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Busan to provide free childcare for kids aged 3 to 5
Newly allocated funding will allow more children to participate in cultural experiences for free.
Starting in 2026, Busan will introduce free childcare for children ages 3 to 5. To prepare, the city has increased its 2026 nursery operation subsidy by an additional 40,000 won per child per month, strengthening the foundation for an entirely free early childhood education system.
This funding is a core aspect of Busan's 'Dangsincheoreom Aeji-jungji' Program, the nation's first integrated "edu-care" system, launched in 2024 to expand public education and childcare services. The program initially offered a monthly allowance of 80,000 won for extracurricular activities, and 17,000 won for field trips to children ages 3 to 5 enrolled in daycare centers.
Since January, eligibility has expanded to include two-year-olds, while an additional 10,000-won subsidy has offset required parent contributions for five-year-old children since last July. In 2026, support for event-related parental contributions will extend to children aged 3 and 4.
Furthermore, monthly meal and snack subsidies for infants aged 0 to 2 will be increased to 12,000 won, up from 8,000 won. The city will also provide 30,000 won per child aged 3 to 5 to cover expenses for special curricula and enrichment programs outside the nationally mandated childcare framework.
In total, Busan is allocating roughly 100,000 won more per month per child registered in nurseries in 2026 to achieve free childcare for kids ages 3 to 5.
Busan will additionally expand flexible childcare options. The number of 365 Open Hourly Childcare Centers will increase from 10 to 13 this year, and hourly childcare institutions will add 10 more sessions to provide more tailored support to parents. Two new Cooperative Workplace Daycare Center branches will open in March, bringing the total to seven citywide.
To better support its international community, Busan will begin offering a 100,000-won monthly childcare subsidy in 2026 to children of foreign nationals. The subsidy will cover children ages 3 to 5. Until now, government-funded childcare assistance has been limited to Korean children, leaving foreign families to cover the full costs of childcare. Which ranges from 280,000 won to 567,000 won per month.
By expanding the 'Dangsincheoreom Aeji-jungji' Program's budget and reach, the city aims to significantly improve the quality of life for international residents.
<Today's Vocabulary - 오늘의 단어>
core aspect: 핵심 요소 subsidy: 보조금 special curricula: 특별 교육과정
Editor: Song Soomi
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