"Sudden Overtime, Nowhere to Leave the Kids"... Seoul to Expand 'Emergency Childcare Daycare Centers'

Four New Centers Selected for the First Half of 2026
Number of 365 Open Childcare Centers Expanded from 13 to 15
One Hourly Specialized Childcare Center per District

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is expanding its “emergency and gap care daycare centers” to support caregivers who have no one to look after their children due to working late hours and other reasons.

On July 8, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it had selected a total of four new daycare centers in the first half of 2026 to lead the Seoul-style emergency and gap care initiative.

This expansion is intended to proactively address the diverse work patterns of caregivers and emergencies by strengthening the public childcare service. Among the four newly selected “Seoul-style emergency and gap care” daycare centers for the first half of the year, two will be “365 Open Daycare Centers,” which can be used 24 hours a day, year-round. These are Songcheon-dong Daycare Center in Gangbuk District and Saegil Daycare Center in Geumcheon District. The remaining two, the “Seoul-Style Hourly Specialized Daycare Centers,” allow hourly use and are the Digital Dream Daycare Center in Guro District and Seocho Hanbyeol Daycare Center in Seocho District.

With the addition of these new centers, the number of “365 Open Daycare Centers,” which can be used at any time in case of urgent needs during holidays or at night, will increase from 13 to 15. The 365 Open Daycare Center, operated by the city, is Seoul's innovative childcare model designed to fill the gaps in care that arise due to the increase in dual-income households and the diversification of work arrangements.

In the first half of the year, an open call for new designations was held among the 11 districts that had not yet been selected for a 365 Open Daycare Center. Gangbuk and Geumcheon districts were ultimately chosen, with priority given to their relatively high demand for emergency childcare and the importance of accessibility to nearby small and medium-sized businesses and residential areas.

With this new designation, the “Seoul-Style Hourly Specialized Daycare Centers” will continue the system of operating at least one such center per district. Compared to the Ministry of Education’s nationally funded part-time childcare, which is limited to infants aged 6 to 36 months, the Seoul-style model can be used by any child aged 6 months up to under 7 years who has not yet entered elementary school, at any time.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to proactively respond to the diverse work patterns of caregivers, such as dual-income, remote work, and freelancing. Citizens wishing to use “Seoul-style emergency and gap care,” including the 365 Open Daycare Center and Seoul-Style Hourly Specialized Daycare Center, can make an online reservation a day in advance through the Seoul Childcare Portal Service.

Chaesook Ma, Director of the Women & Family Policy Office of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, “Seoul will strengthen the emergency and gap care safety net, including the 365 Open Daycare Centers and Seoul-Style Hourly Specialized Daycare Centers,” adding, “We will do our utmost to provide a safe and stable childcare environment.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.