Opening of Yeongdeungpo-gu Elementary School After-School Care Island Branches 7 and 8

Dangsan 2-dong and Singil 1-dong Open 7th and 8th Branches: After-School Care, Play, Culture, Arts, and Sports Programs Offered... Emergency Care Available... Continuous Enrollment for Children Aged 6-12, Prioritizing Children of Dual-Income Families and Lower Grades

I-LAND Branches 7 and 8

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Chae Hyun-il) is opening two additional “I-Land” after-school care centers for elementary school students in Dangsan 2-dong (Gukhoe-daero 37-gil 19) and Singil 1-dong (Dosin-ro 54-gil 15-12).

The newly opened I-Land branches 7 and 8 will begin full operation from January 11 after completing renovations to become spaces where children can freely pursue their dreams.

I-Land (Our Neighborhood Care Center) is a niche childcare facility that provides after-school care services for elementary school children from dual-income or single-parent families. It mainly offers play, cultural, artistic, and sports programs for elementary students who are left alone at home after school or shuttle between academies, addressing blind spots in public childcare.

During the recent COVID-19 outbreak when in-person classes were completely suspended, the centers opened from the morning to provide emergency care, striving to create a seamless childcare environment.

The centers are staffed with center directors and caregivers who have extensive social welfare experience and childcare-related certifications, conducting various programs such as play, reading, and physical activities with the children.

The newly opened I-Land branches 7 and 8 are located in Dangsan 2-dong and Singil 1-dong respectively, selected based on local care demand and students’ main movement routes.

The Dangsan 2-dong I-Land is approximately 35 pyeong (about 116 square meters) in size, located near large apartment complexes, and is expected to become a major childcare hub in the area.

The Singil 1-dong I-Land is about 23 pyeong (about 76 square meters) and plans to expand children’s activity range by utilizing the front yard of the residence.

Both I-Land centers provide activity rooms necessary for after-school care programs and separate “rest” spaces. They also distinguish between quiet and active areas to enhance convenience for the children using the facilities.

The capacity is 20 to 25 children, operating from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the school semester and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. during vacations. Currently, the centers are temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 spread but are providing emergency care applying vacation hours.

Enrollment is ongoing, and any elementary school student aged 6 to 12 living in the area can apply regardless of parental income. If capacity is exceeded, children from dual-income families and lower grades are given priority.

As of December last year, the district operates six I-Land centers (Yeongdeungpo Bon-dong, Dangsan 1-dong, Daerim 1-dong, Mullae-dong, Yeoui-dong, Doyoung), and plans to open more centers this year in areas needing care to build a dense childcare network.

Applications for I-Land can be made through the Our Neighborhood Care Portal website. For further inquiries, contact the Child and Youth Welfare Division.

Chae Hyun-il, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, stated, “Since the first I-Land center opened in October last year, we have expanded to eight centers, establishing ourselves as a solution to childcare gaps in the community. We will continue to work hard to create an open Yeongdeungpo where our children can play safely, dream freely, and grow healthily.”

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