□ Korea Population Health and Welfare Association(KoPHWA) held “The 3rd Population Forum with Private Sector” on Thursday, December 11, at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building.

□ According to statistics from the Ministry of Employment and Labor(MOEL), men accounted for 31.6% of all parental leave users in 2024, representing an almost ninefold increase compared to 2014 and indicating steady growth. However, a significant gap remains between large companies (47.2%) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (25.8%), highlighting the need for policy improvements to increase utilization of the system regardless of company size.

○ Now in its third year, the forum was held under the theme “Establishing the Use of Paternal Parental Leave in SMEs.” The event featured keynote presentations, case studies, and discussions on practical measures to ensure the effective adoption of paternal parental leave within SMEs.

□ Key presentations included “An Analysis of Fathers’ Childcare and Use of Time-Support Policies, and Policy Implications” by the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education, and “Recommendations for Promoting Paternal Parental Leave Based on Counseling Cases” by the Working Mom Support Center.

○ The Korea Institute of Child Care and Education analyzed the childcare characteristics of male workers and their use of time-support policies, emphasizing that “to ease the burden on private sectors(corporations), meaningful government support should accompany expanded corporate incentives that reflect men’s actual use of parental leave.”

○ The Working Mom Support Center highlighted the importance of effective management and oversight to ensure work–family balance policies function properly in the workplace, stating that “support should be differentiated based on employers’ business conditions to broaden assistance, and an environment must be created where workers can freely utilize these systems.”

□ The subsequent case presentations and panel discussion featured ▲ Work–family balance practices in SMEs(presented by Im Hyun-Ah, Deputy Manager, Management Support Team, Thomas Co., Ltd.), ▲ Experiences using paternal parental leave (presented by Im Yu-jin, Manager, Campaign Division, Rainbow Communication Co., Ltd.), and ▲ The current status and future direction of work–family balance policies (presented by Choi Seon-yong, Head of the Work–Family Balance TF, Employment Culture Improvement Policy Division, MOEL).

○ Deputy Manager of Thomas Co., Ltd.(Im Hyun-Ah,) noted, “Our company has achieved 100% utilization and high satisfaction with work–family balance policies, but it is difficult for SMEs to sustain such systems. More meticulous government support is needed.”

○ Manager of Rainbow Communication Co., Ltd.(Im Yu-jin) explained, “While awareness of these systems is high in SMEs, actual utilization remains low due to structural constraints and psychological burdens,” adding that “social and cultural campaigns aimed at raising employer awareness are necessary to create a virtuous cycle for policy activation.” She further shared, “Childcare did not interfere with my work; rather, it enriched my life and made me a better employee and a better colleague.”

○ In closing, the Head of the MOEL’s Work–Family Balance TF introduced the MOEL’s support policies for workers and employers, stating, “The government will continue its efforts to improve workplace environments where work, family, and life can coexist in harmony.”

□ Dr. Lee Samsik, president of KoPHWA, concluded by saying, “Regardless of size, all companies must now foster a culture of mutual growth by supporting workers’ marriage, childbirth, and childcare,” adding, “KoPHWA will also continue its efforts to ensure that work–family balance becomes a natural and established culture across private sectors and society as a whole.”

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"Promoting Men’s Participation in SMEs" : The 3rd Population Forum with the Private Sector