Yongin City to Expand Municipal Childcare Centers by Four Facilities in 2021

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Yongin City is expanding its municipal childcare centers by four facilities this year to create a public childcare environment that parents can trust and rely on.

The city announced on the 6th that it will invest a total of 765 million won to sequentially open four municipal childcare centers at Park Nine Phase 1 and 2 in Seongbok-dong, Suji-gu, Seongbok Station Lotte Castle Gold Town, and Shin Dongbaek Doosan We've The Genesis apartment complex in Dongbaek-dong, Giheung-gu.

The city previously opened nine facilities last year, and once all four facilities open this year, it will operate a total of 51 municipal childcare centers.

Currently, the childcare centers at Park Nine Phase 1 and 2 and Shin Dongbaek Doosan We've The Genesis apartment complex have passed facility review and private consignment approval. Following the remaining procedures, they are scheduled to open in March, May, and October, respectively.

Seongbok Station Lotte Castle Gold Town is awaiting facility review next month, and upon passing the review, administrative procedures will proceed with a target opening date of October.

Additionally, starting this year, the city will conduct 'character assessment tests' when selecting private operators for municipal childcare centers to objectively evaluate applicants. Assessment results from professional institutions' recruitment and evaluation systems will be used as interview materials.

The city also plans to create a more comfortable environment by replacing insulated windows and heating and cooling systems at aging municipal childcare centers using a total of 1,277 million won in project funds secured through last year's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Green Remodeling competition.

A city official said, "National and public childcare centers are preferred by parents because they prioritize vulnerable childcare services such as late-night extended care and inclusive care for children with disabilities," adding "We will continuously expand municipal childcare centers to establish a public childcare foundation that parents can trust and rely on."