No Need to Worry Even on Weekends or When You Suddenly Need Childcare

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gapdong] The number of users of the 'Anytime Childcare Center,' which provides 365-day, 24-hour emergency childcare services for infants and young children in Gyeonggi Province, has exceeded 1,440 just over 100 days after the service began.

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 9th that since the five 'Anytime Childcare Center' locations opened on June 1, the number of infant and young child users has been tallied at approximately 1,440 (as of the first week of September).

The 'Anytime Childcare Center' is a 365-day, 24-hour operating childcare facility where parents in dual-income families, self-employed households, and those facing sudden or emergency childcare needs can confidently entrust their children anytime.

Parents with infants and young children (ages 6 months to under 7 years old and not yet in school) can use the facility anytime they need it without any conditions, whether they raise their children at home or attend childcare centers or kindergartens.

The five 'Anytime Childcare Center' locations that opened on June 1 are △Aram Childcare Center (Bucheon City) △Hillz Park Municipal Childcare Center (Namyangju City) △Golden Sky Municipal Childcare Center (Gimpo City) △Happy Together Municipal Childcare Center (Hanam City) △Icheon 24-Hour Childcare Center (Icheon City).

Beyond the respective cities and counties, all residents of Gyeonggi Province can use the facilities, and residents in easily accessible areas such as Uijeongbu, Siheung, Gwangju, Yongin, Ansan, Guri, Yeoju, and Seongnam are also conveniently using the services.

Families needing childcare can inquire and apply by calling one of the five Anytime Childcare Centers or the Children's Anytime Care Center (010-9979-7722) before 3 p.m. on the day of use. Operating hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. the next day for a full 24 hours, and the facility will operate during the upcoming Chuseok holiday except for the actual holiday (September 17). The usage fee is 3,000 won per hour.

Guardians (applicants) should bring an identification card and either a resident registration certificate or family relationship certificate confirming their relationship to the infant or young child (for foreigners, a certificate of alien registration status), and individually prepare necessary items for their children (diapers, individual bedding, spare clothes, snacks, etc.).

Kim Mi-sung, Director of Women and Family Affairs at the Province, said, "We hope that this customized childcare service, which can be trusted when children suddenly need to be cared for, will help reduce the burden of childcare," and added, "We will continue our efforts to develop emergency and supplementary childcare services and enable people to balance work and family life to create an environment where raising children is rewarding."