Fathers near 40% of parental leave users

More than 100,000 people received parental leave benefits in the first half of the year, with fathers making up nearly 40 percent of all recipients, reflecting the steady rise in men taking time off to care for their children.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor released its first-half 2026 report on work-life balance support programs on Sunday. A total of 103,983 people received parental leave benefits during the January-June period, up 9.5 percent from 94,993 a year earlier. Fathers accounted for 40,320 recipients, or 38.8 percent of the total. Their share has continued to rise after topping 30 percent for the first time in 2024 and reaching 36.5 percent in the first half of last year. The ministry credited the increase to a package of family leave measures, including the "6+6 parental leave program" introduced in 2024, higher benefit payments and expanded subsidies that help employers hire temporary replacements or redistribute work while employees are on leave.

Participation also rose across the government's four flagship work-life balance programs: parental leave, reduced working hours for parents with young children, maternity leave and paternity leave. During the first six months of the year, 199,911 workers used at least one of the four programs, already more than half of last year's full-year total of 342,388. At the current pace, the ministry expects participation to reach a record level by year-end.

The ministry plans to further expand family leave benefits in the second half of the year. Beginning Aug. 20, employees will be eligible for a new short-term parental leave program, allowing them to take one- or two-week leave once a year. Additional family leave measures for spouses will take effect Sept. 18. Employees will be entitled to leave if their spouse experiences a miscarriage or stillbirth. Paternity leave, previously available only after childbirth, may be taken starting 50 days before the expected due date. Employees will also be allowed to begin parental leave before their child is born if their spouse is at risk of miscarriage or preterm birth.


위은지 wizi@donga.com