"Good Childcare Environment Encourages Birth" SK On Employee Gives Birth to Korea's First Naturally Delivered Quadruplets as a First-Time Mother

Decided to Have a Child After Confirming Job Change

A member of SK On became the first in Korea to have quadruplets through natural birth. They have three daughters and one son.

Cha Ji-hye (37), the wife of Song Li-won PM (39) at SK On, gave birth to quadruplets on March 16 this year. The 10th was the due date given by the hospital, so today is another birthday for the quadruplets. The firstborn, who was the smallest at 0.9 kg, was discharged from the hospital healthy last week, completing the family of six.

Songriwon PM (left) and his wife Cha Ji-hye. From the left: Seollok, Riji, Roksi, Bijeon. Photo by SK On

The couple decided to have children after Song PM transferred to SK On. After getting married in 2020, Song PM and his wife prepared for pregnancy, but he was unable to focus due to working day and night at a consulting firm. When his transfer to SK On was confirmed in June the following year, his wife was the first to say, “I heard SK is a good company to have and raise children,” and immediately visited a fertility clinic. Song PM found out he was expecting quadruplets just two days after joining SK On in September last year.

Rather than joy, worry came first with the news of quadruplets arriving like a gift upon joining the company. The realistic concern was, “We have no savings, and both of us have to keep working, so how will we raise four children?” There was also anxiety about whether even one fetus might have complications. Hoping all four would be born healthy, they gave them nicknames: Chaltteok, Kongtteok, Kkul-tteok, and Hotteok.

As the couple worried, the issue that hit home from the moment of pregnancy was medical expenses. There were frequent regular checkups during pregnancy, and after birth, the quadruplets, born weighing between 0.9 and 1.3 kg, had to stay hospitalized until they grew stable, incurring considerable costs.

Fortunately, the burden of medical expenses was greatly reduced. This was thanks to SK On’s medical expense support policy, which the Song couple regards as the best welfare system. Cha said, “SK On supported medical expenses regardless of the severity of the illness or whether surgery was needed, which was a great help.”

SK On’s work system, aimed at pursuing employee happiness, was also a great support for the couple. Song PM used the vacation system, which allows taking leave freely without supervisor approval, and the flexible working hours system, which lets employees adjust their commute times autonomously, to accompany his wife to the hospital every week. Cha said, “Because I was a high-risk pregnant woman and had to visit the hospital often, it was a great support that my husband could accompany me without worrying about the company’s view.” Song PM laughed, saying, “During the pregnancy, all I remember is following my wife to the hospital.”

From the left, identical twin daughters firstborn Lizzy and secondborn Roxy, third son Vision, and youngest daughter Seollok. Photo by SK On

After 33 weeks of waiting, the children they met are identical twin daughters Lee-ji (理知) and Roxy (祿施), their third child son Vision (備前), and youngest daughter Seol-rok (設錄). The parents’ hopes are reflected in their names: a scholar who governs knowledge, a doctor who bestows happiness, a manager who foresees the future, and a lawyer who records words.

SK On announced and celebrated the news of the Song couple’s quadruplets company-wide through the internal broadcast. A colleague of Song PM directly reported the birth news to the internal broadcast team, making it happen. SK On also listened to Song PM’s difficulties and decided to support a childcare helper as a gift to commemorate the quadruplets’ birth. CEO Ji Dong-seop also sent a handwritten card and a gift basket to congratulate the birth.

Song PM expressed his gratitude, saying, “My wife decided to get pregnant after coming to SK On, and thanks to the welfare system, the burden has been greatly reduced, so it feels like SK On gave birth to and raised the quadruplets.” Cha also said, “Rather than a one-time event, I think systems and culture that allow us to raise children without major financial or time worries are the most important,” and added, “We will raise the children healthily and well.”