Candidate Seokjin Oh Vows to Make Daejeon a City Where Parents Never Worry About Childcare

I Will Become the Superintendent Best Suited for the "Best City for Childcare"

Candidate Seokjin Oh for Superintendent of Daejeon Education (Photo by Seokjin Oh Campaign)

Seokjin Oh, candidate for Superintendent of Education in Daejeon, stated, "Raising a child should not become a burden for individuals or families," and added, "I will provide high-quality education without discrimination between daycare centers and kindergartens to create a 'Daejeon where there is no worry about where to entrust your child.'

On May 15, Oh announced his eighth pledge, focused on resolving educational and childcare disparities for infants and young children and reducing parental childcare burdens, which includes the 'Daejeon-Style Integrated Early Childhood Care and Education' initiative and the establishment of a '365 Safe Childcare System.'

◆ Promoting Daejeon-Style Integrated Early Childhood Care and Education

This plan involves gradually integrating kindergartens and daycare centers, which are currently managed under separate systems, into a unified 'Daejeon-Style Integrated Early Childhood Care and Education' model. The goal is to standardize and improve facility environments and teacher support levels, ensuring that all infants and young children receive equal and high-quality services regardless of which institution they attend.

The plan includes expanding the deployment of childcare support staff and specialized teachers, addressing overcrowded classes, and providing customized training for daycare teachers. In addition, a cooperative framework involving the Office of Education, local governments, and childcare organizations will be established to create a practical integration model that reflects feedback from the field.

◆ Linking Daejeon-Style Childcare Vouchers and Child Allowances

The plan also includes measures for economic support and administrative efficiency. By linking Daejeon-style childcare vouchers with child allowances, the policy aims to reduce the actual childcare costs borne by parents.

An AI-based administrative support and safety management system will be implemented, enabling teachers to focus solely on children rather than administrative work. Furthermore, professional training programs for childcare teachers will be operated through institutions such as the Daejeon Educational Training Institute.

◆ Gradual Expansion of Pilot Programs Starting in 2027

To realize these pledges, a comprehensive survey and preparatory work will begin this year, with a step-by-step expansion of the Daejeon-Style model starting next year.

Oh emphasized, "Integrating early childhood care and education and providing all-day care is not simply about merging systems, but about safeguarding our children's lives and investing in Daejeon's future," and pledged, "I will dedicate all my capabilities to ensure Daejeon becomes the 'best city for childcare' in Korea."

Seokjin Oh is regarded as an on-the-ground education expert who has devoted nearly 40 years to the educational field, having served as a teacher at middle and high schools (general, special-purpose, and specialized high schools), a superintendent of schools, a principal, the head of the Korean Education Center in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and as Director of Education at the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education, leading all areas of educational administration from kindergarten through elementary, middle, and high school.

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