"How Can I Use It When I Feel Pressured?"... 'Dad Parental Leave' Nears 40% in First Half of the Year

As the use of government-supported work-family balance programs continues to expand rapidly, the number of recipients of parental leave benefits surpassed 100,000 for the first time in the first half of this year. The proportion of men taking parental leave also approached 40%, indicating a growing trend of "dad parenting."

According to the "2026 First Half-Year Results on the Use of Work-Family Balance Support Programs" released by the Ministry of Employment and Labor on July 12, the number of recipients of parental leave benefits in the first half of this year reached 103,983, a 9.5% increase compared to the same period last year (94,993). The total number of users of the four major programs—including reduced working hours during childcare, maternity leave, and paternity leave—was 199,911, a significant increase from 171,966 in the first half of the previous year. This figure already exceeds half of last year's annual user count (342,388).

In particular, male participation in parental leave stood out. In the first half of this year, 40,320 men received parental leave benefits, accounting for 38.8% of the total. The proportion of men first exceeded 30% in 2024, recorded 36.5% last year, and has climbed further in the first half of this year.

The ministry analyzed that increases in parental leave benefits and improvements to the system have driven the rise in male parental leave. The introduction of the "6+6 Parental Leave for Both Parents" policy in 2024 and increases in parental leave benefits last year helped reduce the financial burden. This year, the expansion of subsidies for substitute workers and work-sharing incentives further reduced workforce gaps and eased the burden on colleagues in the workplace.

The number of recipients of paternity leave benefits also rose to 15,820, a 1.5-fold increase from the first half of last year (10,328). The government currently provides paternity leave benefits for the entire duration of paternity leave to employees of priority support companies.

Starting August 20, the government will implement "short-term parental leave," allowing up to two weeks per year in the event of a temporary childcare gap due to reasons such as nursery or school closures, school vacations, or a child's illness. From September 18, the "Three Paternity Support Measures" will be introduced, which include new leave entitlements for spouses in the event of miscarriage or stillbirth, expanded timing for using paternity leave around childbirth, and allowing parental leave during a spouse’s pregnancy. Additionally, from November 27, the paid leave period for infertility treatment will be increased from two days to four days.

Kim Younghoon, Minister of Employment and Labor, stated, "These are encouraging results that show a culture of work-family balance is taking root in our society and that a culture of shared caregiving is becoming established," adding, "We will continue to devise measures to further ease the burden of balancing work and childcare for all working parents."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.