"One Month of Childcare Battle"...Parents Frustrated by Daycare and Kindergarten Closures [Daily Life Disrupted by COVID-19]

On the 8th, as the spread of COVID-19 intensifies mainly in the metropolitan area, students are attending school at an elementary school in Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Kim Jong-han (38, pseudonym), an office worker with two sons aged 5 and 3, has recently become deeply concerned due to the resurgence of COVID-19. Both children’s daycare centers have closed simultaneously, raising worries about childcare. As Kim works in a face-to-face industry, remote work is not an option. Kim said, “The two boys are very active, so I’m already worried whether my wife can take care of them alone,” adding, “Taking care of two kids from morning until bedtime is really not easy, so I’m considering whether I should take childcare leave.”

Following the full closure of daycare centers in the Seoul metropolitan area, kindergartens and schools have also switched to remote classes, increasing parents’ concerns.

Especially for dual-income families, there is no effective solution other than entrusting children to grandparents or taking turns using annual leave or family care leave. Some have already exhausted all their leave during the previous major COVID-19 outbreak. From the last week of July, most daycare centers and kindergartens begin their vacations, meaning parents will have to care for their children at home for nearly a month.

Although remote work has become more common due to the COVID-19 resurgence, it is not always comfortable. Office worker Jung Han-ul (34, pseudonym) lamented, “Just because I’m working from home doesn’t mean I’m not working, but when the child fusses, I can’t ignore them, so it’s even harder.” As cases of group infections continue to spread in daycare centers and kindergartens, many are reluctant even to use emergency childcare services.

The government previously decided, following the escalation to social distancing level 4, to close daycare centers in the Seoul metropolitan area including Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon, and to operate emergency childcare services at a minimal scale. Emergency childcare is only available on necessary days and times. If home care is possible, attendance is restricted, and only minimal childcare staff are assigned within daycare centers. Additionally, special activities and outdoor activities are prohibited, and group events and collective education are not allowed.

Kindergartens and schools in Seoul will also begin remote classes for two weeks starting from the 14th. Kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools in Gyeonggi and Incheon regions have already started full remote classes from the previous day.

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