Gyeonggi Province Operates 41 'Mamdaero A+ Playgrounds'... New Site to Open at Gwanggyo Convergence Town in Second Half of Year

The "Mamdaero A+ (AI Play) Playground," a new play and care model promoted by Gyeonggi Province that incorporates digital technology, has been producing results in the field and is establishing itself as a stable initiative.

The "Mamdaero A+ Playground" is a "digital convergence playground" that brings together digital play elements such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) experiences, along with spaces for physical and role-playing activities.

One of its key features is that it is a customized playground, uniquely designed to suit the characteristics of each region and facility, as it allows children to select and combine their favorite play content in a made-to-order format.

Since 2024, Gyeonggi Province has been installing these playgrounds not only as new facilities but also by utilizing existing care facilities such as small libraries, the Child Love Playground, local children's centers, Together Care Centers, and Shared Parenting Hubs. This approach increases the utilization of existing facilities while also establishing a new model for public play spaces that expands both the quality and diversity of play experiences.

Currently, Gyeonggi Province is operating the "Mamdaero A+ Playground" at 38 locations, with three more set to open soon. As a result of this operation, usage rates have increased by 83% compared to previous facilities, with approximately 69,000 monthly users and a cumulative total of 167,000 users. User satisfaction has also been significant, with a score of 4.8 out of 5, clearly demonstrating the positive impact felt by residents.

Children are playing with bowling balls at the Mamdaero A+ (AI Play) playground created by Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Gyeonggi Province

These achievements have also been confirmed through research. According to the "Research on Digital Content-Based Operation and Development Strategies for the Mamdaero A+ Playground" conducted by the Gyeonggi Women and Family Foundation, a survey of playground staff found that interactive play using digital content has a positive effect on cognitive and emotional development among young children, and enhances both the quality and diversity of play.

Building on these results, Gyeonggi Province plans to further expand the initiative by installing a "Mamdaero A+ Playground" in the pedestrian mall at Gyeonggi Convergence Town, where the provincial government office is located, in the second half of this year.

In addition, Gyeonggi Province will continue to provide training support and on-site consulting for city and county officials and staff, with the goal of continuously improving the quality of operations through ongoing guidance and management.

Ko Hyunsook, Director of Childcare Policy at Gyeonggi Province, stated, "The Mamdaero A+ Playground is a customized digital play space designed to allow children to directly choose the activities they want," adding, "We will continue to enhance the quality of this initiative through field-oriented operational support."