Hana allocates $22.4 million for around-the-clock childcare program

Hana Financial Group has allocated 30 billion won to be spent over five years on 50 day care centers that offer services outside normal operating hours.

Hana Financial Group Chairman and CEO Ham Young-joo, second from left in the back row, poses for a photo during a launching ceremony for a childcare support program held at a day care center in Nowon District, northern Seoul, on Tuesday. [HANA FINANCIAL GROUP]

Hana Financial Group launched a 30 billion won ($22.4 million) support program to provide around-the-clock childcare, the firm said Wednesday.

The five-year program is aimed at tackling Korea’s ever-plunging birthrate and offering better parental support by enabling childcare centers to operate outside regular working hours and days, according to the group.

The company will spread the financial support over the next five years across 50 centers — 47 to open on holidays and three to open around the clock, which will run separately from the regular day care services. Those operating on weekends and holidays will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Hana explained.

Preschoolers and toddlers aged over 6 months will qualify for enrollment at the centers. Reservations can be made online or through a phone call.

A launching ceremony for the program was held on Tuesday at a day care center in Nowon District, northern Seoul, with Hana Financial Group Chairman and CEO Ham Young-joo in attendance.

"Hana Financial Group has been running a program aiming to build 100 new day care centers nationwide since 2018, and the 100th center is to come this year,” he said.

“While that program contributed to the expansion of childcare services in terms of quantity, the latest program is designed to provide a qualitative improvement by filling in the gaps of childcare outside the regular hours,” Ham added.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]