childcare due to reasons such as both parents working, overtime, hospital visits, or hospitalization, year-round childcare services are provided at designated daycare centers operating hourly childcare rooms.

The hourly childcare rooms started with the first branch, Kinderbrain Daycare Center (Bitgaram-dong), last year, followed by the second branch, Nampyeong Daycare Center (Nampyeong-eup) in March this year, and the third branch, Gungjeon Daycare Center (Songwol-dong) in November, establishing a year-round childcare system across major areas.

The competition received 136 cases from local governments nationwide. The city submitted the 365-day hourly childcare project titled "A special promise 365 times a day, innovative care ensuring children's happiness year-round," ranking 12th overall and winning the Excellence Award, the Minister of the Interior and Safety Award. This is the second consecutive year of achievement following last year's active administration best practice hosted by Jeollanam-do, proving the excellence of the Naju-type childcare policy differentiated from other local governments.

The 365-day hourly childcare room provides care for children from 6 p.m. on weekdays until 9 a.m. the next day through prior reservation, and from 8 a.m. to midnight on weekends and holidays. Eligible users are parents residing or working in Naju City with children aged from 6 months to preschool age, and reservations can be made at the designated daycare centers. The usage fee is 3,000 KRW per hour, and children attending daycare centers, kindergartens, or other childcare facilities can also use the service, receiving great support from parents.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said, "As a result of our efforts to discover policies that citizens can feel, from pregnancy and childbirth to preschool childcare and educational welfare, the 365-day hourly childcare project was selected as an active administration best practice for two consecutive years," adding, "We will continue to strive to create a city good for having and raising children and a safe childcare environment where parents can entrust their children with peace of mind."