It was found that about 55,000 people visited Seoul-style kids cafes, run in Seoul as public play spaces, during the five-day bridge holiday from the 1st through Children's Day on the 5th. Seoul-style kids cafes are public play spaces operated to ease caregivers' child care burdens and create an environment where children can play safely.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said on the 7th that a total of 30,000 people visited "Green Green Seoul-style Kids Cafe," which opened in Seoul Forest on the 1st, over five days starting on the 1st.
Green Green Seoul-style Kids Cafe was created inside Seoul Forest, the venue of the 2026 Seoul International Garden Expo. It is an outdoor play space that can be used freely without fees or advance reservations, open to anyone year-round with no restrictions.
In addition, the city designated the holiday period as "Seoul Kids Week" and opened about 60 Seoul-style kids cafes free of charge. On Children's Day itself, despite being a public holiday, all facilities opened, and those eligible for fee waivers under the rules did not charge. Visitors over the five days totaled 24,359.
Notably, during this holiday period, the Seoul Botanical Garden branch of the Seoul-style kids cafe newly opened. It is a block play space themed around flowers and plants, equipped with play equipment and an outdoor terrace.
Various events were also held to match each kids cafe's theme. At the first municipal Seoul-style kids cafe in Dongjak, a kids magic show was held to nurture children's imagination and creativity; at the Hongje 3-dong branch in Seodaemun, a puppet show fostered understanding and expression of emotions; and at the Mok-dong branch in Yangcheon, parents and children took part in craft-making experiences.
In addition, on the weekend during the holiday and on Children's Day, the city opened the "Here and There Seoul-style Kids Cafe," a pop-up operation in major parks and plazas in Seoul, free of charge. During Kids Week, it was held on the 2nd and the 5th, except for the rainy Sunday. On the 2nd, 11 sites operated, and on the 5th, four key locations, including Yeouido Hangang Park and North Seoul Dream Forest, were opened for free.
Foreign media also took note of the Seoul-style kids cafe. Le Monde, France's leading daily, on the 3rd (local time) ran in-depth coverage of the Seoul-style kids cafe, saying, "To allow citizens to use kids cafes—now important spaces in daily life—more affordably and safely, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has stepped in to operate hundreds across the city." A French resident living in Seoul also said, "I use a Seoul-style kids cafe once or twice a week," citing as a strength the ongoing improvements to facilities and toys based on parent satisfaction surveys.
Ma Chae-suk, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Women and Family Policy Office, said, "We will keep the momentum of this Seoul Kids Week going and continue to expand play and care policies so that a culture where children can play freely in daily life becomes routine."