Does the Play Innovation Leading Project respect children’s rights?

Objectives: This study aims to analyze ‘the Play Innovation Leading Project’ based on the perspective of children’s rights. In addition, the study draws implications for the policy direction for expanding ‘the Play Innovation Leading Project’ and promoting the right to play. Methods: This study developed an analysis framework from the perspective of children’s rights based on the General Principles, Related Articles and General Comment of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Using the analysis framework, the contents of the first year of the ‘Play Innovation Leading Project’ selected in 2020 were analyzed. Results: The main results are as follows. First, equal opportunities to play were provided to all elementary school students regardless of the income level. However, infant and preschooler with a high desire to play were excluded from service targets, and conditions for guaranteeing for children with special needs such as disabilities for migration backgrounds were not established. Second, there was no legal basis for the continuation and expansion of the project, and the budget system using the community service investment project platform did not conform the nature of ‘child-centered’ play. Third, there were problems such as difficulty in securing the play space, placement and operation of play facilities that did not consider the age and characteristics of children, and the lack of safety measures. Fourth, although some leading regions induced children’s participation in their play planning and play process, there were differences in listening to children’s opinions and guaranteeing opportunities to participate according to the capabilities of service providers. Conclusions: Based on the analysis results, this study suggests policy measures to expand ‘the Play Innovation Leading Region Project’ and to promote the right to play.