Health care
Health care for infants and young children- Principals of child care centers shall conduct a medical checkup for infants and young children in care at least once a year, but it may be substituted by a medical checkup under Article 52 of the National Health Insurance Act and Article 14 of the Medical Care Assistance Act (The main body of Article 31 (1) of the Child Care Act and Article 33 (1) of the Enforcement Rules of the Child Care Act).
· Provided, That in cases of infants and young children, the guardian shall submit a notice of the result of the checkup, and the child care center shall prepare and manage records of the lives of infants and young children (Proviso to Article 31 (1) of the Child Care Act).
※ If the principal of the child care center fails to conduct a medical checkup (However, in the case of checkup for infants and young children, the case of guiding the infant’s and young children’s guardians for the checkup at least three times and requesting to submit a notice of checkup results shall be excluded), a fine of up to KRW 3 million shall be imposed (Article 56 (3) 3 of the Child Care Act).
- The items of medical checkups shall comply with the standards publicly announced by the Minister of Health and Welfare pursuant to Article 52 of the National Health Insurance Act, Article 25 (5) of the Enforcement Decree of the National Health Insurance Act, and Article 14 (2) of the Medical Care Assistance Act, and the principal of a child care center shall consult with their guardians to take necessary measures for infants in need of medical treatment as a result of a medical examination (Article 33 (2) and (4) of the Enforcement Rules of the Child Care Act).
- The principal of a childcare center may isolate persons that may or are suspected to be infected with an infectious disease according to medical examination results or a diagnosis by a doctor, and infants, young children, and dwellers who are suspected to be infected with an infectious disease from the child care center according to subparagraph 15-2 of Article 2 of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act (Article 32(2) of the Child Care Act and Article 33-2 of the Enforcement Rules of the Child Care Act).
Health care for child care staff- The principal of a child care center shall conduct a medical checkup on the child care staff at least once a year (Article 31 (1) of the Child Care Act and the main body of Article 33 (1) of the Enforcement Rules of the Child Care Act).
※ If the principal of the child care center fails to conduct a medical checkup, a fine of up to KRW 3 million shall be imposed (Article 56 (3) 3 of the Child Care Act).
- The items of medical checkups shall comply with the standards publicly announced by the Minister of Health and Welfare pursuant to Article 52 of the National Health Insurance Act, Article 25(5) of the Enforcement Decree of the National Health Insurance Act, and Article 14(2) of the Medical Care Assistance Act, but the health examination items of child care staff shall include items concerning infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (Article 33(2) of the Enforcement Rules of the Child Care Act).
- The principal of a childcare center may isolate persons that may or are suspected to be infected with an infectious disease according to medical examination results or a diagnosis by a doctor, and take restrictive measures such as isolation and leaves to child care teachers and staff who are suspected to be infected with an infectious disease according to subparagraph 15-2 of Article 2 of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act (Article 32(2) of the Child Care Act and Article 33-2 of the Enforcement Rules of the Child Care Act).
※ Order for Suspension of Operation of child care centers
- Where the Minister of Health and Welfare, the Mayor/Do Governor, or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu finds it difficult to provide normal child care because of an urgent cause, such as a natural disaster or infectious disease, he or she may issue an order for suspension of operation to the principals of child care centers (Article 43-2 (1) of the Child Care Act).
- Upon receipt of an order to leave, the principal of the child care center shall suspend the operation of the child care center without delay, and in preparation for emergency child care needs, such as when the guardians cannot take care of their infants and young children at home if the center is closed, the principal shall take measures necessary for the operation of the child care center by informing the guardians of the emergency plan through parents letters in advance (Article 43-2 (2) of the Child Care Act).