Exclusive "Governor Choo's SNS Clarification Was Already Rejected Before Rally" ... Childcare Vacuum Right at Our Doorstep

Regarding the controversy over Gyeonggi Province's childcare budget, the Gyeonggi Childcare Center Association has countered the clarification posted by Governor Choo Mi-ae on SNS, stating it was "content we already received and rejected before the rally."

According to Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Childcare Center Association on the 11th, Governor Choo posted an article titled "We Will Protect the Childcare Field to the End" on her SNS the previous day, stating "I want to make clear that the misunderstanding that we arbitrarily cut childcare budgets is not true."

She continued, "The budget was not cut. Rather, when the original 2026 budget was formulated last year, the situation arose because the financial crisis was not properly considered and budget needs were complacently assessed, failing to provide sufficient resources."

Regarding childcare center operating support funds, she announced that the unit support per child was adjusted from the existing 12,600 won to 6,000 won, taking into account that 1 million won in national funding is provided per facility monthly. The intention is to maintain minimal provincial financial support despite difficult fiscal circumstances.

This controversy emerged as approximately 2.7 billion won needed to maintain the existing level of childcare support for the remainder of the year was not reflected in the supplementary budget plan. Key issues include support for infant standard childcare curriculum, childcare center operating costs, and teacher treatment improvement allowances.

However, the childcare center association takes the position that the measures presented by Governor Choo were content already delivered before the rally, which they cannot accept, prompting collective action.

Kang Won-mi, Head of the Gyeonggi Childcare Center Association, stated, "That content was something we received before holding the rally, and because we couldn't accept it, we held the rally. We find it regrettable that she posted the same content again after the rally." She added, "It's about supporting with reduced existing funds through December, which we cannot accept."

The association reported that on the 1st, applications for certain childcare-related support funds for October were blocked. After a press conference on the 2nd, October applications became possible, but the association says it has not received clear answers regarding November and December support amounts.

In response, the association held rallies with approximately 2,000 participants daily for four days from the 6th to the 8th in front of the Gyeonggi Province Government Building, demanding normalization of childcare budgets.

Head Kang stated, "I thought if we achieved results through the three-day rally, it would end there. However, only support through October was resolved, and the rest of our demands have not yet been reflected," she explained.

The association views the outcome of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council's supplementary budget processing scheduled for the 12th as a turning point for future responses. Even if the provincial council increases the childcare budget, the governor's approval is necessary in the final confirmation process.

Head Kang stated, "The association has applied to observe the plenary session. If the governor votes against it, we will take additional measures," she said.

The level of response could escalate from rallies centered on childcare center directors to large-scale collective action involving childcare teachers.

Head Kang said, "Childcare teachers said they would participate in the previous rally, and the Childcare Teachers Association said they would join, but we asked them to protect the children since the directors would take the lead, so teachers haven't participated so far. If childcare budget increases are not realized at the provincial council plenary on the 12th, there is growing sentiment among the executive leadership and city and county association heads toward taking 1-person protests, large-scale rallies, and even group closures," she conveyed.

Even the possibility of collective closure, abandoning childcare center operations altogether, is being discussed. Head Kang mentioned, "There are talks about returning operating licenses. About 10 years ago, there was a case of returning licenses," referencing past collective action precedents.

What distinguishes this incident from past childcare budget conflicts is that not only childcare center operating funds but also treatment improvement allowances paid directly to individual childcare teachers are included in the adjustment targets.

Head Kang emphasized, "While there have been adjustments to childcare center operations and regulations and support for facility directors, we have never touched the childcare teachers' portion. This is the first case across all 17 provinces and cities where teacher treatment has been adjusted."

She continued, "We have no choice but to oppose when they try to reduce treatment improvement allowances created for teachers working at minimum wage levels. If the state promised free childcare, it should at least provide support so childcare teachers can maintain a minimum livelihood."

This conflict is expected to extend beyond the budget for the remaining two months of this year to the issue of formulating the 2027 budget.

Head Kang stated, "We didn't hold the rally thinking only about this year's budget. We're asking for normal budget execution next year as well. Even if we get through this supplementary budget issue, we need to discuss the regular budget again," she said.

Meanwhile, Governor Choo stated on SNS, "I will not let the childcare field, which is the hope of the future, be shaken due to financial difficulties," and said she would work with the central government and the National Assembly to secure stable childcare finances.