"I understand how difficult it is on the ground, as I have two grandsons myself," said Oh Se-hoon, the candidate for Seoul mayor from the People Power Party, during a meeting with over 100 childcare teachers on May 14.
On that afternoon, ahead of the June 3 Seoul mayoral election, the meeting took place at Oh's campaign headquarters in Jongno, Seoul. Teachers expressed their challenges, and Oh took notes while nodding in agreement. The main focus of the discussion was clear: a desperate plea for a lower teacher-to-child ratio.
Teachers particularly raised concerns about overcrowding in infant classes. One teacher stated, "Even with just three infants, it’s a situation where I can’t take my eyes off them for a second," adding that reducing the teacher-to-child ratio is essential to prevent safety accidents. Another teacher noted, "We are already at our physical and emotional limits; teachers must be able to endure to provide stable care for the children."
In response, Oh assured, "The '1 to 2 ratio' that you have requested twice has been duly noted." He added, "A lower ratio will allow you to work more efficiently and provide quality service to the children. I promise to spare no support as long as the finances allow."
Following the meeting, Oh posted a lengthy message on his social media, emphasizing, "Raising children is about nurturing the future of our society. I will take more responsible action starting from Seoul."
Observers believe that these statements are not merely election promises. During Oh's previous term as mayor in 2021, Seoul initiated the country's first 'Teacher-to-Child Ratio Improvement Project.' At that time, while nationwide childcare centers operated according to legal standards, Seoul invested city funds to experiment with reducing the number of children per teacher. The results have been positively received on the ground.
According to the city, a total of 95.2 billion won will be allocated to this project this year. The number of supported classes will double from the previous 1,500 to 3,000. Notably, support for infant classes will expand from a limited number of centers to all childcare facilities in Seoul.
Under current legal standards, one teacher is responsible for three infants in the infant class, but Seoul plans to reduce this to two. The ratio for one-year-olds will decrease from five to four, and for two-year-olds from seven to six. For three-year-olds, the maximum will drop from 15 to 10, and for classes with children with disabilities, the ratio will adjust from three to two.
Feedback from the field has been significant. A survey by the city revealed that the number of safety incidents in participating childcare centers has decreased nearly threefold since the project began. Teacher job satisfaction has also reportedly improved.
One teacher from a three-year-old class remarked, "When I was responsible for 15 children alone, I had to work overtime every day, but now that the number has decreased, I can properly attend to each child." A parent of an infant added, "For babies who crawl and lie down, they require a lot of attention, and seeing the teachers share responsibilities has reassured me."
Oh reiterated during the meeting that childcare is not just a welfare issue but an investment in the future. He explained that creating a city that is friendly to raising children is essential for Seoul's competitiveness, especially in an era of low birth rates. He emphasized, "Without improving the working conditions for childcare teachers, the quality of care cannot improve. Teachers must be happy for the children to be happy."
Campaign officials described the meeting as not just a listening session but a reaffirmation of policy direction.
As the issue of creating a child-friendly city emerges as a major topic in the final stretch of the election, Oh is accelerating his outreach to young parents by promoting on-the-ground childcare policies.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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