The Ministry of Health and Welfare (Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong) announced that it is launching the “Gap-Care Program During School Breaks,” aimed at filling meal and childcare gaps for dual-income households with elementary school-age children during summer vacation, at 1,461 community childcare facilities nationwide starting July 27. The rollout reflects the results of an application process in which local governments and community childcare facilities — including community children’s centers and “Together Care” (Dahamkke Dolbom) centers — signed up to participate, with the aim of having local communities help close gaps that school-based care alone cannot cover during vacation.
 [코리안투데이] Courtesy of the Ministry of Health and Welfare © 송정숙 기자 |
According to the ministry, the program solicited applications from local governments and roughly 5,600 community childcare facilities nationwide, and the first round resulted in 1,461 facilities opening their doors starting July 27. By type, “Gap-Care Centers” (1,296 facilities as of July 23) operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., guaranteeing a morning snack and lunch, with dinner offered at some facilities. “Lunch-Care Centers” (165 facilities as of the same date) operate from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., providing both lunch and dinner. The ministry plans to steadily expand the number of participating facilities beyond this first summer rollout and through winter break.
The program is a follow-up measure to the “Plan to Strengthen Gap-Care During School Breaks” the ministry announced on July 9. Limited to elementary school vacation periods, its core aim is to extend the operating hours of community childcare facilities near schools — such as community children’s centers and Together Care centers — and provide children with solid lunch and dinner meals. Any elementary school student can use the service after pre-registering, even those who did not use the centers during the school term. However, dinner service may be partially limited this summer depending on regional or facility circumstances, and a fee of up to 2,000 won per day or 10,000 won per week may be charged to cover additional meal costs. Households receiving basic livelihood benefits and similar groups can participate free of charge.
Applications from local governments showed notably stronger demand for Gap-Care Centers than for the other type. A significant number of facilities also indicated they wanted to join starting with winter break. As a result, the ministry said it plans to review adjusting and expanding its original target — designating 2,500 facilities by year’s end, split between 1,500 Gap-Care Centers and 1,000 Lunch-Care Centers — to place greater emphasis on the Gap-Care Center model.
Parents wishing to use the service can check the operating status of Gap-Care Centers and Lunch-Care Centers by province and city on the website of the National Child Rights Administration. Calling the nationwide hotline (1522-1318) automatically connects callers to a counseling center in their area of residence, which can direct them to nearby participating centers. Further details, including lists of participating centers, operating hours and how to apply, are also available on the websites of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the National Child Rights Administration, the national welfare portal, and Bokjiro.
 [코리안투데이] Courtesy of the Ministry of Health and Welfare © 송정숙 기자 |
The Ministry of Education and other relevant agencies are also pursuing “Whole-Community Elementary Care and Education” as a national policy task, continuing elementary care and education during vacation according to each school’s circumstances. Notably, starting this summer vacation, the “Model Program for Elementary Care and Education During School Breaks” — under which schools and local communities cooperate to expand care and education support — is also being carried out in parallel. The ministry said it intends to use the Gap-Care program to cover gaps that school-based care alone cannot address, while strengthening cooperation between ministries so that the Education Ministry’s model program can take root in a way tailored to each region.
Eun Seong-ho, director general of the Health and Welfare Ministry’s Population and Social Services Bureau, said, “As summer vacation is now in full swing this week, we plan to begin operations quickly at facilities that are ready.” He added, “We will provide thorough support so that this program can serve as a reliable meal and trustworthy care for children during vacation, for parents busy earning a living.”
송정숙 기자 (한국통합치유협회장) | gangseo@thekoreantoday.com
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