A Study on the Improvement of Child Care Delivery System in Korea: Focusing on the Actor Analysis

Abstract

Since the 2000s, the Korean government has dramatically increased childcare budget. Beginning in 2013, the Korean government started a new childcare subsidy for children aged 0-5. The government provides full childcare subsidy for those who attend childcare facilities regardless of their household income level. However, the level of parents’ satisfaction with childcare service is still low and questions remain as to what constitutes quality childcare service. This study focuses on improving the quality of childcare service through building better service delivery system in Korea. For this purpose, this study examines the current state of Korean childcare service delivery system. The analysis focuses on the behaviors and preferences of main actors in the current system and the institutional incentives embedded in their preferences and actions. Based on the analysis, this article proposes policy recommendations which include the following. Firstly, the number of national/public childcare facilities needs to be increased by 30 percent to promote fairness and transparency in the contracting out process. Secondly, it is required to make evaluation certification mandatory for the all childcare facilities, including private centers, and to improve work conditions of nursery teachers. Finally, the government has to provide financial and institutional support to the activation of the non-commercial childcare facilities including workplace centers and parents corporation centers.