Ministry of Education

On February 5, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-Ho visited Songpa Wirye Kindergarten and Wirye Forest Childcare Center to lay out how the early childhood education and care will be consolidated while prioritizing the needs of the public service customers. Following the announcement of the national plan to consolidate early childhood education and care (jointly announced by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health and Welfare), this visit aimed to facilitate communication between the government and the educational stakeholders, including parents and teachers, with regard to providing the public service of early childhood education and care "from the moment children are born." Deputy Prime Minister Lee said, "Consolidating early childhood education and care is the first step to creating a Korea where child-rearing is burden-free for parents, thereby thinking ahead to build a better future for our younger generations. We all know all too well that it is only possible when we work closely with the institutions and stakeholders alike." He added, "While guaranteeing the autonomy and diversity of the service-providing institutions, we'll also ensure that parents can rely on the service without having to worry about its quality. To this end, relevant institutions, teachers and parents will all be encouraged to participate in a committee to develop the consolidation model with the public consensus." (Feb. 6, 2023, Songpa Wirye Kindergarten and Wirye Forest Childcare Center)