Operation Expanded to All 25 Districts with 7 New Centers
Hourly Childcare for All Preschoolers Gains Popularity
Reservations for Childcare Centers Now Open on the Seoul Childcare Portal
The 'Seoul-type Hourly Specialized Childcare Center,' where anyone can entrust their preschool-aged children on an hourly basis, will be expanded to all 25 districts in Seoul. Caregivers will now be able to conveniently access hourly childcare services closer to home.
On August 24, Seoul City announced that, in addition to the existing 18 districts, it will newly launch the operation of 'Seoul-type Hourly Specialized Childcare Centers' in the remaining 7 districts starting in September.
Exterior view of Wangsimni Hana Public Childcare Center in Seongdong-gu, a newly operated 'Seoul-type hourly specialized childcare center' starting from September. Seoul City
The seven new centers to be operated from September are: Chodong Childcare Center in Jongno-gu, Wangsimni Hana Public Childcare Center in Seongdong-gu, Maeggot Childcare Center in Dongdaemun-gu, Dream Public Childcare Center in Jungnang-gu, Samsung I Maru Childcare Center in Mapo-gu, Ato Childcare Center in Yeongdeungpo-gu, and Seocho Seongmo Public Childcare Center in Seocho-gu.
The 'Seoul-type Hourly Specialized Childcare Center' is an hourly childcare service that utilizes unused spaces in existing childcare centers, allowing anyone with a child of preschool age (6 months to 7 years old) to use the service as needed, by the hour (up to 60 hours per month, with a fee of 2,000 won per hour). Launched in June last year as part of Seoul City's 'Birth Support Seoul Project' to address the low birth rate, it allows parents to entrust their children with peace of mind when urgent matters arise, such as hospital visits, catching up on household chores, needing time for exercise and self-care, or during kindergarten vacations. Since its implementation, demand for the service has remained steady. From January to July of this year alone (7 months), the service was provided 2,875 times, totaling 12,419 hours.
The newly operated childcare centers (seven locations) will be available for use starting in September. Reservations can be made on the 'Seoul Childcare Portal' from August 25. The usage fee is 2,000 won per hour, and the operating hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays.
Ma Chae-sook, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Women and Family Policy Office, stated, "The Seoul-type Hourly Specialized Childcare Center will help reduce the burden on caregivers by promoting the use of parental leave and bridging urgent childcare gaps. We will continue to develop highly practical policies so that parents can raise their children happily and without worry, doing our utmost to make Seoul a city where it is easy to have and raise children."
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