"I Want to Have Triplets" Male Employees Also Receive Unlimited Infertility Support [K Population Strategy]

(16) HanmiGlobal Provides Unlimited Support Up to 1 Million KRW Per Session
Unconditional Promotion Upon Third Childbirth
"Reliable Company Even Without Local Government Support"

Editor's NoteThe key to solving South Korea's population problem lies within companies. A corporate atmosphere that evaluates employees based on work regardless of gender and a family-friendly culture are crucial to addressing the K population issue. Although low birth rates result from complex factors, it is important to ensure that workplace burdens do not become obstacles that make people hesitate to have children. Asia Economy visited companies leading family-friendly policies to identify the factors that helped these systems stabilize, and plans to explore various solutions with companies that lack practical conditions. Through this, we encourage change starting from companies and analyze the government's role in enabling this. We listen to voices emphasizing that company culture and atmosphere, which reduce psychological burdens more than financial support, are key, and propose alternatives from diverse perspectives.

In South Korean society, where marriage and childbirth are being delayed, a more proactive response to infertility issues is necessary. Prioritizing support for infertile couples who have the will to have children can be a key solution to the K population problem. Among domestic companies comprehensively addressing this issue, HanmiGlobal stands out.

"I feel a little less sorry for my wife." Lee Jun-young (pseudonym, 36, male), who has been married for four years and works at HanmiGlobal in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, is preparing to receive support from his company after being diagnosed with infertility. Despite perceptions that they are "relatively well off," he wanted to have a child as soon as possible through the company's infertility support system.

"I Want to Have Triplets" Male Employees Also Receive Unlimited Infertility Support [K Population Strategy]

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines infertility as the inability of a couple to conceive within one year of regular unprotected intercourse. However, many in Korea do not recognize their infertility, delaying diagnosis and treatment. According to the Eureka survey conducted by Ferring Pharmaceuticals to understand the challenges faced by infertile families in Asian countries, women in Asia, including Korea, have low awareness of infertility, resulting in an average total duration of 6.8 years from attempting natural conception to infertility diagnosis and treatment leading to pregnancy.

HanmiGlobal provides infertility treatment benefits not only to female employees but also to male employees. Support is available without limit on the number of times, up to 1 million KRW per treatment. Female employees can also take up to six months of leave. Lee said, "My wife undergoes frequent and lengthy hospital treatments, so she suffers more than I do," but added, "It is reassuring that the company supports the costs." Thanks to systematic and practical policies for work-family balance, the total fertility rate among married employees at HanmiGlobal was 1.57 in the first half of last year. HanmiGlobal was also the first construction company to be selected as the top family-friendly management company by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which awards this to companies maintaining family-friendly certification for 15 years.

Lee also expressed his ambition to "have triplets" if infertility treatment succeeds. His joking remark reflects HanmiGlobal's extraordinary benefits. The company provides 1 million KRW for the first child, 2 million KRW for the second, 5 million KRW for the third, and 10 million KRW for the fourth and beyond. Upon the birth of a third child, employees can be immediately promoted to the next lower rank without conditions. For the fourth child, childcare helper costs are supported for one year. Lee said that thanks to the various support systems provided by the company, he can openly discuss childbirth issues with his wife.

Couples like Lee who want children but face difficulties are increasing. According to the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, the number of infertility treatment patients per 100,000 people increased by 16.9% (an average of 4.0% annually) from 23.4 in 2018 to 27.3 in 2022 over the past five years.

The first baby born at 00:00 on January 1 this year was also a child born after overcoming infertility. The couple had their first child through in vitro fertilization after 12 years of marriage.

Local governments are also introducing more active support measures for infertile couples. Seoul City has abolished income criteria for treatment cost support and removed limits on the number of infertility treatments for couples residing in Seoul for more than six months. Gyeonggi Province similarly removed income criteria and the six-month residency requirement. Additionally, support for assisted reproductive technology using frozen eggs has been introduced. Lee said, "Recently, local governments have relaxed infertility support criteria," but emphasized, "There are still limits on the number of treatments, making it difficult to receive sufficient support." He added, "Even if local governments cannot provide adequate support, the company is always ready to help, which makes me feel a little less sorry for my wife."