The "Gyeonggi Childcare Opportunity Income" program, introduced by Gyeonggi Province to address gaps in childcare, has seen the number of local residents participating in childcare increase by about seven times and the number of children receiving care rise by nearly five times in just over a year.
According to Gyeonggi Province on June 13, as of the end of May, 384 residents active in 116 village communities across 29 cities and counties received the Childcare Opportunity Income. These residents cared for a total of 2,483 children.
When the Childcare Opportunity Income was first introduced in July last year, there were 23 communities, 57 residents, and 524 registered children. In just over a year, both the number of participating residents and the number of children receiving care have increased significantly.
Among the communities receiving the Childcare Opportunity Income, there are cases where residents go beyond simple childcare to practice various social values.
For example, in one childcare community located in Siheung, where many families have two working parents, free meals have been provided since 2015 for children who skip breakfast before going to school. Gyeonggi Province provides Opportunity Income to residents who prepare these meals from early in the morning.
Gong Jeongsik, Director of the Social Innovation and Economy Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "As a result of recognizing and supporting the social value of voluntary childcare activities taking place in local communities, more residents and communities have joined these efforts." He added, "We will continue to promote and encourage participation so that no one who is active in the region misses out on the Opportunity Income."
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