보육시설 이용시간 실태조사 보고

Abstract

This research was conducted in preparation for the diversification of childcare facility usage hours and the introduction of a policy on differentiated childcare subsidies according to usage hours. The primary aim of this research was the collection of data on the current status of childcare service usage hours and the demands of service users, with a view to producing basic data with which to predict changes in the behaviors of service users.

The researchers sought to better understand the current status of childcare facility usage hours and the expenses involved, which vary according to the characteristics of families and children themselves, as well better grasping the needs and opinions of parents regarding childcare facility usage hours and expenses.

The research was conducted by means of both telephone surveys and in-depth interviews. The telephone surveys were conducted on 1,020 children registered with the Korean Social Service Institute as attendees of childcare facilities, by a survey team from the Korean Institute for Health and Social Affairs. The survey questionnaire focused on the general characteristics of the respondents, the state of childcare service usage and the opinions of users regarding the reduced hours of childcare services. The telephone surveys were supplemented by in-depth interviews performed on 20 parents who are current users of childcare services.

Based on our research findings, a number of policy implications were revealed, and are outlined as follows:

Firstly, there are clear demands for half-day programs and shortened childcare services, and in this respect, the current policy is responding appropriately to this need. 42.4% of the parents surveyed stated a willingness to avail themselves of a shortened program, while 55.0% stated that they would not use one. Furthermore, approximately 25% of working mothers stated that they were willing to make use of a shortened program.

Secondly, institutional changes need to be undertaken in a gradual manner. While there is certainly a clear demand for a shortened program at childcare centers, there are many parents who still need to avail themselves of full day programs and some who expressed a need for extended programs. Indeed, a policy of diversifying usage hours, would inevitably force some users to involuntarily reduce their usage hours. Therefore, such a policy, faced with this and other difficulties, would need to be implemented gradually over an extended period.

Thirdly, greater efforts need to be made in promoting public awareness of the aims of the new policy and to also raise awareness of the nature of child-rearing. Whilst it may be necessary to charge different fees for shortened and full-day childcare programs, the true costs of running childcare programs are not necessarily proportionate to the length of service provided, contrary to the perceptions of most parents. Therefore, parents need to be made aware of this misconception through improved public awareness campaigns.

Fourthly, offering childcare services over reduced hours may result in parents turning to private educational institutions like hakwons as a form of indirect childcare. This would increase the financial burden on households and increase stress levels in children. These potential problems were in fact reflected in the comments of a number of parents, who expressed the concern that shortened services at childcare centers would increase their child-rearing burdens, and further reduce their already limited private time, while others were clearly worried about increases in the costs of private education on their household expenses.