Early Childhood Education and Care Policies and Practices in South Korea During COVID-19

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 7
  In Roundtable Session: Fighting for Educational Equity Within a Global Pandemic (Table 26)

Abstract

This study uses content analysis to examine policies and resources offered by the South Korean government and public organizations to support young children and families during the first six months of the pandemic. Next, it uses open-ended surveys with 30 directors of early childhood institutions to explore institutional-level supports and needs during the pandemic. Finally, it looks at the discrepancies between stated policies outlining the South Korea’s response to COVID-19 and the lived experiences of early childhood educators as a route to arriving at recommendations for education policymakers and other stakeholders. This overview provides a foundation for further discussion and research on the impact of Covid-19 on ECEC in South Korea and beyond.

Author

• Hae Min Yu, Lewis University