Working Moms Face Challenges During Winter Break Amid Increased Demand for Childcare

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A working mother, Ms. A, who has a child moving up to the second grade this month, has taken parental leave starting this month. While she managed to get through the challenging first grade year, she couldnt avoid the long winter break ahead. Ms. A expressed her concerns, stating, "I worry about having to provide lunch consisting of bread and milk and managing a packed schedule of after-school programs until 7 PM. I plan to take parental leave at least until the end of summer vacation."

According to reports from the education sector on the 22nd, the difficulties faced by dual-income families are intensifying as they confront childcare gaps during the winter break. Among households with children under 12 years old, the percentage of dual-income families is as high as 60%. However, schools and local communities struggle to fill the childcare void that surges during the vacation period, forcing working parents to rely on the private education market.

Recently, meal-providing academies have gained popularity among parents. A taekwondo academy in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, offers special winter break classes from 9 AM to 12 PM, featuring activities like jump rope, dodgeball, gymnastics, and self-defense. Afterward, the academy also handles lunch and childcare. Even English language academies offering lunch during their winter break programs see high attendance, with some two-week programs costing around 1 million KRW.

Elementary school students in grades 1 and 2 can utilize care classrooms provided by their schools. However, due to overcrowded classrooms, students must be selected through a lottery system. With no morning classes during the break, the demand for these care services increases significantly. An official from the Ministry of Education explained, "The demand varies greatly by region and school, and the times and types of care desired differ, making it practically difficult to accommodate all applicants during the break."

Starting from the third grade, care classrooms are no longer available. Instead, the government provides a 500,000 KRW voucher for after-school programs for students in grades 3 and above. This shift highlights the ongoing struggle for working parents to find reliable and accessible childcare options, especially during school holidays.

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