Internet Moms Thriving
By Park Chung-a
Staff Reporter
A growing number of mothers are going back to work thanks to the Internet.
Large companies like Samsung SDS and IBM Korea as well as venture firms have adopted a work-at-home system, allowing moms to work at home using the Internet. Such women are called ``Internet moms."
The Korean Intellectual Property Office adopted such a system in 2003, and has some 150 Internet moms on its books.
Kyong Yeon-gyeong, a 34-year-old Internet mom who works for the company, said that the Internet offers stay-at-home parents the chance to earn money at home while giving moms a big boost in confidence. ``Whether it's for extra money or to build a fully-fledged business, it's up to them. Using the Internet can be very helpful to mothers who sometimes feel isolated. In a family where the husband is the main breadwinner, working at home can increase a wife's self-worth.''
``The system is very popular with married women who would like to be successful both at work and in child care,'' said Kim Yong-seon, an official in charge of the work-at-home system of the company.
Shim Yoon-seon, a 36-year-old who quit an interior company with the birth of her baby, is running an Internet shopping mall called ``MAYS'' which sells unique wigs and shoes.
``I am very satisfied with my current job since I can fully take care of my children as well as make money at the same time. I earn about five to 10 million won a month, which is more than the money I earned as a salaried woman,'' said Shim. She has two kids _ a nine-year-old and a seven-year-old.
Companies are also welcoming the Internet moms.
IBM Korea which started the work-at-home system in 2005 said,`` Our recent survey showed that 90 percent of managers were satisfied with the system since it makes efficient use of women workers.''
Kim Ki-tae, an official at the human resource department of Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry said, ``An increasing number of companies in advanced countries are adopting the work-at-home system to attract women with great ability who would like to balance their work and childcare.''