Gyeongnam Province Expands '356 Open Daycare Centers' to 13 Locations

Weekday Daytime and Nighttime, Weekend and Holiday 24-Hour Care Available

Childcare Fee 1,000 KRW per Hour, Usage Within 90 Hours per Month

Gyeongsangnam-do will increase the number of Gyeongnam-type 365 Open Daycare Centers from 7 to 13 starting in the second half of this year.

According to Gyeongnam Province on the 9th, the Gyeongnam-type 365 Open Daycare Centers have been promoted as a provincial project since 2021 to support families needing temporary childcare during weekday nights, weekends, and holidays.

This childcare service allows parents to use the facility by the hour as needed in urgent situations such as parental economic activities or hospital visits.

Currently, 7 centers are operating in 6 cities/counties: Changwon Segye Daycare Center, Gimhae Myeongji Saintville Daycare Center, Miryang Haemalgeun Daycare Center, Geoje Jangpyeong Daycare Center, Namhae Momo Daycare Center, and Hadong Wongwang and Nokya Daycare Centers.

In the second half of the year, 6 new centers will be selected in Gimhae, Yangsan, and Haman, expanding the operation to a total of 13 centers across 8 cities/counties.

The additional daycare centers will begin operation after securing supplementary budgets from each city/county, expected after September.

Children are playing with blocks at the Gyeongnam-style 365 Open Daycare Center.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

Parents of children under 5 years old, both Korean and foreign residents living in the province, can entrust their children up to 90 hours per month regardless of their place of residence.

Operating hours are from 6 PM on weekdays to 9 AM the following day, and from 9 AM to 6 PM on holidays.

The childcare fee is 1,000 KRW per hour, and the service operates year-round except on January 1st, Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays, and Christmas.

Reservations can be made by phone at the institution at least one day before use, and same-day reservations are possible in emergencies.

After expanding to 13 centers this year, Gyeongsangnam-do plans to conduct user satisfaction surveys and business feasibility analyses to assess additional demand and then broaden the scope of the project.

Yoon Dong-jun, Director of Family Support Division, said, “As work patterns diversify, there is a need for childcare services that allow children to be cared for anytime during nights and holidays. We will actively strive to create a childcare environment that is good for having and raising children by continuously providing high-quality childcare services.”

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