Motherhood in South Korea

x Sponsored content on Research Live and in Impact magazine is editorially independent.
Find out more about advertising and sponsorship.

Birth rates are dropping rapidly in South Korea – according to Statistics Korea it has the lowest in the world. This is blamed on a tricky economy where two incomes are needed to keep a family afloat, alongside a competitive job market and, unsurprisingly, the  evolving role of women in the home and in the workplace.  

The government is pumping money into trying to tackle this problem by reforming maternity and paternity leave, but it has not had much impact. More than £50bn has been invested in initiatives such as subsidising IVF, and offering financial support for childcare, but again, with little effect. Birth rates are very low at 8.3% (average number of births per 1,000 population per year) compared with a global average of 19% (CIA World Factbook). 

South Korea started in a similar place to most of the world; women there were expected to stop working when they got married and devote their time and energy to their husband and his family. And, like most countries, this attitude has changed dramatically and now women of all ages make up 42% of the workforce (OECD) – a significant proportion. 

In South Korea having a dual household income has become an absolute necessity. Risking career advancement by taking time out to have a child is unthinkable to couples wanting to keep their
high-status jobs, nice homes and financial cushion.  

This is not unique to South Korea; families in many countries feel the pressure to maintain two incomes – but the ‘difference’ is the support for women in the home. 

In comparison with other countries, the South Korean woman’s role in the home has been slow to change. It’s still relatively taboo for men to be too hands-on with childcare, and there is a shortage of options for young mums, often leading them to decide not to return to work. 

Long hours

Women find themselves in a lose-lose situation where they need to work, but are also expected to do the majority of the childcare. The long office hours in South Korea cause an additional burden, as fathers do not leave the office until late at night, leaving mothers  on their own without much respite or support.  

The government has encouraged employers to have ‘family days’  and send the workforce home early to spend time together – cue oyster dinners and Barry White mood music. Universities have even started offering love, dating and marriage courses – which include having to date a fellow student for three months. But again, nothing has been impactful enough to change the ongoing trend of reluctance to start a family.  

Hard choice

Ultimately, the decision to start a family leaves women with a stark reality. Maybe you will be lucky enough not to lose your job on requesting maternity leave, and you can return to work and secure two incomes for your family. But, you will continue to work excessively long hours – around 15% higher than the global average, according to the OECD – and never see your children. Or you stay at home, alone, as your partner is likely to be working at least 12-hour days and weekends, and raise your family with minimal support. 

So, how does this leave women feeling? We found they are incredibly anxious, concerned and worried when they choose to start a family, and often feel isolated. In our study of South Korean women aged between 18 and 45 trying to fall pregnant, a third felt more negative emotions than positive –  a fifth higher than the other markets we studied. 

At this point in a woman’s life, there is a pressure to continue firing on all cylinders. Globally, we found that pregnant women, and those trying to fall pregnant, are generally more focused on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and keeping up with their ‘usual’ healthy routines. 

In South Korea, this is of even greater importance. For example, managing stress levels is a primary concern for 40% of mothers-to-be and new mothers in South Korea, compared with 30% globally.

Getting a decent amount of sleep is a concern for more women, at 12% higher than the global average, as is not getting ill or having to slow down because of colds or flu – at 5% higher than other markets. 

South Korean women are not as open when discussing their choice to start a family. Compared with other Asian markets, mothers-to-be are much more likely to look online for advice and support, which suggests there’s some sort of taboo around face-to-face communications. Around the world, close family members are usually the number one source of advice but, in South Korea, online blogs, forums and social media are the primary sources of information about pregnancy and becoming a mother for one out of two women – compared with just one in five globally. 

Negative emotions

When babies arrive, 28% of mothers in South Korea feel more negative emotions, such as worry and stress, than positive, compared with a global average of 11% in the markets we’ve studied. 

While this is quite a crude way to look at emotions, the study highlights that this is a much more anxious time for expectant and new mothers in South Korea than in other markets, both in Asia and globally.  

New mums are also under pressure to get back to ‘normal’ life quickly. Because of the lack of support, we found that their priorities for their baby’s development are often tied with making the process of managing a
small child easier – so that the mother can get back to ‘normal’ life. For example, setting sleep patterns and developing good behaviour are a key focus for a third of new mums in South Korea compared with an average of less than a quarter of mothers globally. 

Support to guard against post-partum depression is of particular interest in South Korea, where 36% of new mums expressed an interest in products and services that reduce the risk of post-partum depression, compared with a global average of 28%.  

It’s clear there needs to be a cultural catch-up before things change. The government needs more than seemingly superficial ’quick fixes’ so people feel truly comfortable starting a family – or even starting to look forward to planning for children.

As Impact went to print, the South Korean government passed a bill reducing the working week from 68 to 52 hours.