With the aim of overcoming the overwhelmingly low fertility rate in South Korea and create a parenting-friendly working environment, Seoul City has decided to implement a customized work system appropriate for each stage of child development.

In 2021, South Korea was ranked as the country with the lowest fertility rate on the OECD scale, with a reported fertility rate uniquely under 1 of 0.81.

Being aware of this serious crisis, Seoul City has been brainstorming and introducing many new work systems that could address these related concerns.

Similar to these habitual attempts, on the 28th of December, Seoul City announced a ‘Seoul-style work and parenting companion work system’, officially starting from the upcoming year.

With the new work system, pregnant workers will be allowed to work 2 hours less everyday, and those with a child between 0 and 5 years will have the choice between leaving work at 3pm or commuting to work at 1pm, depending on the attendance and dismissal time of their chosen daycare.

Additionally, workers with a child in 1st and 2nd grade of elementary school will be allowed to leave work 4 hours earlier for 4 days of the week, compensating for the decreased working hours by extending them on another day of the week.

This new work system could act as an appropriate and more efficient replacement for the previously encouraged unpaid parental leave.

Not only does this new work system allow workers to be paid as usual, but it allows them to take measures that are necessary for parenting.

Seoul City also continues to aspire to develop another work system in which workers will be allowed to adjust their working hours between 15 and 35 hours, also known by the name of ‘hours selection system’.

Jung Sang-Hoon, Seoul’s administrative director, commented that “if this attempt is successful , it will become a prime example of overcoming low fertility rates with civil servants managing both work and parenting while minimizing career breaks and economic losses.”

However, despite the inspirational and positive aim behind the new work system, public opinion shows a different perspective.

One user on Instagram pointed out how this work system is solely applicable for civil servants, and it thereby poses an unfair disadvantage for non-civil-servant-workers who deserve the same privilege.

Another user added that this work system cannot be effective if only civil servants are able to profit from it, since not all parents are civil servants.

Thus, although understanding and agreeing with the initial aim of the new work system, many citizens are requesting certain amendments to be made regarding the currently laid out concept.

In general, this initiative is not only encouraging positive opinions, but it is also provoking negative complaints.

The South Korean government will have to watch out for fluctuations in public opinion according to their actions.

Eventually, South Korea will be able to negotiate and develop an appropriate system to combat its overwhelmingly low fertility rate .

Kate Han

Grade 10

Seoul Foreign School