- Starting in 2026, three-year-old children in Gyeongbuk daycare centers will receive a monthly childcare subsidy of 35,000 won to ease financial burdens.
- The initiative aims to reduce disparities between kindergartens and daycare centers, promoting equitable access to quality early childhood education.
- Gyeongbuk Office of Education emphasizes a child-centered, locally tailored support system to ensure stable, high-quality early education for all families.
The Gyeongbuk Office of Education has announced a new initiative aimed at supporting families and promoting equality in early childhood education. Starting in 2026, three-year-old children attending daycare centers across the province will receive a monthly childcare subsidy of 35,000 won, a move designed to ease financial burdens and ensure stable access to quality early education.
Superintendent Lim Jong-sik of the Gyeongbuk Office of Education explained that the policy is part of a broader effort to address disparities in support between different types of early childhood institutions as the province moves toward integrating education and care. By providing this subsidy, the office aims to reduce gaps in support between kindergartens and daycare centers, helping to create a more balanced and equitable system for all young children.
“This initiative is about guaranteeing an equal starting line for all children and building an education and care system that focuses on the child, not the institution”, Lim said. He emphasized that the policy reflects the local context and the needs of families and institutions, complementing the central government’s existing free childcare programs while standing as an independent, locally tailored measure.
The Gyeongbuk Office of Education highlighted that the subsidy is specifically designed to support three-year-olds attending daycare centers, a group that has traditionally received less targeted financial assistance compared to kindergarten attendees. By extending this support, the office seeks to enhance operational stability in the childcare sector, improve access to high-quality early childhood education, and ensure that all children, regardless of the type of institution they attend, can benefit from a more consistent learning environment.
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Officials noted that the program is a proactive response to potential inequities that can arise during the integration of early childhood education and care. By providing additional funding to daycare centers, the policy not only reduces the financial strain on families but also strengthens the foundation for long-term integration of educational services, ensuring that children can receive comprehensive support from an early age.
Lim added that the office will continue to monitor the evolving educational policy landscape and adapt its initiatives to meet the changing needs of children and families. “We are committed to building a stable, child-centered support system for early childhood education and will continue to implement measures that reflect both policy goals and the realities faced by local communities”, he said.
Through this subsidy, the Gyeongbuk Office of Education aims to foster greater satisfaction among parents, promote equitable access to education, and lay the groundwork for a fully integrated early childhood education and care system. The initiative represents a significant step toward ensuring that every child in Gyeongbuk province starts their educational journey on equal footing, supported by a system that values both quality and fairness.
