Gyeonggi Province Launches AI After School Care Overhaul

In a sweeping move to address the growing needs of working families and modernize educational support, the Gyeonggi-do Education Office has rolled out an ambitious, AI-powered after-school care initiative across the province. According to Jeonmae Ilbo and Global Economic, the program—officially surveyed and expanded as of September 22, 2025—now encompasses over 3,110 institutions, including 863 kindergartens and 2,247 daycare centers, making it the largest of its kind in South Korea.

The effort, which began in earnest in July 2025, aims to ease the burden on parents, close long-standing gaps in after-school care, and create a reliable environment where children can thrive safely. But what sets this initiative apart isn’t just its scale—it’s the integration of advanced artificial intelligence into every facet of care and educational management.

"The AI-based comprehensive safety management system is the starting point for a transformation in future education evaluation," said Oh Chan-sook, Director of the Digital Talent Bureau at the Gyeonggi-do Education Office, as reported by Global Economic. She added, "We hope the distribution of these materials will promote changes in both teaching and assessment." The sentiment echoes a broader vision: to make after-school care not only safer and more accessible, but also smarter and more adaptive to individual student needs.

At the heart of the program is a robust AI platform that monitors safety, manages student attendance, oversees teacher assignments, and tracks program operations. This digital backbone provides real-time support, enabling schools to respond quickly to incidents and maintain high standards of care. The system also collects and analyzes data on student performance and facility management, offering administrators a bird’s-eye view of operations and empowering them to make data-driven improvements.

One of the core goals is to ensure consistency and fairness in both care and education. The AI system brings standardization to evaluation, enabling fair and consistent grading, personalized student guidance, reduced teacher workload, and a more uniform assessment framework. After a successful pilot program in the first half of the year, the system was introduced in July to first-year middle and high school students for Korean, social studies, and science subjects. By September, it had expanded to include elementary schools as well.

The Gyeonggi-do Education Office didn’t stop at digital upgrades. The comprehensive support package includes funding for safety management systems, meal and snack programs, operational costs, teaching materials, and staff salaries. The aim? To guarantee enough after-school care hours for every family and to give parents peace of mind, knowing their children are in a safe, nurturing environment. According to Jeonmae Ilbo, the support plan was rolled out in three phases, culminating in the current, province-wide implementation.

The variety of after-school care options now available is nothing short of impressive. The office has introduced approximately 12 types of tailored programs, ranging from morning and evening care to weekend, holiday, and emergency care. There are even parental cooperation models and municipality-linked services, all designed to meet the diverse needs of Gyeonggi-do’s families. Special focus has been placed on bridging care gaps—so-called "blind spots"—by designating 12 hub institutions to provide customized support where it’s needed most.

To ensure these services are both effective and responsive, the Education Office conducted a comprehensive survey covering safety management, nutrition, program operations, personnel qualifications, and more. The findings are guiding ongoing improvements to care environments. The office has pledged to expand after-school care further and refine its offerings based on feedback from the field.

The AI system’s impact is already being felt. With 24-hour monitoring and instant alerts, schools are better equipped to prevent and respond to safety incidents. Early detection of potential issues is expected to significantly reduce accidents and improve overall operational efficiency. For administrators juggling multiple responsibilities, the digital platform streamlines everything from attendance tracking to resource allocation, freeing up valuable time and energy.

Teachers, too, are seeing tangible benefits. The system’s automated grading and personalized feedback tools lighten the load, allowing educators to focus more on instruction and less on paperwork. As Oh Chan-sook put it, the AI-based evaluation system is "the starting point for a shift in educational assessment for the future." By providing clear, actionable insights into each student’s progress, teachers can offer more targeted support and guidance.

Of course, no system is perfect from the start. The Education Office has emphasized that it will continue to gather on-the-ground feedback and adapt its models to local needs. The goal is a "Safe After-school Care System" that not only meets regulatory standards but also reflects the unique circumstances of each community. As the office stated, the ultimate aim is to "expand the after-school care model and build a dense, reliable care network" across the province.

For parents, the changes couldn’t come soon enough. With South Korea’s demanding work culture and shifting family structures, reliable after-school care is more than a convenience—it’s a necessity. By providing flexible options and ensuring high standards of safety and quality, the Gyeonggi-do Education Office is helping families juggle their many responsibilities with greater confidence.

Looking ahead, officials are optimistic that the program will serve as a model for other regions. The combination of AI-driven oversight, comprehensive support, and community engagement is already being watched closely by education policymakers nationwide. If the early results hold, Gyeonggi-do’s approach could mark a turning point in how after-school care is delivered—not just in Korea, but around the world.

As the 2025 school year unfolds, all eyes are on Gyeonggi-do. With its blend of technology, compassion, and practical support, the province is charting a new course for after-school care—one that promises a safer, smarter, and more responsive future for students and families alike.