Fathers account for nearly 37% of parental leave users

Visitors check baby products at Coex Magok Convention Center in Seoul, June 19. Newsis

The number of workers receiving parental leave benefits rose 37 percent to 141,909 in the first nine months of 2025, reflecting the impact of policy reforms and cultural changes in parenting.

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor on Tuesday, 52,279 men took parental leave between January and September, making up 36.8 percent of all users ― up from 32.1 percent during the same period last year and reflecting a rise in fathers’ participation.

This trend suggests growing acceptance of men taking a more engaged role in parenting and evolving societal attitudes toward fathers' roles in child care, officials said.

The increase in men claiming parental leave is driven in part by key policy changes, including a raise in the monthly parental allowance from a maximum of 1.5 million won ($1,050) to 2.5 million won. There was also an extension of the maximum leave period, from one year to up to 18 months, as long as both parents take at least three months of leave.

Other reforms that contributed to the trend include the elimination of a policy from the previous system, under which 25 percent of the allowance was withheld until after workers returned from leave. The change ensures recipients receive the full amount during their leave period.

The data also shows that small and medium-sized enterprises are increasingly supporting parental leave and their employees account for 58.2 percent of beneficiaries ― a jump from 57 percent the previous year.

To further encourage the use of family-friendly policies and promote work-life balance, the ministry said it plans to introduce incentives for employers who support flexible work hours for employees with young children starting next year.

Under the plan, employers who allow parents to start working an hour later without wage deductions would receive 300,000 won a month from the government.

Support for companies hiring temporary replacements for employees on parental leave will also be enhanced. Currently, companies receive up to 1.2 million won per month for each employee taking leave. Under the new plan, the maximum amount would be 1.3 million won, with an increase to 1.4 million won for firms with fewer than 30 workers.

The ministry is also launching awareness campaigns and network-building initiatives targeting small firms to reduce confusion and promote the use of family-friendly workplace policies.

“The spread of paternity leave is an indicator that our society’s work-life balance culture is maturing,” Lim Young-mi, head of the ministry’s employment policy division, said. “We will actively work to expand next year’s budget and strengthen support, so that even employees at smaller businesses can use the system without feeling burdened.”