▲ Minister of Planning and Budget Park Hong-keun
Minister of Planning and Budget Park Hong-keun announced today (September 30) that the government will continuously strengthen investments in early childhood, such as significantly increasing the early childhood budget by 7.2% to 10 trillion won in next year's budget proposal.
Minister Park made the remarks during a meeting held earlier this morning at Malli Daycare Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, where he shared opinions on early childhood care policies.
He pointed out, "When the state is equipped with a robust childcare system, it can systematically respond to structural issues closely tied to sustainable growth, such as addressing low birth rates and expanding women's participation in the labor market, as well as alleviating the life-cycle burdens of the younger generation regarding marriage, childbirth, and parenting."
He then explained detailed projects, including completing free education and childcare for children aged 3 to 5—a national policy task of the Lee Jae-myung administration—as well as expanding projects to improve teacher-to-child ratios and strengthening incentives.
The government plans to expand free education and childcare targets from current 4-to-5-year-olds to 3-to-5-year-olds, and provide state subsidies for after-school program expenses in public kindergartens, early childhood education fees in private kindergartens, and necessary expenses for daycare centers.
Attendees, including parents and representatives from the Korea Daycare Association, suggested strengthening the state's responsibility regarding improving the quality of childcare services, such as providing high-quality meals, creating a safe childcare environment, and reducing burdens on teachers.
In response, Minister Park promised, "To achieve balanced investment within the education sector, which is the purpose of this grant reform, we will continuously strengthen early childhood care budgets. We will also meticulously prepare for 'Yubotonghab' (the integration of early childhood education and childcare) to mutually level up both daycare centers and kindergartens in close consultation with various stakeholders."
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