Norms about childcare, working hours, and fathers’ uptake of parental leave in South Korea

The number of leave-taking fathers in South Korea has quintupled the last five years, but those taking leave are still a minority total eligible fathers. These fathers, however, take some longest world. Driven by such notable trends, this paper inquires how norms about childcare and working hours shape Korean fathers’ decision to as well work-family balance after leave. I find that often pushed resort light poor absence more desirable alternatives care for young child. While these conditions continue constrain parents end leave, respond divergent ways: making continued effort employment family life, reverting work-centric lifestyles with grandparental support, or going through career changes address needs. My findings highlight incentives targeting need go hand fundamental reforms reliable ECEC sustainably support gender equality dual-earner parents.