Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said on the 24th that the government will strengthen its care system for elementary school students so parents can leave their children in safe hands at night, on weekends and during school vacations.
Han made the remarks at a meeting with parents of elementary school students at the prime minister's official residence in Samcheong-dong, Jongno District, Seoul. "Through organic cooperation among schools, local communities and relevant ministries, we will solidify a 'whole-neighborhood elementary care' system so that the necessary care and education programs can be provided in sufficient measure," she said.
Han told the parents that her office would pay close attention to the issue so that gap-filling care services could be built out more densely to cover blind spots such as nights, weekends, vacations, and temporary or emergency situations.
"I have learned a great deal about the urgency and the difficulties faced by dual-income families, multicultural families and mothers whose careers have been interrupted," she said. "We will do our utmost to build a Korea where both children and parents are happy, and a dependable government that raises our children together."
Parents at the meeting said the supply of care services falls short of demand and called for an expansion of programs tailored to the characteristics of each age group.
The prime minister's office provided hands-on learning activities, including block building, for the attendees' children at a separate venue inside the residence.