This undated photo shows a father playing with his child. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Korea Bizwire) — A significant number of parents working in Seoul haven’t taken any parental leave in fear of lagging behind the competition at work or burdening others with their workload, a survey showed Wednesday.
The Seoul Foundation and Women and Family conducted a survey of 2,005 Seoul residents (1,482 women, 523 men) rearing a child between 0 and 12 years of age, among which 72 percent of 1,103 people who were wage workers had gone on parental leave for work and life balance.
A majority of them went on childbirth leave (45.7 percent), followed by childcare leave (36.7 percent) and special leave to be with their spouse having a child (24 percent).
The remaining 28 percent, however, said they hadn’t taken any parental leave.
They were fearful that going on parental leave would result in them lagging behind the competition at work, burdening others with their workload and earning less while they are on leave.
Men, in particular, were more sensitive to negative perceptions toward using parental leave than women.
At 82.8 percent, the vast majority of the respondents said that while they think it’s a good thing to have children, they are severely deprived of “alone time” after a child is born.
Most of the respondents (84 percent) said they need an extra hand to take care of children if the parents are to work, even if they are sending their children to daycare facilities.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
