Table of Contents


Executive Summary 6
Terminology 10
. Social Contexts
　1.1. History of Early Childhood Education and Care 12
　1.2. Perspectives on Young Children 15
　1.3. Demographic, Social, and Economic Trends 16
　1.3.1. Population 16
　1.3.2. Economic Levels (GDP, GNP) 19
　1.3.3. Hours of Labor & Participation Rates 20
　1.3.4. The Rationale Behind Women’s Social Participation 20
　1.4. Support for Child Rearing 26

. Current Status of Early Childhood Education and Care in Korea
　2.1. Administrative Agencies 28
　2.1.1. Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development 28
　2.1.2. Ministry of Health and Welfare 29
　2.1.3. The Participation of Other Ministries 29
　2.2. ECEC Services 30
　2.2.1. Kindergartens 30
　2.2.2. Childcare Facilities 33
　2.3. Participation Rates 36
　2.3.1. Kindergarten 36
　2.3.2. Childcare Facilities 37
　2.3.3. Integration of Kindergarten and Childcare Facilities 39
　2.3.4. Others, Including Hakwons 41
　2.3.5. Korean ECEC Participation Rates in OECD Educational Indicators 41
　2.4. Staff 42
　2.4.1. Kindergarten Staff 42
　2.4.2. Childcare Staff 43
　2.5. Cooperation and Coordination Devices among Administrative Agencies 45
　2.5.1. Office of Government Policy Coordination 45
　2.5.2. Conferences of the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development 46
　2.6. NGO Activities 48
　2.6.1. Teachers Associations 48
　2.6.2. Parents Associations 50
　2.6.3. Women’s Organizations 51

. Policy Concerns in ECEC
　3.1. Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development: A plan for the development of early childhood education 54
　3.1.1. Establishment of Early Childhood Education into Institutionalized Public Education 54
　3.1.2. The Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Early Childhood Education 55
　3.2. Ministry of Health and Welfare 56
　3.2.1. Promotion Plan for Childcare 56
　3.2.2. Comprehensive Plan for Child Care Development 57
　3.2.3. Concerns of Other Ministries in Childcare 57
　3.3. Quality 58
　3.3.1. The Importance of ReconsideringQuality 58
　3.3.2. Improving Staff Qualification 59
　3.3.3. Regulations and Standards for the establishment, facilities, and equipment 60
　3.3.4. Developing and Delivering the Curriculum, Programs, and Teaching Manuals 63
　3.3.5. Supervision 66
　3.4. Access 67
　3.4.1.Establishment and Management of Kindergarten and Childcare Facilities 67
　3.4.2. Exemptions of Childcare Fees for Children of Low-Income Families 69
　3.4.3. Free Education and Care for Fiveyearolds Vouchers 70
　3.4.4. Policy for Children with Special Needs 71
　3.4.5. Age Flexibility in Entering Elementary School 72

. ECEC Policy Approaches
　4.1. Regulation and Evaluation 74
　4.1.1. Kindergarten 74
　4.1.2. Childcare Facilities 75
　4.2. Pre/Service Teacher Training & Qualifications 76
　4.2.1. Kindergarten Staff 76
　4.2.2. Childcare Staff 78
　4.2.3. Early Childhood Special Teachers 80
　4.3. Program Contents and Implementation 80
　4.3.1. Philosophies Influencing ECEC in Korea 80
　4.3.2. Kindergarten Curriculum 81
　4.3.3. Childcare Programs 83
　4.4. Parent Involvement and Support 84
　4.4.1. Parent Volunteers 84
　4.2.2. Parent Education 85
　4.4.3. Hindering Factors 85
　4.5. Finance and Funding 85
　4.5.1. Financial Support by Government 85
　4.5.2. Budget Settlement 86
　4.5.3. Free Education and Care for Fiveyearolds Vouchers 88
　4.5.4. Tax Benefits 88

. Evaluation and Research in ECEC
　5.1. Statistics on Early Childhood Education and Care 90
　5.1.1. Statistics on Early Childhood Education 90
　5.1.2. Statistics on Childcare 91
　5.1.3. The Development of early Childhood Education Indicators 91
　5.2. Government-supported Research 92
　5.2.1. Research conducted …