0
Hyun Soo-yeob, First Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, briefs the media on the emergency measures for elementary school niche care during summer vacation at the Government Complex Sejong on July 13. / Photo courtesy of Yonhap News Agency

To resolve the childcare gap for dual-income families during elementary school summer vacations, 1,500 niche care centers and 1,000 lunch care centers will be operated nationwide. The niche care project expands the operating hours of after-school community care facilities exclusively during vacation periods to supplement the elementary childcare gap, while also ensuring children are provided with lunch and dinner.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on July 13, with a target participation of up to 2,500 out of approximately 5,600 after-school community care facilities nationwide, the ministry will support the operation of 1,500 vacation niche care centers from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and another 1,000 lunch care centers from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The initiative is scheduled to run from July 27 to the third week of August, and the government plans to continue this program every year starting with this summer vacation. The user fee is 10,000 won per week, while basic livelihood security recipients and the near-poor class can access the service free of charge.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare expects that if the number of participating centers expands to 2,500 as planned, more than 200,000 elementary school students nationwide and their parents will benefit from the service during every vacation period.

"Currently, 140,000 children are utilizing 5,600 regional children's centers and community care centers," said Jang Young-jin, director of the Child Protection and Independence Division at the Ministry of Health and Welfare. "The target of 2,500 centers was set based on a demand analysis from the field showing that we can support between 40% and 45%—slightly less than half—of these existing facilities." He added, "Considering the demand during the vacation period, facilities will be allowed to accept an additional 5 to 10 children beyond their maximum capacity."

The government also stated its position that while vacation care firmly adheres to the principle of being school-centered, the niche care project is intended to strengthen local support capabilities to better complement school-based care.

"While further strengthening school-centered care, the government will patch up the gaps through niche care via community care centers near residential areas to ensure our children are closely cared for and well-fed even during vacations," said Hyun Soo-yub, First Vice Minister of Health and Welfare.

                                                                                                         Lee Jeong-yeon