South Korea: men increasingly utilise paternity leave entitlement

The number of male employees in South Korea taking paternity leave reached a new record in 2019, which observers say demonstrates more widespread aspirations in the country to achieve a good work-life balance. According to statistics from the South Korean ministry for employment and labour, published on 22 January, 22,297 fathers working in the private sector took their leave entitlement in 2019. The figure marks a 26.2% increase on the previous year, when another sizeable rise was also recorded. According to the same statistics, the proportion of men who took parental leave last year stood at 21.2% (+6%). More broadly, the country’s government is aiming to energise the push for work-life balance and equality. To this end, it modified the law on leave in August 2019. The change, which came into effect on 1 October 2019, increased paternity leave from five days (the first three days could be paid if eligibility criteria were met) to be taken in the first 30 days following the birth of a child to 10 days of paid leave, to be taken within a period of 90 days. Furthermore, the new law allows a male worker to divide their leave entitlement and take two blocks of time off. The same law extends parental leave (one year which is added to the year already granted) if part of this leave is taken in the form of reduced working hours.