5 Key Policies from Max Taek-ho to Ensure Children’s Happiness and Safety in Anyang

Choi Dae-ho, the Democratic Party of Korea’s mayoral candidate for Anyang in Gyeonggi Province, said on May 5, “Children are not merely objects of protection and respect; they are citizens living among us today and they are our future.”
 
On Children’s Day, Choi reaffirmed his commitment to tangibly improve children’s rights and quality of life.
 
He said the city will prioritize creating safe, nurturing environments where children can grow happily and securely.
 
Choi described Children’s Day not as a simple observance but as an occasion to remind society of its responsibilities.
 
He recalled the spirit of Bang Jeong-hwan, who established Children’s Day more than a century ago, and urged renewed respect for children as full persons whose rights must be protected. Citing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, he emphasized that every child deserves protection and support.
 
He also stressed that raising a child requires the involvement of the entire community.
 
Because children’s dreams and potential shape the future of both the region and the nation, Choi said families, local communities and government must share responsibility.
 
He called attention to the pressures children face today.
 
“Children’s rights and well-being are threatened by early private tutoring and excessive competition,” Choi said, arguing that targeted policy measures are needed to address these challenges.
 
He pledged to listen to children’s voices and to develop policies through ongoing dialogue and community engagement.
 
Pointing to initiatives from the eighth municipal administration—family care allowances, child-abuse prevention and early identification of at-risk children, and improvements to daycare facilities—Choi said he plans to expand and strengthen these programs.
 
Visitors to the Children’s Day events generally welcomed the opportunity for children to run and play freely.
 
Families enjoyed the games and hands-on activities, with many calling it “a meaningful day” because they could see their children having fun after a long time.
 
Some parents expressed a desire for more safe play spaces and said they hope these events occur more often, noting that play and rest are as important as formal education.
 
Choi concluded by promising sustained effort to make Anyang a city where children can run, play and laugh every day—not just on Children’s Day.