The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that starting on the 27th, 1,461 community childcare facilities nationwide will operate the "Vacation Gap Care Program" to reduce blind spots in meals and childcare during school breaks.

The vacation gap care program is designed to extend the operating hours of community childcare facilities near schools exclusively during elementary school breaks and guarantee lunch and dinner for children.

At 1,296 gap care centers, morning snacks and lunch will be provided from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with some facilities also offering dinner.

Meanwhile, 165 lunchtime care centers, operating from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., will provide both lunch and dinner.

Any elementary school student can apply in advance and use the facilities, regardless of whether they used the centers during the semester.

Dinner services may be partially limited this summer depending on the region or center.

Parents who wish to use the service can call the nationwide common number 1522-1318, which will automatically connect them to the counseling center in their residential area to receive information on participating centers nearby.

In addition, detailed information such as the list of participating centers, operating hours, and application methods can be found on the websites of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the National Center for the Rights of the Child, and the welfare portal Bokjiro.

(Photo: Capture from Yonhap News TV, Yonhap News)