Seoul's Most Night-Extended Childcare Centers: 30 Locations with Dobong-gu Ensuring No Care Gaps for Our Children

13 Hourly Childcare Centers Receive Positive Response from Dual-Income Families and Others

Working parents who leave work late due to overtime have many concerns. Usually, by 5 to 6 p.m., they need to pick up their young children from daycare centers or other childcare facilities. Because of this, many parents need childcare facilities they can trust even late at night.

Dobong-gu (District Mayor Oh Eon-seok) is attracting attention by implementing a nighttime extended childcare program. Notable examples include the operation of nighttime extended daycare centers and 365-open daycare centers.

The district operates 84 nighttime extended daycare centers within the area to provide stable childcare services even at night. These nighttime extended daycare centers are open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. as the standard childcare hours, and remain open until midnight at the latest.

There are also hub-type nighttime extended daycare centers that can be used by children attending other daycare centers and kindergartens, not only those enrolled in nighttime extended daycare centers. The number of such centers is 30, the highest in Seoul.

Since last October, a 365-open daycare center that operates every day has also been in service. Dobongsup Daycare Center, designated as a 365-open daycare center, cares for children daily from 7:30 a.m. to midnight without any holidays. Only 15 autonomous districts in Seoul, including Dobong-gu, operate 365-open daycare centers.

In addition, the district operates hourly childcare daycare centers that provide hourly childcare services for children raised at home. There are a total of 13 such centers in Dobong-gu.

Parents highly appreciate this service because they can leave their children when they have errands while taking care of them at home. One parent said, “It’s great because I can leave my child on the reserved date and take care of work or other tasks.” A district official stated, “The biggest advantage is that it can be used flexibly according to the caregiver’s working hours or situation,” adding, “It is widely used by dual-income households.”

Operating hours are divided into morning (9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.), afternoon (1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.), and full day (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Applications can be made on the I Love Children website. Applications are accepted from two weeks before the usage date until the day before.

Oh Eon-seok, Mayor of Dobong-gu, said, “We are putting effort into establishing policies and systems so that all infants and young children can receive childcare services suited to their circumstances. The nighttime extended childcare program is part of this effort,” and added, “We will continue to promote various childcare projects to create an environment favorable for having and raising children.”