WWU's Center for Cross-Cultural Research to host Yonsei University's Hyoun Kim Feb. 14

Western's Center for Cross-Cultural Research 2021-2022 Invited Lecture Series will host Hyoun K. Kim, Professor of Child and Family Studies at Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea, for “Adjustment of Children in Group-Care Settings in Korea During the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has prompted implementation of various regulatory policies and support measures in Korea over the past two years. However, these policies and measures seem to have failed to reflect heterogeneous needs and characteristics within subgroups of the population, especially children in group care settings. For example, the tight social distancing and quarantine measures that were implemented countrywide might have helped to keep the epidemic curve down without lockdowns in Korea but have resulted in severely violating rights of children in group care setting to optimal development in many areas (e.g., education, health care, and nurturing environments). In other words, the COVID-19 pandemic and follow-up measures have accelerated social disparities between these already vulnerable children and their peers in the general population.

To examine the negative effects of social distancing and quarantine measures on children in group care settings and their overall life experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in the past two years, we collected comprehensive data on the experiences of children and staff in group care facilities in 34 child group care setting in Seoul during July-December 2021, utilizing multiple methods, including a design thinking workshop, quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. Based on this study, we will discuss potential countermeasures or programs to support these children in group-care settings in the post-COVID-19 era.

For more information or a link to attend the presentation virtually, please e-mail delkerb@wwu.edu