Dad's 6-Month Paternity Leave... Salary? Paid, Substitute Worker? Deployed [K Population Strategy]

(19) Interview with a Returnee after Leave at Hanguk Perring Pharmaceutical
"Used 26 Weeks of Maternity Leave upon Supervisor's Active Recommendation"
"Flexible and Remote Work Autonomy after Return, Working Even Harder"

Editor's NoteThe key to solving South Korea's population problem lies within companies. A workplace culture that evaluates employees based on their work regardless of gender and a family-friendly environment 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 visits companies leading family-friendly policies to identify the factors that helped these systems settle stably, and plans to explore various solutions with companies that face practical challenges. Through this, we encourage change starting from companies and analyze the government's role in making this possible. We listen to voices emphasizing that company culture and atmosphere that reduce psychological burdens are more critical than financial support, and propose alternatives from diverse perspectives.

"The fact that my child still cries out 'Dad~' is thanks to six months of experience."

Seobo Young (36, male), who works at Korea Ferring Pharmaceuticals, took 26 weeks of combined maternity and parental leave last year. After his child was born in September 2022, his wife first took six months, and he followed, taking leave until the child turned one. Thanks to this period, he said the child still cries out for "Dad" instead of "Mom" these days.

Dad's 6-Month Paternity Leave... Salary? Paid, Substitute Worker? Deployed [K Population Strategy]

Jang Hyun-su, a manager working at Korea Ferring Pharmaceuticals, had his third child last year. This is the third child born while Jang has been working at Ferring Pharmaceuticals. After the birth of the third child, the whole family has been involved in childcare, so the child is growing up receiving care and love not only from the mother but also from the father, older sister, and older brother. This year, Ferring Pharmaceuticals also has one female manager expecting her third child. (Photo by Korea Ferring Pharmaceuticals)

Mr. Seo recalled, "My wife runs a small business, so I had to return to work quickly at the time," adding, "When the system was first introduced, I thought it would be great to use it, but it wasn't easy to say I would be the first to take it." Nevertheless, he decided to take a long parental leave thanks to the company's policy of guaranteeing full salary for 26 weeks. Korea Ferring Pharmaceuticals maintains the employee's existing salary level during parental leave. The company supplements the basic parental leave pay provided by the government. The leave is available to all employees regardless of gender.

The active encouragement from the CEO and supervisors also played a part in his decision. Seo said, "Both of them told me first that I should use this system, so I was happy to take it," adding, "I was the first among the office workers in the company to use it."

First Day at Daycare with Dad

Seo also took on the role of helping his child adjust to daycare. He said, "We started going to daycare together, and I was worried because the child couldn't sit properly at first," adding, "Fortunately, the child adapted well, and I am grateful." According to Seo, the gratitude felt through stories at work was different in magnitude. He also shared that the difficulty of childcare was realized through experiences like attending cultural centers with the child and frequently taking walks around the neighborhood, as childcare at home alone was challenging.

He vividly remembers visiting his hometown alone with his child. He said, "When I took the baby on the train alone, grandmothers offered help from all directions," expressing gratitude but also thinking that doing such a hard task was natural. "My parents in my hometown probably worried silently, thinking 'He has to keep working,' but I never felt such an atmosphere at the company before or after my leave," he said.

Although turnover is frequent in the pharmaceutical industry, Seo said he developed a special affection for the company after his parental leave. He smiled and said, "For a while, I think I can go to work without any worries."

One Month of Handover with Substitute Worker

Lee Seung-won (41, female), who also works at Korea Ferring Pharmaceuticals, took parental leave as well. Including three months of maternity leave, she took about a year off, during which the company hired a substitute worker. The substitute was hired on a contract basis, with the possibility of conversion to a permanent position if performance was good. Lee said, "We hired the substitute a month before my leave and conducted a handover," adding, "I wrote a detailed handover plan, subdivided tasks, and even went through simulation processes."

Assistant Manager Jeong Sang-min, a dual-income couple, usually takes charge of bringing their second child to school. The mother is responsible for the first child, who is an elementary school student. On a pleasant day, using the flexible work system, they leisurely took the second child to school and took this photo. (Photo by Korea Ferring Pharmaceuticals)

After returning to work, she received a handover from the substitute for one month. She said, "Thanks to that, I was able to return more comfortably," adding, "At that time, I was also training new hires, so I attended the sessions and received education on system changes during my absence."

Having a substitute worker eased Lee's mental burden. She said, "I felt very sorry to my colleagues when I divided my work and left, but I was informed that a substitute would definitely be hired," adding, "They actively asked me about what kind of substitute to hire and gave me enough time to explain which tasks the substitute should focus on."

After returning to work from parental leave, Seungwon Lee said, "Thanks to the hiring of a substitute worker, I was able to ease the burden on my mind." Lee is posing in front of a product sold by Korea Ferring Pharmaceuticals. (Photo by Hyunju Lee)

Lee emphasized that she was able to work harder after returning from parental leave. She said, "Before going on maternity leave, I saw another team member take a year off and return, so when I found out I was pregnant, I thought I could do it too," adding, "After returning from maternity leave, I felt relatively energized and performed well because of the consideration I received." She continued, "I felt satisfaction and efficacy, thinking 'I adapted well and contributed to the company' after returning," adding, "It also motivated me to keep doing well."

Lee, who cares for two children aged 5 and in fifth grade of elementary school, also makes good use of working from home twice a week and a two-hour leave system. She emphasized that because the company is not large and her tasks are clearly defined, she takes responsibility for her work regardless of where she works. Lee said, "Even when working at the company, you can step out briefly," adding, "Working from home means the company trusts employees and grants them autonomy and authority accordingly." She added, "There is a mindset based on mutual trust to show results, so working from home is generally accepted favorably."