One Year of 'Seoul-type Moa Daycare', Child Ratio Increases from 3.6% to 3.9%... "Expansion to All Types Including Workplace Daycares"

Seoul City "Proportion Increasing Despite Overall Decrease in Childcare Center Enrollment"
Various Cases Including Vehicle Sharing in 21 Communities Also Reported

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The proportion of children attending the 'Seoul-type Moa Childcare Centers' promoted by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has slightly increased over the past year. Seoul City began a pilot operation last August in 8 autonomous districts, 14 communities, and 58 childcare centers, and this year is expanding the 'Seoul-type Moa Childcare Center' project to 25 autonomous districts, 40 communities, and 160 childcare centers.

According to Seoul City on the 23rd, the proportion of children attending the 160 Seoul-type Moa Childcare Centers increased by 0.3 percentage points from 3.6% to 3.9% over the past year. Among all private childcare centers (1,203 centers), the proportion of children attending Seoul-type Moa Childcare Centers (44 centers) rose from 3.7% to 4.2%. The number of children attending home-based childcare centers participating in the Seoul-type Moa program (45 centers) increased by 4.8% (from 703 to 737) compared to one year before participation.

Seoul City analyzed that "despite a 9.8% decrease in the total capacity of childcare centers due to a decline in the infant and toddler population during the same period, the proportion of children attending Seoul-type Moa Childcare Centers increased." It also explained, "According to user interview surveys conducted by the Seoul Foundation of Women and Family, directors, childcare teachers, and parents all expressed satisfaction with the Seoul-type Moa Childcare Centers."

In some childcare centers, various creative childcare programs have been attempted, and cases have begun to emerge where resources, spaces, and vehicles owned by each center are shared to achieve effective results. In Eunpyeong District’s ‘Woorinuri Community,’ an event was held on Couples’ Day to provide parents with free time by caring for children until 8 p.m., receiving positive responses. A second event is planned for September.

In Dongdaemun District’s ‘Sangsaeng Community,’ a water AirBouncer, which was difficult to rent due to space issues in small-scale childcare centers, was jointly rented to operate a water playground. Additionally, 21 communities increased efficiency by sharing childcare center vehicles.

Going forward, Seoul City plans to open a section called 'Gathered at Moa, This is How It Changes (tentative)' on the Seoul Special City Childcare Portal Service by the end of this month. This will allow users to view innovative childcare programs unique to Seoul-type Moa Childcare Centers, differentiated from the standard childcare curriculum and general childcare classes provided by childcare centers. Various events prepared by each community will also be held to commemorate the first anniversary.

Meanwhile, Seoul City continues to improve the 'Seoul-type Moa Childcare Centers.' The scope of participation has expanded from the initial target groups of national/public, private, and home-based childcare centers to include corporate childcare centers and workplace childcare centers of all types. For groups that were not selected in the public contest but wish to participate (42 communities, 178 childcare centers), pre-incubation services for community development are being provided.

Additionally, the eco-friendly childcare centers and inclusive childcare centers, which were operated separately from the Seoul-type Moa Childcare Centers, have been integrated as essential programs of the Seoul-type Moa Childcare Centers. Branding efforts through BI development and expansion to other local governments are also underway.

Kim Seon-soon, Director of the Seoul City Women and Family Policy Office, stated, “We will continue to expand the Seoul-type Moa Childcare Centers both quantitatively and qualitatively to create ‘a Seoul good for raising children and a Seoul where moms and dads are happy.’ We will do our best to achieve this.”

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