The South Korean government has announced plans to unify kindergartens, which cater to children aged 3-5, and daycare centers, which serve children aged 0-5, into a single system starting as early as 2026.
As a first step, the Ministry of Education has taken over the responsibilities related to daycare, previously managed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. This issue, which has remained unresolved for 30 years since it was first discussed during the Kim Young-sam administration in 1995, is finally being seriously addressed.
Currently, kindergartens are classified as educational institutions, while daycare centers are considered childcare facilities in S. Korea. This leads to differences in curricula, facilities, teacher qualifications, and costs for the same age group, which has been criticized as unfair.
Despite efforts by former administrations to integrate these systems, differing views between government departments and conflicting interests among kindergarten and daycare staff have repeatedly thwarted these plans. Lee Ju-ho, the Educational Minister, has described this integration as “even more challenging than North-South Korean reunification.”
The government is moving forward with this integration because it can no longer be delayed. However, key issues such as funding for the integration and teacher qualification standards remain unresolved. The integration is estimated to require an annual budget of at least 2 trillion won, but how this will be financed is unclear.
The government intends to use surplus funds from local education grants, but this faces strong opposition from the primary and secondary education sectors. Additionally, unifying the qualification standards for kindergarten teachers and daycare caregivers is contentious, with resistance from kindergarten teachers.
Integrating kindergartens and daycare centers is also seen as crucial for addressing the low birth rate, as the shortage of childcare options is a significant problem in the nation.
Legislative changes are necessary for this integration, requiring cooperation from the Democratic Party. Notably, this integration was also a key pledge in the Democratic Party’s last presidential campaign. Addressing low birth rates and future generations’ education transcends party lines, and the Democratic Party must take a responsible stance to help resolve this longstanding issue.
