Seoul-Gyeonggi-Incheon Joint Response to Childcare Environment: Launch of the 'Sudogwon Childcare Working Council'
Sharing Excellent Childcare Policies by Regional Characteristics and Joint Development of Government Improvement Tasks
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government, together with Gyeonggi Province and Incheon City, is launching the 'Capital Region Childcare Working Council' to jointly respond to the changing childcare environment due to low birth rates and COVID-19.
On the 16th, Seoul announced the inauguration ceremony of the 'Seoul-Gyeonggi-Incheon Capital Region Childcare Working Council' and stated that it will begin sharing excellent childcare policies beyond regional boundaries. The 'Capital Region Childcare Working Council' was established as the metropolitan transportation network expansion in the capital region has led parents' workplaces and children's childcare facilities to cross the boundaries of Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon, gradually forming a single living zone.
Individual childcare policies of Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon no longer only affect households residing in their respective areas but now directly impact households living across metropolitan boundaries, increasing the possibility of childcare support blind spots.
There was a case where Gyeonggi Province actively improved policies in July to resolve complaints caused by childcare blind spots arising from the differing differential childcare fee support policies between Seoul and Gyeonggi. In Seoul's case, differential childcare fees are supported for all children using daycare centers within the city, so even if a child from Hanam City, Gyeonggi Province attends a daycare center in Songpa District, Seoul, the differential childcare fee is supported.
The Capital Region Childcare Working Council plans to jointly solve problems arising from the daily overlap of living zones like this, and furthermore, to jointly respond to the rapidly changing childcare environment and strive to develop excellent childcare policies together.
Meanwhile, with its first formation, the Capital Region Childcare Working Council shared various childcare policies currently implemented according to the characteristics of Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon, and engaged in in-depth discussions on the best ways to provide high-quality childcare services to children.
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The Capital Region Childcare Working Council plans to establish a practical cooperation system for regularly holding meetings and actively sharing the council's achievements. Kim Seon-soon, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Women and Family Policy Office, said, "Due to low birth rates and the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, many daycare centers in the capital region, including Seoul, are facing double hardships," adding, "Through the Capital Region Childcare Working Council, Seoul will proactively share its high-quality childcare policies and learn good childcare policies from Gyeonggi and Incheon, which is expected to improve the overall level of childcare in the capital region."
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