"Family Happiness Leads to a Healthy City": Mayor Bang Sehwan's Innovations in Childcare and Caregiving

Gwangju City Launches Initiative to Build a City Where Work and Family Are in Harmony
Mayor Bang Sehwan Presents Vision of Gwangju as a "City of Shared Care"

Bang Sehwan, Mayor of Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province, stated, "The most powerful policy to improve the quality of life for citizens is family stability," and announced that the city will actively pursue policies to create "Gwangju, a city where work and family are in harmony."

ePolicy Communication. Provided by Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province

On May 2, Gwangju City announced a variety of family and childcare support policies through ePolicy Communication, aiming to create an environment where all citizens can confidently balance work and family. These policies are centered on Mayor Bang Sehwan’s vision of making Gwangju "a city that is ideal for raising children," and encompass the expansion of public care services, support for women's employment, and the development of more family leisure spaces.

Mayor Bang emphasized, "A true city of the future is one where children and parents can smile together," and highlighted the city’s particular focus on expanding public care infrastructure.

In the second half of this year, Gwangju City plans to complete the construction of the Sinhyeon Complex Cultural Center, open a new public daycare center, and increase the number of "Together Care Centers" from the current 13 to 20. Branches of the Childcare Support Center will also be established in Sinhyeon-dong and Gosan-dong to improve access to childcare support services.

Additionally, Mayor Bang stated, "Leisure spaces for families to enjoy together are also part of our policy," and highlighted the family-oriented leisure spaces currently being developed by the city.

The largest children's center in Gyeonggi Province is set to open within Jungang Park, while Jungdae Mulbit Park will feature a glamping site and a performance venue. In Neoreungol Natural Recreation Forest in Toechon-myeon, a campsite and a children's playground will be established.

The city is also taking active steps to address the issue of career interruptions among women.

Mayor Bang announced plans to strengthen practical employment linkage policies to help women with career experience return to work, including expanding the operation of the Women's Employment Council, the Stepping Stone Employment Support Project, and women's job fairs.

Furthermore, through the Gwangju City Family Center, the city will offer programs such as "Family Life Cycle Customized Programs" and "Father’s Role Support Project" to promote family harmony and equality in childcare.

Mayor Bang reiterated, "Gwangju will no longer be a city where parents raise children alone, but a city where we care for and grow together," adding, "We will work with citizens to make Gwangju a great city for raising children."

Meanwhile, detailed information about these policies can be found on the official YouTube channel of Gwangju City Hall.

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