This study discusses Korea’s elementary care service which provides a variety of care services to elementary school students needing care to reduce the burden of parenting. In 2017, the government established a policy that bolsters the care infrastructure to expand elementary care, community-linked and “village care” classrooms. However, the policy lacks detailed discussions on the shortfalls and measures to expand. In this regard, this study focuses on preparing effective policy plans based on an analysis of the impact of care services on women's economic activities, and on the effects of private education. In particular, in order to see the effects of the increase in regular class hours, which was recently discussed, this study is of great significance in the analysis on the effects of the increased regular class hours on decisions about after school hours.

In summary, the use of elementary care classrooms is found to contribute to the increase in women’s working hours, and it is most effective for working couples. In terms of private education, the use of elementary care and after school classrooms have been shown to affect the cost of private education, and care services play a part in reducing the burden of raising children. Finally, prolonged school hours have resulted in parents becoming more inclined to choose private academies than care services, suggesting that there may be unforeseen effects due to the increase in regular class hours.

Based on the results of the above, the implications for the effective operation of the elementary care policy are as follows. Targets should be expanded by easing the eligibility for primary care classes, and care services for non-semester hours. In addition, the quality of care services should be improved; the appropriate number of care teachers must be secured and; care classes should be integrated in the mid- to long-term. Finally, a discussion is presented on the integrated cooperation of line ministries.

Preface
Executive Summary

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Elementary Care Service Policies and Current Status
　Section 1 Discussion on Elementary School Students’ After-School Time Usage
　Section 2 Elementary Care Service Policies and Key Features

Chapter 3 Data and Methods for Analyzing the Effectiveness of Elementary Care Services
　Section 1 Survey on Elementary Care Classrooms and After-School Programs
　Section 2 Usage Patterns of Elementary Care Classrooms and After-School Programs
　Section 3 Analysis Methods
　Section 4 Data Description

Chapter 4 Analysis Results on the Effectiveness of Elementary Care Services
　Section 1 Parental Choices for After-School Care Locations
　Section 2 Impact of Care Services on Women's Economic Activities
　Section 3 Impact of Care Services on Private Education
　Section 4 Determinants of Parental Choice for After-School Care

Chapter 5 Strategies for the Effective Operation of Elementary Care Policies

Chapter 6 Conclusion and Policy Recommendations

References
Appendix
ABSTRACT