South Gyeongsang Province is building a more comprehensive childcare safety net to improve the quality of childcare and reduce the burden on parents.
The province has expanded childcare subsidies for foreign families, previously limited to children aged 3 to 5, to cover all children from birth to age 5. Families registered as foreign residents in South Gyeongsang can now receive 100,000 won per month.
The province is also strengthening its grandparent childcare allowance. In households with childcare gaps such as dual-income or single-parent families, grandparents caring for their grandchildren will receive between 200,000 won and up to 400,000 won per month, depending on the number of infants.
Tangible support to ease parents' financial burden is also increasing. Subsidies for daycare center costs borne by parents, such as special activity fees and field trip expenses, have been expanded from children aged 3 to 5 to those aged 2 to 5.
The "Nutrition Package Voucher Program for New Parents," which was well received in pilot operations in some cities and counties last year, will be implemented across all cities and counties in the province this year. Families with infants aged 5 to 12 months can receive up to 300,000 won per household, which can be conveniently used to order baby food and semi-prepared meals on the e-Gyeongnam Mall.
Working conditions for teachers will also be significantly improved. Through its "Improvement of Teacher-to-Child Ratios for Infant Classes" initiative, the province will provide incentives to daycare centers that reduce the ratio from the current one teacher per three infants to one teacher per two. Facilities receiving labor cost support will be provided with 80% of teachers' salaries, while facilities without such support will receive 474,000 won per child per month, enabling more attentive childcare.
To protect the rights of childcare teachers, the province is fully launching the "Rights Protection Special Mutual Aid Program." If teachers are sued or charged with professional negligence arising from legitimate childcare activities, the program will cover actual criminal defense costs, including attorney fees, up to 5 million won. Psychological support costs for counseling and treatment will also be provided, establishing a system that allows teachers to care for children with peace of mind.
Starting in July, daycare center directors will newly receive welfare improvement allowances, and welfare improvement allowances for childcare teachers will also be partially increased to boost the morale of frontline workers.
"Beyond simple support, we will enhance the completeness of our welfare policies so that everyone, from grandparents caring for grandchildren to foreign families, can enjoy happiness within the community of South Gyeongsang," said Kim Young-sun, Director-General of the Welfare and Women's Bureau of the province.
