Gangseo District Expands Hourly Childcare Centers to 20 Locations

2,000 Won Per Hour, Up to 60 Hours a Month Available

Seoul's Gangseo District has newly designated five additional 'hourly childcare centers,' where children can be cared for on an hourly basis, bringing the total number of hourly childcare centers in the district to 20, with 24 classes in operation.

Exterior view of Gangseo District Office. Provided by Gangseo District Office.

The district expects that with these additional designations, many families will be able to use hourly childcare services closer to home, significantly easing the burden of childcare.

Hourly childcare is a service that allows parents to use childcare services at designated centers for only as many hours as needed and pay for the hours used. Parents who usually care for their children at home but need temporary childcare services?for example, for hospital visits or going out?can use this service even if their child does not attend daycare. The service is available for infants aged 6 months to under 36 months, and children cared for at home can use the service at a rate of 2,000 won per hour.

The newly designated centers are Ainuri Daycare Center (public), Magok 11 Namuhaetsal Daycare Center, and Banghwa Angel Daycare Center (all independent classes), as well as Magok 1 Haram Daycare Center and Dongsung Smile Daycare Center (integrated classes).

Independent classes are organized as separate hourly childcare classes for infants aged 6 months to under 36 months and operate Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Integrated classes are organized within existing classes for infants aged 6 months to 2 years (born in 2022) and are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Applications can be made through the Gangseo District Childcare Support Center website or the Pregnancy and Childcare Portal, and the service can be used for up to 60 hours per month. In February last year, the district enacted the 'Gangseo District Hourly Childcare Promotion Support Ordinance'?the first of its kind in the country?to reduce the childcare burden on parents, and is continuing to expand the number of service providers.

Jin Kyohoon, Mayor of Gangseo District, stated, "Hourly childcare is a practical alternative that provides parents with more flexibility in their daily lives and helps fill gaps in family care. We will continue to expand high-impact childcare policies so that parents can confidently entrust their children to our care."

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