Icheon City to Open Second "24-Hour Childcare Center" in Bubal-eup Next Month

Agreement Signed with Welcome Welfare Foundation for Installation and Operation
Expectations to Address Nighttime and Emergency Childcare Gaps

Icheon City in Gyeonggi Province will open the second branch of the "24-Hour Childcare Center" in Bubal-eup next month to address gaps in childcare services.

On January 2, Icheon City announced that it had signed a business agreement with the Welcome Welfare Foundation on December 30 for the installation and operation of the second branch of the "24-Hour Childcare Center."

Kim Kyunghee, Mayor of Icheon (fifth from the left), and Ko Kwangtae, Chairman of the Welcome Welfare Foundation (sixth from the left), are holding up the agreement at the signing ceremony for the installation and operation of the "24-Hour Childcare Center." Provided by Icheon City

The "24-Hour Childcare Center" is a public childcare facility, the first of its kind to be introduced by a local government in Korea, and is characterized by its operation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, without any holidays. It is designed to meet various childcare needs for children aged 0 to 12, including those from dual-income families, as well as nighttime and emergency care. The first branch has been operating since April 2024 next to the Icheon City Hall.

The city explained that this agreement was established to further expand the 24-hour childcare service in a more stable manner, based on the experience and achievements accumulated through the operation of the first branch.

The second branch is being created by utilizing the daycare center space at "Elif Icheon High City," located at 1259 Ami-ri, Bubal-eup. The space was provided free of charge by KR Daehan Icheon No. 35 Real Estate Investment Trust. The city plans to open the second branch next month after completing remodeling work.

Kim Kyunghee, Mayor of Icheon, stated, "Through public-private cooperation, we will expand the 24-hour public childcare system and create an environment where citizens can use childcare services with peace of mind."