- SK Planet’s Near Kids joined partnership with childcare operator Commencer Media for the establishment of
safe childcare platform
- With the aim of offering reliable and dependable childcare services, the two partners plan to phase in Near Kids
service in three hundred Little Forest Childcare Centers operated by Commencer Media and offer aptitude and
personality courses to caregivers, while providing training program on the treatment of personal data
Seoul, Korea, January 27, 2015—SK Planet announced that its smart childcare service Near Kids (
www.nearkids.co.kr)
joined partnership with Commencer Media (CEO: Choi Nam-ho,
www.edupre.co.kr) for the establishment of safe
childcare platform.
Launched through SK Planet’s in-house venture, Near Kids allows interactive communication between parents and
childcare facilities such as daycare centers, kindergartens, private tutoring establishments, and elementary schools.
Moreover, Near Kids addresses the varying needs of both the parents and the childcare providers.
Parents wish to stay close and ensure safety of their children. The caregivers want to be able to focus solely on
child care instead of being distracted by inefficient paper work. Near Kids is designed to meet these important needs
of all who are involved in the care of children by providing real-time communication and safety features
(use of NFC tagging to check child’s arrival and departure, to report missing children, and notify outdoor activities).
SK Planet and Commencer Media, the childcare operator that marks 60th anniversary this year plan to pursue
a wide range of joint projects. The two partners plan to phase in Near Kids service in three hundred Little Forest
Childcare Centers operated by the Commencer Media and develop new contents relevant to childcare and
education by creating synergies with the publishing media such as Monthly Commencer and Commencer Portal Services.
Moreover, as the government will require all childcare facilities to install surveillance cameras and introduce a personality
evaluation and aptitude test for daycare workers, the two partners plan to offer regular learning program for childcare center
directors and workers.
In addition, in response to the revised Personal Information Protection Act enforced in August last year, Near Kids will provide
CCTV ledger format that is mandatory for childcare centers installed with surveillance cameras, while offering free training
program on the treatment of personal data in line with the Personal Information Protection Act. To this end, Near Kids embarked
on a project to develop training courses on the protection of personal information with the Department of Digital Management
at Korea University.
Moreover, by taking advantage of Commencer Media’s training programs that include aptitude training, anti-abuse program,
seminars, and public talks, the two partners plan to expand the reach of regular training programs to directors and teachers
of nation-wide kindergartens and private tutoring establishments that have interest in the program. SK Planet said that it expects
the partnership to lay the foundation for offering childcare services that satisfy the varying needs of both the parents and the
childcare providers.
Meanwhile, Near Kids is working to establish a childcare platform through expanding its partnership with work-site childcare
centers and by cooperating with childcare operators in diverse fields. Near Kids is expanding the scope and reach of its services
with the aim of offering reliable and dependable childcare services that strictly protect the security of personal information
at daycare centers, kindergartens, and after-school classes.
