Gumi-si to Greatly Expand Childcare Services Next Year... Increasing Care Workforce to 500

From Next Year, Number of Idolbom Service Providers Increases from 1 to 2

Idolbom Service Quality... Top 15% Excellent Institutions Nationwide

Gumi City in Gyeongbuk Province will significantly expand its childcare services starting next year, aiming to alleviate the burden of parenting and strengthen care services.

Idolbom Support Center. Provided by Gumi City

The city plans to hire an additional 200 childcare workers, increasing the total to 500, and will expand the number of service providers from one to two to reduce waiting times and improve service quality.

The childcare support project targets children aged from 3 months to 12 years old in households experiencing childcare gaps, such as dual-income families, families with multiple children, and parents with disabilities. Caregivers visit these homes directly to provide care services. Families using the service receive subsidies for their out-of-pocket expenses based on income level to reduce financial burdens.

This project is commissioned to the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation of Gumi University, currently operating with one center director, eight dedicated staff, and 300 caregivers, totaling 309 personnel. Gumi City invested 4.45 billion KRW last year to operate the service and has significantly increased the budget to 7.82 billion KRW this year to provide high-quality services.

In particular, the number of caregivers was expanded from 238 to 300 to actively support families on the waiting list. As a result, as of October this year, 926 households and 1,618 children have used the service. This represents a 43% increase compared to the same period last year, demonstrating the necessity and effectiveness of the project.

To respond to the increased demand for care next year, Gumi City plans to hire 200 additional caregivers, expanding the total workforce to 500. Newly hired personnel will complete specialized training programs to provide prompt and systematic care services to families experiencing childcare gaps.

In addition to the service provider currently operated by the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation of Gumi University, Kyungwoon University’s Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation will be newly designated and will begin full operation starting January next year. The two institutions will cooperate to expand the service area and strengthen customized support.

Gumi City is also accelerating efforts to improve the quality and reliability of childcare services. On December 5th this year, the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation of Gumi University was selected as an excellent institution in the ‘Childcare Support Project Service Provider Evaluation’ hosted by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Gumi City’s childcare service ranked in the top 15% among 227 institutions nationwide. This officially recognizes the quantitative and qualitative excellence of Gumi City’s childcare services.

Mayor Kim Jang-ho said, “To address the low birthrate issue, we are actively expanding childcare services. Through this service expansion, we will ease the burden of parenting and create a childcare environment that parents can trust and rely on.”

In the evaluation of service providers for the Childcare Support Project organized by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation of Gumi University was selected as an excellent institution. Provided by Gumi City