[Opinion] Take Care of My Children, Please

Newspaper headlines carried the title `women power` in December last year as they reported the result of the annual bar test. Women grabbed such titles as the highest scoring, the youngest and the oldest candidate, accounting for 24% of the entire candidates. The women power seems to continue sweeping the judicial area as 54 women candidates, having successfully completed the training course, are now waiting to become judges. Total 110 have been named judge candidates for this year. Women are also expected to fare well in other professions such as doctors and teachers. During presidential campaigns last year, the candidates were rushing to pledge that they would earmark 20 to 50% of high-ranking government posts for women, and the new government is widely expected to carry on its words.

▷Despite uncertainty in the world market, our economy has been doing relatively well, and the potential economic growth rate reaches 7%. Mobilization of female workforce, which had long been preoccupied with childcare and housekeeping, contributes significantly to this impressive economic performance. In terms of self-achievement also, mobilization of female workforce carries great significance of the half of the country`s population. Still, there seems a long way to go before women can participate in diverse fields of work besides a few professions.

▷In advanced countries, the rate of female participation in economic activities reaches around 60% regardless of age. In contrast, the rate stands at about 50% in this country and the number further falls sharply with young mothers at the age between 25 and 34. The poor public childcare system makes it hard for young mothers to stick to their jobs. The lack of working opportunities and discrimination against women are also obstacles to female participation. There were 21,267 childcare facilities nationwide as of June last year, of which those looking after infants aged under 2 were 156 and those looking after handicapped children 66. Under the law on childcare for infants and little children, businesses hiring more than 300 women are required to house a childcare facility. Of the about 20,000 facilities, in-house childcare centers run by businesses take less than 1%.

▷Now that the birth rate is down to 1.3 babies nearing the lowest-level worldwide, it is warned that support for the non-producing population will become increasingly difficult. Despite the falling birth rate, childcare facilities in this country run short, which in turn, further fosters reluctance to give birth. A popular comedy show coined a new expression `Please, be a mother of my child`, which is a roundabout way of saying `I love you.` When some zealous men even go further to say `Be a mother of my twin babies,` working modern women may well say `Please, take care of my children`.

Park In-je, Guest Editorial Writer, Lawyer, ijpark2356@hanmail.net