"Carrying My Child on My Back to Work Again Today"…Diary of a Securitiesman Raising a Child [K Population Strategy]

NH Investment & Securities First Securities Firm to Operate In-House Daycare
7-Minute Walk from Headquarters to Daycare
Prepare for Work with Kids in 5- or 10-Minute Intervals
Drop Off at Daycare by 8 AM
Parents Start Work After Morning Battle

An NH Investment & Securities employee is taking their child to the workplace daycare center. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

# 6:20 AM

"Oppa, I have an interview today, so I need to hurry. I'll get ready first. Wake Jimin up later."

'It's already Thursday. This morning is a battle again.'

# 6:45 AM

"Oppa~!! Didn't you pick up the coat you left for dry cleaning yesterday? We also need to prepare the carbon emission credits data for the collaboration with Company A today, so please wake Jimin up."

'Today's temperature is 3 degrees, dry hair roughly, do makeup quickly, and don't forget the company documents.'

# 7:00 AM

"Oppa, Jimin gave me the milk. I'll wash her."

'How long will the interview take this morning? Is there anything else to prepare?'

# 7:05 AM

"Jimin~ wake up~ Let's brush your teeth first. Today, let's tie your hair into pigtails."

'I've been hearing a lot about colds lately, so I should dress her warmly. I'm busy, but her hair isn't tying nicely.'

# 7:21 AM

"Jimin~ After drinking milk, let's brush your teeth again~ Oppa, have some of this too."

'There's not enough time to finish everything now...'

# 7:30 AM

"Oppa, did you bring the car keys? I packed Jimin's bag. Jimin, let's put on your shoes first."

# 7:46 AM

"Luckily, no traffic in the car. I need to wake the kid. Jimin, let's get off now."

"Wait, since the car in front moved, let's pull in closer to the entrance and stop."

On March 14, Asia Economy accompanied a securities firm employee in Yeouido on their commute. The day of a securities firm employee raising a child reminded one of a supermom and superdaddy. Watching them closely, it became clear that childcare policies are merely 'support' in name only, and raising a child is entirely the parents' responsibility.

Assistant Manager Gong Yoon-young from the Payment Operations Department is dropping off her child at the workplace daycare center. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

At 7:47 AM that day, a car stopped in front of the Hi Investment & Securities building in Yeouido, Seoul. Deputy Manager Gong Yoon-young from the Settlement Operations Department got out first and hurriedly opened the rear door. While Gong helped her daughter get out of the car, her husband also got out and grabbed their daughter's bag. Amid the couple's hectic care for their child, the husband checked his watch and got back into the front seat. Thirteen minutes before work hours, he quickly turned the car toward Park One, where NH Investment & Securities is located.

Deputy Manager Gong, holding her child's hand, entered the building mixed with other office workers. She let two elevators pass before barely boarding one. Her steps toward the daycare were anxious, but she kept falling behind trying to match her child's pace. Eventually, she carried her child and hurried into the daycare.

Assistant Manager Gong Yoon-young of the Payment Operations Department and Deputy Manager Jang Jae-young of the Asset Management Strategy Department are dropping off their child at the company daycare on their way to work. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

Arriving at the daycare is not the end. When the director came out to greet them warmly, Deputy Manager Gong said to her daughter, "Jimin, you should greet too." Seeing this, a daycare teacher approached the reporter and said, "Sorry, could you please leave the coffee you're holding in the staff room? It's a rule not to carry hot drinks because if spilled accidentally, children could get hurt."

Assistant Manager Gong Yoon-young from the Payment Operations Department and her daughter Jimin (38 months old). Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

Greeting the daycare teachers and friends, neatly placing shoes in the shoe rack, taking off outerwear and putting it in place, and placing the bag in the designated spot are all part of education. The daycare teachers and the mother remain vigilant until the child enters the playroom. Deputy Manager Gong's situation is relatively better. Since her husband works at the same company, their commute routes are the same, and they use flexible working hours to 'share' childcare.

Assistant Manager Lee Jae-hyung of NH Investment & Securities resembles a 'Superman dad' on his commute. Lee, who commutes from Geomdan, Incheon, wakes up at 5 AM because his commute takes about an hour and a half. After briefly checking his schedule and finishing breakfast, he washes his sleepy child, carries him, and puts him in the car. The child soon falls asleep in the car.

Jang Jaeyoung, Deputy Head of Asset Management Strategy at NH Investment & Securities, wakes up every day at 5 a.m. and goes to work with his son Eunwoo (28 months old). Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

Lee's routine includes carefully waking his son in the daycare's underground parking lot. His son quietly makes eye contact with his dad without any fuss. The moment he meets eyes with his small, lovely son, his fatigue disappears. At the same time, he feels sorry for the child accompanying him on the long commute. Like Deputy Manager Gong, he takes the elevator to the daycare, greets the staff, organizes shoes, puts clothes and bags in place, and then takes a breath.

Jang Jaeyoung, Deputy General Manager of the Asset Management Strategy Department at NH Investment & Securities, and his son Eunwoo are greeting. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

All these tasks are completed before 8 AM. The working mom and dad's day is just beginning. It is literally a day of war. The couple takes care of their child like this every weekday during their commute to and from work.

They are considered privileged employees in Yeouido. NH Investment & Securities was the first securities firm in Korea to operate its own daycare and is known for providing top-level meals and educational programs. In particular, NH Investment & Securities is famous for its generous organizational culture regarding parental leave. Deputy Manager Gong took the full 20 months of parental leave and returned to work.