The Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS, President Jung-hwan Lee / hereinafter referred to as the KIMS), a government-funded research institute under the Ministry of Science and ICT, held an opening ceremony for the ‘KIMS Daycare Center’ on February 28th (Tuesday). This event was attended by President Jung-hwan Lee, Vice President Young-seon Lee, the Korea Institute of Materials Science branch manager Soo-seop Cha of the Korean Union of Public Sector Research and Professional Workers (KUPRP) at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), directors of each division, daycare center director, and parents.

Located in Changwon-daero, Changwon City, Gyeongsangnam-do, the daycare center building within the Korea Institute of Materials Science has a total floor area of 607.21㎡ (1st floor 383.83㎡ / 2nd floor 223.88㎡) and can accommodate 49 people. In addition to the childcare room for each age group, it is equipped with a counseling room, playroom, library space, restaurant, and kitchen. KIMS selected Purni Childcare Support Foundation as a consignment operator and will open and operate it from March 2nd.

With the opening of the KIMS workplace daycare center, it is expected that employees will be able to leave their children in peace and relieve the burden of raising their children with confidence, support the work-family balance, and contribute significantly to boosting the morale of employees.

President Jung-hwan Lee of the KIMS said, As the low birth rate problem is emerging nationwide, it is time to present a solution to this problem. He continued, “I hope that the opening of the daycare center will help employees overcome the low birth rate in society as well as the burden of raising children.”