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The colder the day, the harder it is for the vulnerable around us to endure.

Local children's centers where children who need care stay after school say that they can't even turn on the heating properly due to cost issues.



Reporter Kim Deok-hyun covered the story.



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is a local children's center in Guri-si, Gyeonggi-do.



Thirty-five elementary school students from families receiving basic livelihood security or single-parent families are being looked after after school.



Even after entering the building, I can't take off my winter coat and gloves.



If you want to sit on the floor you will need to cover yourself with a blanket.



This year, we installed a new heater fan with external support, but there was an unexpected problem with the wire.



[Ahn Hye-young/Head of Regional Children's Center: There was a burnt smell as the wires caught fire.

That wire can't handle the warm air.]



Facility construction to increase electricity capacity is needed first, but the environmental improvement budget set by Guri City this year has been exhausted.



[Ahn Hye-young/Director of Regional Children's Center: Because I write while taking turns on the issue of equity.

When I inquired at the city, I said, 'Find a personal sponsor'...

.]



Teachers say that they wear thick sleep socks and endure it, but I'm worried about the children.



[Elementary school student at local children's center: It's a little cold now.

There were times when my friend was a bit cold, so I just brought a snack and went home to rest.

I hope the electricity continues to come on well so that it doesn't go down.]



At the local children's center in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, it became dark after receiving a city gas bill this month.



This is because it was charged 1.5 times more than the same month last year and 3 times more than 2 years ago.



[Kim Il-bu/Director of Regional Children's Center: There is no significant change in usage between 3 years ago and now.

There is an additional burden because the unit price has risen...

.]



An old building with one wall without double glazing.



Because of the strong wind, children cannot survive without heating.



[Kim Il-bu/Director of Regional Children's Center: The most heating bill is paid in January.

Wouldn’t it be necessary to pay heating bills between 700,000 won and 800,000 won…

.]



However, if heating costs increase within the set operating budget, the amount of money available for children will inevitably be reduced.



Since last July, the government has provided additional support of 100,000 won per month to local children's centers in the name of heating and cooling costs, but it is far from enough to cover the rapidly rising heating costs.



(Video coverage: Kim Seung-tae·Kim Yong-woo, video editing: Lee Sang-min)