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[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Working parents with elementary school children are increasingly worried about childcare. Due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, cases of children being left alone at home without a place to go, especially with online classes, have significantly increased.

Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Chae Hyun-il) has newly established ‘I-Land,’ an after-school care facility for elementary students, in Mullae-dong (63 Seonyu-ro) and Yeoui-dong (386 Yeouidaebang-ro).

The spaces have been renovated for children and began operation on the 7th of this month.

I-Land (Our Neighborhood Care Center) is a care space for elementary school children, supporting after-school care, cultural, artistic, and sports programs, and providing snacks for children who would otherwise be left alone at home due to their parents’ dual-income status. It also operates emergency care services due to COVID-19.

The center is staffed with a director and caregivers who have extensive experience and certifications in social welfare, engaging with children through play, reading, physical activities, and various programs.

Through I-Land, children can learn consideration and empathy with peers outside of school, developing social skills, while parents can entrust their children with peace of mind and focus on work without childcare worries.

The facility accommodates 20 to 25 children and operates from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the school term, and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. during vacations. Currently, due to online elementary school classes, it is operating on vacation hours.

The district currently operates five I-Land locations (Yeongdeungpo-bondong, Dangsan 1-dong, Daerim 1-dong, Mullae-dong, Yeoui-dong). The Doyoung I-Land (21-15 Dorim-ro 112-gil) is scheduled to open this month, and efforts are underway to establish two additional locations (Dangsan 2-dong, Singil 1-dong) within this year.

Enrollment for children is ongoing. Regardless of parental income, any elementary school student aged 6 to 12 residing in the area can use the service. Priority is given to dual-income families and younger children.

Applications for I-Land can be made through the Our Neighborhood Care Portal website.

For inquiries, contact the Child and Youth Welfare Division.

i-LAND Stores 4 and 5

Chae Hyun-il, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, stated, “I-Land is an after-school care facility established to fill the childcare gap for children of working parents,” adding, “We will create a care community where parents can raise their children with peace of mind and a bright Yeongdeungpo.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.