The Gyeonggi Daycare Center Association held a rally in front of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government building yesterday (October 6) to urge the allocation of 2.7 billion won in childcare-related budgets that were excluded from this year's second supplementary budget proposal.

This budget is tied to four programs, including provincial funding for daycare center operations, support for infant standard childcare curriculum programs, and the improvement of childcare teachers' working conditions.

If the supplementary budget is passed without these funds, provincial support for the respective programs could be reduced starting next month.

According to police estimates, between 1,800 and 2,000 childcare teachers participated in the rally.

The association plans to continue its rallies for three days until October 8.

The association's demand was also posted on Gyeonggi Province's online petition platform, "Gyeonggi Petition," on October 5.

In just one day, the number of participants exceeded 56,000 as of today.

The petitioner urged, "Immediately reflect the childcare budget in the supplementary budget and establish stable and continuous measures so that childcare support is not shaken every year."

An official from Gyeonggi Province stated, "Due to the province's poor financial situation, we inevitably failed to reflect it in the supplementary budget," adding, "We are reviewing measures to prevent major confusion in the field."

Meanwhile, about 80 small business owners, including members of the Federation of Small and Medium Business, also held a press conference in front of the provincial office building that day to urge the allocation of budgets for the livelihood economy.

The current supplementary budget proposal excluded 3.1 billion won for the consumption-promotion event "Gyeonggi Saligi Tonkeun Sale" and 2.0 billion won for traditional market facility modernization.

(Photo: Yonhap News)