Development of an Effective Childcare Policy Reflecting Public Responsibility and Care Demand
Promotion of the Mapo-Style Specialized Childcare Model Centered on the "Babysitter House"
Mapo-gu (District Mayor Park Kangsoo) has launched a policy research project to develop the "Mapo-Style Specialized Childcare Model" under the goal of "A Mapo that is good for raising children, a Mapo that is good for raising children together."
As low birth rates have emerged as a social crisis, there is a growing perception that childcare is not merely a private matter but a public service that must be jointly provided by the national and local governments.
In addition, as the government has adopted the integration of early childhood care and education as a national policy task and is actively implementing the "Yubotonghap" policy, there is an increasing need to reorganize the local childcare system and develop new models at the regional level.
In response, Mapo-gu is conducting this research project with the core goal of establishing a differentiated "specialized childcare model" that strengthens public responsibility and aims to create a high-quality childcare service system where caregivers can entrust their children with peace of mind.
The direction of this research focuses not on the simple integration of kindergartens and daycare centers, but on designing an age-specific customized childcare system that distinguishes between the developmental stages of infants and young children.
Starting from the premise that the state is responsible for childcare, the research seeks structural and institutional solutions to realize the national responsibility for childcare, including the promotion of free childcare, the transition of childcare workers to public officials, and the creation of childcare facilities with optimal physical environments.
The study will also explore ways to expand childcare models that enable extended hours and customized care, centering on the "Babysitter House" currently operated in Mapo-gu.
The "Babysitter House" is a project utilizing existing public daycare centers, and it features three differentiated elements compared to conventional daycare centers: extended operating hours to increase care time, improved teacher-to-child ratios through the additional placement of assistant teachers or childcare aides, and larger childcare spaces by raising the standards for childcare room area, allowing children to live in safer and more comfortable environments.
The district plans to closely review the on-site achievements and limitations by incorporating the operation of the Babysitter House into this research project, and based on this, enhance the effectiveness and completeness of the childcare model.
Furthermore, Mapo-gu intends not only to apply the developed childcare model throughout the entire district but also to propose related policies to the central government in the future.
Park Kangsoo, Mayor of Mapo-gu, stated, "Through this research project, we will ease parents' concerns and make each child's day warmer," adding, "We will fulfill our public responsibility to create a childcare environment where everyone can feel secure."
On May 13, Mapo-gu held a kickoff briefing session for the "Research Project for the Development of the Mapo-Style Specialized Childcare Model," sharing the main contents, implementation direction, and detailed schedule of the project. The research is expected to be completed in July 2025.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
