Resident-Centered Childcare Infrastructure
National Expansion Expected for Integrated Care Model
The 'Uiseong Kium Center' in Uiseong County, Gyeongbuk, achieved the distinction of being the only project in North Gyeongsang Province to be selected as an outstanding case in the '2025 Regional Balanced Development Project Best Practices Evaluation' organized by the Presidential Committee for Balanced National Development.
This evaluation is conducted annually for cities, counties, and districts nationwide, comprehensively assessing the operational performance and potential for regional expansion of balanced development projects. The main evaluation criteria are residents' perceived impact and sustainability.
Uiseong County received high marks for its complex space model centered on childcare and its resident-participatory management approach.
The Uiseong Kium Center goes beyond being a simple childcare facility by offering a variety of educational and cultural programs, including safety education, hand puppet shows, bakery classes, cello lessons, and futsal classes. It provides a practical care and leisure space for both children and their guardians.
In particular, the playroom on the first floor has become a prominent community space in the region, with high utilization rates that attract residents from neighboring cities and counties.
Throughout the project, Uiseong County consistently maintained a 'resident demand-tailored approach,' concretizing space design and program direction based on surveys conducted with children and parents.
This approach became a key factor in being recognized as an outstanding case, as it ensured both the effectiveness of the space configuration and the efficiency of operations.
Furthermore, the county received high praise for establishing a local care ecosystem where children and adults can stay and grow together by creating a community infrastructure that integrates play, relaxation, and interaction through childcare facilities.
Kim Jusu, Mayor of Uiseong County, stated, "To overcome the crisis of local extinction, we have focused on building life-based facilities that can bring real changes to residents' daily lives," and emphasized, "We will continue to expand care and welfare models that encompass all generations, making Uiseong a place where everyone wants to live."
Meanwhile, based on this achievement, Uiseong County is expected to play a leading role in future projects linked to national funding support and in policy cooperation between regions.
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