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South Korea is one of the most generous countries when it comes to paternity leave, with 53 weeks. But few fathers are taking advantage of this advance, for fear that it will penalize them in their careers, according to a recent survey.
About 85 percent of 1,720 South Koreans surveyed in a KCTU Research Center survey said they were reluctant to take paternity leave “for fear of being disadvantaged when granted paternity leave.” promotion or an evaluation of their performance”, according to The Korea Herald. A large number of them also fear that this will penalize them financially, by reducing their income (80.6%).
The fear of “what will people say”
Additionally, many South Koreans are reluctant to take paternity leave for fear of “what will people say.” Three-quarters of those surveyed said they were worried about the negative opinion their employer might have regarding this system. This demonstrates the strength of gender stereotypes still at work in the world of work. The man who devotes part of his time to his children fears appearing in the eyes of his colleagues and his superiors as someone weak, who acts like “a woman”.
For a father, reducing his professional activity to spend time with family always remains a risky choice. A third of South Koreans who have already taken paternity leave say they feared being disadvantaged when they returned to work, with their supervisors doubting their professional commitment.
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230,000 births in 2023
Given the state of current mentalities, it is understandable that South Korean fathers are reluctant to take time out to participate in their children’s education. However, the government strongly encourages them to do so, at a time when the number of births continues to decline inexorably in the country. Only 230,000 newborns were born in South Korea in 2023, which represents a drop of 7.7% in one year.
Local authorities are unable to curb this decline in the birth rate, despite significant public investments. Private companies are also trying to combat this worrying phenomenon. The construction group Booyoung announced last February that it would in the future pay a bonus of 100 million won (or 70,000 euros) to its employees welcoming a new child into their family. For its part, the electronics giant LG has implemented parental leave that can last two years and offers three paid days of absence to employees who are taking infertility treatments. These initiatives show how concerned South Korean societies are about the consequences of the fall in the number of births on the labor market.
But if South Koreans end up having more children, it is important to allow them to take time to care for them, without fear of being blacklisted. For this, mentalities must evolve in the land of Morning Calm.