Paju City Achieves Highest Number of Together Care Centers Nationwide... Leading Expansion of Child Care Infrastructure

Paju City in Gyeonggi Province announced on December 29 that it had newly established a total of 11 Together Care Centers in 2025, achieving the highest number of installations nationwide for the year. As a result, by the end of 2025, the city will be operating a total of 26 Together Care Centers, taking the lead in expanding child care infrastructure.

Paju City, the highest number of Together Care Centers installed nationwide in 2025. Photo by Paju City

This year, on October 13, Paju City held a joint opening ceremony at the Mulhyanggi Village Complex 3 Together Care Center, with all 26 centers participating. Through discussions with Gyeonggi Province, Paju City included the previously city-funded “Paju-type Together Care Centers” as recipients of national and provincial government support. This significantly reduced the city’s financial burden, resulting in a total budget saving of 12.11 billion won in 2026.

Additionally, Paju City is greatly expanding the operation of “elementary school-based emergency care services (Always Care)” and “extended care services” to address gaps in child care coverage.

The “elementary school-based emergency care” service utilizes existing Together Care Centers to provide safe care for children who urgently need it on weekdays, weekends, and at night (from 7 a.m. to midnight). In 2025, the city designated 12 new centers, bringing the total to 24, and applications for the service can be made via the QR code provided in the information leaflet.

The “extended care” service allows parents to leave their children outside of regular care hours, specifically before work and after work. Currently, eight centers are designated for this service, which is operated mandatorily from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., actively meeting the real care needs of dual-income families and others.

A Paju City official stated, “Based on achieving the highest number of installations nationwide in 2025, we will continue to expand emergency and extended care services to minimize gaps in child care. In 2026, we will further strengthen support for children and families as a leading city in child care infrastructure.”