Early childhood welfare expert aims to build a seamless child care network; one-stop support spanning emergency care to arts and culture experiences
The Seoul Gangseo Hub Kium Center in Hwagok-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul — led by Director Moon Yong-suk — is drawing attention as an integrated child welfare platform that brings together play, care and developmental support for children under one roof.
Positioning itself as a Seoul-style "늘봄+ school," the center works closely with local schools to provide community-based education and care services that offer children diverse hands-on experiences and opportunities for growth. It also supports child-led project-based learning (PBL), in which children plan and participate in activities themselves to develop their thinking and self-expression. Program areas span climate and the environment, maker education, cooking, arts and culture, social-emotional learning, and creative science.
The center also actively works to strengthen the capabilities of staff at local child care institutions and to build a tightly knit child care network across the community. It provides a public emergency care service for families who need a safe place to leave their children at short notice or on a temporary basis, and offers an emergency sick-child care service for parents whose children fall suddenly ill.
"We offer a wide range of high-quality care services, and user satisfaction is very high," Moon said. "We will firmly establish ourselves as the go-to child-friendly space in this community."
The center shares a building with a Seoul-type kids cafe, allowing both children and parents to access care services in one visit. Since opening, it has consistently drawn strong interest — reservations fill up early every weekend — thanks to service quality and affordability that compare favorably with private facilities.
Fairness and transparency at the core as center aims to become community's leading child-friendly space
Moon, who has built a reputation in the community as an early childhood welfare expert, places fairness and transparency above all else in running the center. All service applications are processed through an online reservation system, and applicants must complete a verification process to confirm eligibility.
While the process can feel cumbersome, Moon said it is designed to ensure that families who most need the benefits of a public service tied to the Seoul Metropolitan Government's low birth rate policy are served first. "I hope people will see this as the care sector's modest effort to support the city's policy push to overcome the low birth rate," she said.
The center's arts, culture and hands-on experience programs have also attracted notice. Offerings include a special Children's Day performance, craft workshops and a maker program, among other activities.
Tailored programs for children with disabilities run separately. Through cooking and physical activities, the programs support children's physical development and social skills while also helping caregivers build a community among themselves.
Community partnerships are equally active. The center has signed MOUs with the nearby National Aviation Museum and local schools to offer a diverse range of experiences, including aerospace exploration, drone education, sand art and pet interaction activities.
The center hit the ground running from the day it opened, largely because Moon was involved in designing the space during the construction phase, shaping an environment suited to users' needs. Her prior experience running a child care center allowed her to attend to every corner of the facility with care, raising the overall quality of operations before the doors even opened.
That is not to say the center faces no challenges. Moon acknowledged that excessive complaints and demands from some users can at times be a burden. Even so, she said the center is constantly striving to grow beyond a simple play facility into a comprehensive care platform that supports children's emotional, cognitive and social development.
"We will grow into the community's leading child-friendly space — one that satisfies both children's growth and their families' happiness at the same time," Moon said.
7toy7@heraldcorp.com
