Seoul to Invest 1.9 Trillion Won in Child Care... More Kiwoom Centers and Lunch During School Breaks
by Bae Kyunghwan
Published 16 Apr.2026 10:30(KST)
Oh Se-hoon Announces "Seoul-i Companion UP Project"
Expansion of Community Child Centers and Kiwoom Centers for After-School Care
No More Worries About Lunch During School Breaks... Launch of "School Break Lunch Camp"
Morning, Night, and Emergency Care Expanded... Introduction of Seoul Learn
Seoul Metropolitan Government will invest a total of 1.8796 trillion won by 2030 to strengthen its child care system. The city plans to significantly increase the number of community child centers and Kiwoom Centers, which form the backbone of after-school care for elementary students, and establish a system that provides lunch for children even during school breaks. These measures aim to prevent work-life balance from collapsing in families raising children.
On the morning of April 16, Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced the details of the "Seoul-i Companion UP Project" at Seoul City Hall.
According to a survey conducted last year, the main reason cited by households with children for not planning additional births was "the burden of child-rearing costs." In response, the city has steadily expanded its network of "Our Neighborhood Kiwoom Centers" and community child centers, which are responsible for after-school care for elementary students. In addition, Seoul has established 200 "Seoul-style Kids Cafes," which provide affordable leisure activities near residential areas.
However, demand for child care remains high due to the increasing number of dual-income households. The diversification of work environments, such as the rise of delivery workers and freelancers, has led to more non-standard workers, thereby increasing concerns about where to entrust children outside the standardized operating hours of child care facilities.
The focus of the "Seoul-i Companion UP Project" announced by Seoul Metropolitan Government on this day is to make child care infrastructure accessible at any time, close to home. The city will allocate a total of 1.8796 trillion won by 2030, focusing on four key areas: ▲ Child Companion UP near home ▲ Gap and close-contact Child Companion UP ▲ Learning-enhanced Child Companion UP ▲ Mind and body health Child Companion UP.
First, the city will increase the number of community child centers, Kiwoom Centers, and Seoul-style Kids Cafes, which serve as major pillars of community-based child care, to a total of 1,258 by 2030. In particular, four new "hub-type" community child centers will be established to serve as regional hubs, supporting and connecting individual community child centers in each area. To accelerate expansion, the city will prioritize the use of idle spaces within public facilities in cooperation with district offices, and will also push for expansion through donations linked to development projects. To avoid regional imbalances, priority districts for expansion will be selected based on indicators such as the number of Kiwoom Centers relative to the number of elementary students in each area.
The city will also establish a system to address blind spots where gaps in care are likely to occur, such as during school breaks, commuting hours, nighttime, and weekends. A key initiative is the launch of the "School Break Lunch Camp" to address the issue of lunch for elementary students during school breaks. Starting this summer break, a pilot program will be run at 200 community child centers and Kiwoom Centers, serving 4,000 children. The goal is to benefit 12,000 children by 2030.
To help parents balance work and family, "elementary gap care" will be strengthened for mornings, nights, and weekends. The "365 Safe Safety Net" will provide uninterrupted care from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and, if needed, up to midnight (24:00).
The "Seoul-style Grandchild Care Allowance," which provides a monthly allowance of 300,000 won to grandparents who care for their grandchildren, will see expanded eligibility and relaxed requirements. The current support, which is limited to two-year-old infants, will be gradually extended to first and second graders in elementary school. The income threshold for beneficiary households will also be eased from 150% of the median income to 180%, taking into account cost-of-living levels.
The educational system within the child care framework will also be improved. The city’s flagship educational welfare policy, "Seoul Learn," will be expanded to include all children at community child centers throughout Seoul, aiming to bridge the educational gap for vulnerable children.
Regional hub facilities such as hub-type Kiwoom Centers and public community child centers will each run a "one center, one specialized program." Seoul-style Kids Cafes will introduce "play-based education" programs where children can learn while playing. Customized programs for children with borderline intellectual functioning (slow learners) will also be expanded. At child care facilities such as community child centers and Kiwoom Centers, any signs of learning difficulties will be closely monitored. If borderline intellectual functioning is confirmed through specialized assessments in connection with the Office of Education and Hwajjak Centers, tailored care programs will be provided to support not only cognitive and learning needs but also adaptation to daily life.
Additionally, the city will standardize meal environments to the level of school meal services. Meal prices will be increased from 9,000 won (Kiwoom Centers) and 9,500 won (community child centers) to 10,000 won so that school-level meals can also be provided at community child centers and Kiwoom Centers. A "healthy meal manual" with enhanced nutritional standards will be developed and distributed to all facilities. To promote healthy nutrition management, the city will also regularly provide seasonal fruit snacks in cooperation with companies and other partners.
Mayor Oh stated, "The Seoul-i Companion UP Project is the most valuable support and a definite investment in the future of our children. Seoul Metropolitan Government will fully upgrade child care so that children can be happy and parents can feel at ease, and I will personally visit sites with the heart of a parent until the laughter of children echoes throughout Seoul."
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