Naju-si Accelerates Efforts to Become a Child-Friendly City

Published 13 Dec.2023 19:04(KST)

Starting Next March, Weekend and Holiday Care Services Will Also Be Provided in Nampyeong

Naju City, the first in the Jeonnam region to introduce a 365-day hourly childcare policy, is accelerating efforts to become a city ideal for raising children.

Naju City (Mayor Yoon Byung-tae) announced on the 13th that, following Bitgaram-dong, weekend and holiday childcare services will also be provided in Nampyeong starting next March.

Naju-si Accelerates Efforts to Become a Child-Friendly City

Nampyeong Daycare Center was finally selected as the childcare facility for the ‘365-day Hana Care’ project, sponsored by Hana Financial Group.

This project provides childcare by dedicated daycare teachers when parents are unable to care for their children on weekends and holidays due to unavoidable circumstances.

The service targets preschool children aged 1 to 5 and offers childcare from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays. If necessary, the hours can be extended from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. through prior reservation.

Starting next March, Hana Financial Group plans to support the daycare center with 600,000 KRW per month for expenses such as heating and cooling, in addition to wages for up to two dedicated childcare teachers.

Earlier, Naju City became the first local government in the province to operate a 365-day, year-round hourly childcare room at Kinderbrain Daycare Center located in Bitgaram-dong since last October.

In cases where parents registered as residents or working in Naju have urgent childcare needs, children aged six months to preschool age can be cared for at the daycare center through prior reservation.

On weekdays, childcare services are provided from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. the next day, and on weekends and holidays from 8 a.m. to midnight.

The usage fee is 3,000 KRW per hour, and the service is available even if the child attends other childcare facilities such as daycare centers or kindergartens.

Reservations can be made by calling Kinderbrain Daycare Center.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae of Naju said, “This will greatly help resolve the childcare gap, which is the biggest concern for parents engaged in work and livelihood,” adding, “We will take the lead in overcoming low birth rates through policy support and the establishment of childcare infrastructure to make Naju a city where it is good to have and raise children.”