Establishment of Population Register and Special Low Birthrate Fund Response
Announcement of Childcare Leave and Flexible Work Support Measures
Increase in Childcare Leave Benefits
The People Power Party has promised to establish a new paid childcare leave of 5 days per year to address the low birthrate issue, and to mandate that fathers receive one month of paid paternity leave when a child is born. To strengthen the state's responsibility for the low birthrate problem, they also announced plans to create a Deputy Prime Minister-level Population Department and to establish a ‘Special Account for Low Birthrate Response’ to secure funding for low birthrate measures.
On the 18th, Han Dong-hoon, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, visited the startup ‘Hurei Positive’ and announced the ‘No. 1 Pledge: Happiness for Both Work and Family.’ Chairman Han, who advocates the ‘National Courier Policy Delivery,’ along with Yoo Ui-dong, the Policy Committee Chair of the People Power Party, and Hong Seok-cheol, the General Headquarters Director, revealed the general election pledges in the form of courier delivery that day.
The pledges mainly include strengthening the state’s responsibility for the low birthrate issue, support measures for families balancing work and childcare to spend time together, establishment of flexible working arrangements during childcare periods, and support plans for securing substitute personnel in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
To strengthen the state’s responsibility for the low birthrate, the People Power Party plans to establish a Deputy Prime Minister-level Population Department to integrate low birthrate policies scattered across various ministries under one department to oversee all low birthrate policies. The existing Ministry of Gender Equality and Family’s duties will be absorbed into the Population Department. Additionally, a ‘Special Account for Low Birthrate Response’ will be created to secure funding for low birthrate measures.
They pledged to introduce a paid childcare leave of 5 days per year so that working parents can spend time with their children. This leave can be taken if a child up to the third grade of elementary school is sick or needs care. Furthermore, maternity leave will be changed to paternity leave, and the duration will be extended to one month. Parental leave and maternity leave will be automatically implemented upon application. The maximum parental leave allowance will also be increased from the current 1.5 million KRW to 2.1 million KRW.
For flexible working during childcare periods, companies will be required to establish employment rules for flexible working arrangements such as staggered working hours, telecommuting, reduced working hours, hybrid flexible work, and support for childcare services. Parental leave and similar leaves will be made subject to mandatory public disclosure.
To secure substitute personnel for SMEs, incentives called ‘Chaeum Talent’ will be provided, and if it is difficult to secure substitutes, a new allowance for colleagues covering the work will be introduced and paid. Initially, this colleague allowance will be paid when working hours are reduced this year, and then expanded to cover parental leave and other cases. The parental leave substitute personnel support fund for SMEs will be doubled (from the current 800,000 KRW to 1.6 million KRW), and support funds will be tripled (to 2.4 million KRW) when hiring career-interrupted persons or middle-aged retirees as substitutes.
Additionally, family-friendly excellent SMEs will receive corporate tax reductions, and work-family balance systems will be introduced even for those not enrolled in employment insurance.
After announcing the pledges, Chairman Han met with reporters and said regarding the Democratic Party’s childcare policy, "They chose a good topic," but added, "While I agree with the intent, I think various aspects need to be reviewed regarding feasibility, such as securing funding." Policy Committee Chair Yoo explained the People Power Party’s low birthrate measures, stating, "The expected amount is about 3 trillion KRW."
Meanwhile, Chairman Han commented on the controversy over First Lady Kim Geon-hee’s luxury handbag, saying, "Basically, it was planned as a trap camera from the start," but added, "There are regrettable points and concerns in the process before and after." He continued, "That is why I proactively mentioned the issues regarding the Second Secretariat and the Special Inspector."
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