In order to provide parents with reliable childcare options, the government is actively expanding public childcare centers and introducing incentives for private and family childcare centers.
As of the end of December last year, the total number of childcare centers nationwide was 28,954, a decrease of 1,969 from December 2022 (30,923). The trend of a gradual decline in childcare centers by about 2,000 each year continues due to a decrease in the birthrate. This decline poses challenges for parents in finding nearby childcare facilities.
To address this issue and meet the high demand for publicly preferred childcare infrastructure, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, under Minister Cho Gyu-hong, is consistently expanding public childcare centers. For 2024, a total of 540 new centers will be established, considering the unique characteristics and fairness of childcare supply and demand in each region. The budget for this expansion in 2024 is set at 416.5 billion KRW. The focus is not just on quantitative expansion but also on strategically placing facilities to effectively meet the demand for childcare. The plan involves flexible responses, utilizing existing building remodeling (435 centers) instead of the time-consuming construction or purchase methods.
Furthermore, to incentivize the maintenance and opening of infant classes, the government will provide a new incentive of 796 billion KRW from this year. This funding will enable the payment of childcare teacher salaries through income generated from childcare fees. For private and family childcare centers with more than 50% enrollment in the 0-2 age group, additional institutional childcare fees will be supported for the shortage in staff.
- (0-year-old class) 629,000 KRW for one staff shortage
- (1-year-old class) 342,000 KRW to 684,000 KRW for one to two staff shortages
- (2-year-old class) 232,000 KRW to 696,000 KRW for one to three staff shortages
Kim Hyun-suk, Director of Childcare Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, emphasized that "a lack of childcare infrastructure should not be an obstacle to having children." She stated, "We will ensure that there is an adequate number of childcare centers in close proximity, allowing parents to entrust their children nearby without any shortage."
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