Opening of 'Nowon Idolbom Center'

Dual-Income Parents, "No Worries When Our Child Is Sick" Nationwide Unique 'Sick Child Care Center'... "Eat Healthily Without Hesitation" Meal Care 'Children's Cafeteria'... "Trust Us with Care" Lower Grade Elementary Student Care 'AiHu Center'... "Mom, I’m Having Fun with Friends" 'Gongdong Yukabang'

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that the ‘Nowon Child Care Center,’ which takes care of children’s rest, play, protection, and health all in one place, will open on the 29th.

The Nowon Child Care Center is located next to the church in Junggye-dong at 100, Deokrung-ro 70-gil (Sanggye 6,7-dong), with a total area of 568.67㎡ across 3 floors above ground and 1 basement floor.

The center is composed of a children’s cafeteria (137.75㎡) on the basement floor, a communal childcare room (119㎡) on the 1st floor, the I-Hu Center (182㎡) on the 2nd floor, and a sick child care center (129.92㎡) on the 3rd floor.

□ Basement 1st floor, the nation’s first children’s cafeteria where kids can use without feeling self-conscious

The second branch, following the nation’s first children’s cafeteria located in Doosan Apartment in Sanggye 1-dong opened last September, is located on the basement floor of the care center. Meals made with eco-friendly ingredients are provided buffet-style or as single dishes under strict supervision by nutritionists and cooks. There is also a snack bar where toast, sweet potatoes, potatoes, eggs, and more can be used free of charge. The children’s cafeteria is available not only to children using the center but also to general children facing food insecurity and children from dual-income families.

In particular, a dedicated card with the same design as the Dream Tree Card will be used to prevent children facing food insecurity from feeling psychological discomfort.

□ 1st floor, communal childcare room sharing infant and toddler care experiences

The communal childcare room is located on the 1st floor considering the difficulty of moving with strollers and infant/toddler belongings. It is equipped with a physical playroom, a program room for parents and children, and a nursing room. It serves as a play space for parents and infants/toddlers and a childcare salon where parents can freely share childcare experiences and information while children enjoy playing. The district plans to expand the current six communal childcare rooms to a total of 19, one in each neighborhood, by 2022.

Outside the building, an outdoor play area with a stage for performances, a large slide, and basket swings will be created. Additionally, grass, evergreen shrubs, azaleas, and maple trees will be planted to allow enjoyment of the natural scenery.

□ 2nd floor, I-Hu Center becomes a new model for after-school care

The 2nd floor houses the 23rd branch of the I-Hu Center, a new model for after-school care for elementary school students. It consists of two activity rooms suitable for reading, arts and physical activities, a living room play area, and an office. The capacity is 40 children, with six staff members providing care services from after school until 8 p.m. during the semester, and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. during vacations.

Since its first operation in October 2018 to care for lower-grade elementary school students in care blind spots, the I-Hu Center has had a significant impact on the care sector, being benchmarked as an excellent case not only in Seoul but also by local governments nationwide. Currently, 24 I-Hu Centers have opened in Nowon, and the district aims to establish a total of 40 centers, including six integrated I-Hu Centers with children’s cafeterias, by 2022.

□ 3rd floor, the nation’s only ‘Sick Child Care Center’

The Sick Child Care Center is the only facility directly operated by the district in the nation. It provides care services on behalf of guardians who find it difficult to leave their sick children due to dual-income families and other reasons. It consists of a nursing room with six beds, a waiting and resting area for guardians and children, an office, and separate restrooms for men and women. One dedicated nurse and four child care workers reside on-site to provide nursing care tailored to the child’s condition.

The district plans to operate this center in connection with the ‘Sick Child Hospital Accompaniment Service,’ which was first implemented nationwide in 2019 and has received great support from parents. When guardians apply, dedicated staff visit the location of the sick child using a dedicated vehicle. This Nowon-style one-stop sick child care service provides not only hospital visits but also nursing care.

District Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “Expanding child care is a policy that can solve various social issues such as children’s welfare, women’s career discontinuity, overcoming low birth rates, and work-family balance,” and added, “We will continue to do our best to develop customized policies that meet diverse care demands.”

Nowon-gu Child and Youth Division

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