ABSTRACT
Over the last decade, the Korean government has strived to lessen the burden of parents of young children and ensure an equal start for all children. This move began between 2012 and 2013, when a free childcare policy (‘Nuri Policy’) was introduced for all children aged 0 to 5 years, regardless of family income brackets, along with the implementation of the national curriculum for the early years (the Nuri Curriculum) in Korea. This chapter reviews the current status of early childhood education and care (ECEC) services and addresses provocative issues about the ramifications of ECEC policies for primary stakeholders. Future directions for research, practice and policy are provided.
