Gov. Park Soo-hyun holds forum with community care center operators to create safe environment for children and parents
South Chungcheong Province held a listening session with frontline child care workers as part of efforts to build a seamless care network where both children and parents can feel secure.
Governor Park Soo-hyun convened the South Chungcheong Together Care Center Council forum Monday at the provincial government's situation room, with about 30 attendees including council chair Jang Seon-ae, center directors from across the province and care workers.
The council raised three concerns at the forum: strengthening support for frontline care staff in response to growing demand, improving working conditions for care workers, and securing stable funding to enhance center operations and service quality.
The province said it will work with local governments and relevant agencies to actively review improvements based on the feedback gathered at the forum, with the goal of creating a care environment where both children and parents can feel at ease.
"South Chungcheong Province plans to expand the places and hours where care is available," Park said. "Just as people talk about living close to work, we will build an environment where children can receive care close to home."
To that end, the province plans to increase the number of Together Care Centers from 75 to 100 by 2030, and expand its round-the-clock child care hub centers from 17 to 19 locations.
Alongside this, morning care centers will grow from eight to 15 locations and school-vacation care centers from 22 to 28, building a dense care network accessible anytime and anywhere.
"Good care requires good conditions for the people working on the front lines," Park said. "The province will firmly back your days — the days of those who watch over children and parents — through expanded staffing and improved pay structures."
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
