Additional 70,000 Won Support for Daycare Centers
Universal Free Education and Childcare for Ages 3 to 5 by 2027
The Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education announced on September 15 that, starting this month, it is providing free educational and childcare expenses for five-year-old children.
This measure marks the beginning of a phased approach to achieving universal free education and childcare for all children aged three to five by 2027, in connection with the Ministry of Education's integrated kindergarten and daycare policy. It is expected to significantly reduce the additional costs previously borne by parents, thereby easing their financial burden in a meaningful way.
The support includes an additional 20,000 won per month for public kindergartens, 110,000 won per month for private kindergartens, and 70,000 won per month for daycare centers. The support amounts for each institution are calculated based on the standard early childhood education and childcare costs required to provide the Nuri Curriculum for each child.
For public kindergartens, the after-school program fee will be raised from 50,000 won to 70,000 won, matching the level of private kindergartens. For private kindergartens, 110,000 won will be provided, which is the difference between the standard early childhood education cost of 557,000 won and the average government and municipal education office support of 448,000 won. For daycare centers, 70,000 won will be provided to cover the average additional expenses actually paid by parents, such as special activity fees and field trip costs.
The free education and childcare expenses for five-year-olds will be provided through kindergartens and daycare centers. The support for July and August will be either refunded or carried over for future use, following consultation with the kindergarten and daycare center management committees and feedback from parents.
In the Daegu region, five-year-old children will receive 220,000 won per month at public kindergartens, 540,000 won per month at private kindergartens, and 470,000 won per month at daycare centers. The Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education plans to gradually expand free education and childcare to include four- and five-year-olds in 2026 and three- to five-year-olds in 2027, in line with the government’s universal responsibility for early childhood education and childcare and the Ministry of Education’s plan for universal free education and childcare.
Kang Eunhee, Superintendent of the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education, stated, "By expanding support for the Nuri Curriculum tuition and providing free education and childcare expenses in stages, we will substantially reduce the financial burden on parents and ensure that all children receive quality education without discrimination." She added, "We will thoroughly prepare for the full implementation of universal free education and childcare for children aged three to five by 2027."
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