Rejuvenating Korea: Policies for a Changing Society
Korean families are changing fast. While birth rates remain low, Koreans are marrying
and starting a family later than ever before, if at all. Couple-with-children households,
the dominant household type in Korea until recently, will soon make up fewer than
one quarter of all households. These changes will have a profound effect on Korea’s
future. Among other things, the Korean labour force is set to decline by about 2.5
million workers by 2040, with potential major implications for economic performance
and the sustainability of public finances. Since the early 2000s, public policy has
changed to help parents reconcile work and family commitments: Korea has developed
a comprehensive formal day-care and kindergarten system with enrolment rates that
are now on par with the Nordic countries. Korea also has one year of paid parental
leave for both parents, but only about 25% of mothers and 5% of fathers use it, as
workplace cultures are often not conducive to parents, especially fathers, taking
leave. Cultural change will take time, but this review suggests there also is a need
for additional labour market, education and social policy reform to help Koreans achieve
both work and family aspirations, and contribute to the rejuvenation of Korean society.
Published on October 28, 2019
In series:Gender Equality at Workview more titles