[K Population Strategy] KT and LGU+ CEOs Personally Celebrate Employees' Childbirth and Children's School Enrollment

KT Awards 18 Million Won in Congratulatory Money and Gift Certificates to Triplets
LGU+ Provides LG Laptops as 'CEO Gifts'
Family-Friendly Policies Including On-Site Childcare Facilities and Leave Systems

CEOs of mobile carriers are taking the lead in promoting family-friendly culture policies. The KT CEO delivered childcare product gift certificates worth approximately 13 million KRW and congratulatory money upon hearing the news of an employee giving birth to triplets last year, while LG Uplus provides laptops as 'CEO congratulatory gifts' to employees' children who are about to enter school.

KT CEO, Congratulates with Gifts Worth 13 Million KRW on News of 'Triplets Birth'

Kim Young-seop, CEO of KT

Kim Young-seop, CEO of KT, provided an additional childcare product gift certificate worth 5 million KRW on top of the existing congratulatory support regulation (8 million KRW) upon hearing the news of an employee giving birth to triplets in December last year. KT provides childcare products worth about 100,000 KRW and childbirth congratulatory money of 2 million KRW up to the second child, and 3 million KRW from the third child onwards to employees who have children. This employee, who previously had one child, now has a second, third, and fourth child due to the birth of triplets. CEO Kim sent a text message to the employee saying, "Congratulations sincerely," and "Raising four children is certainly not easy, but I support you in building a healthy and happy family."

KT also helps reduce the financial burden of tuition fees after employees' children enter school. For children in middle and high school, tuition support of up to 800,000 KRW per child per quarter is provided. For employees with university student children, entrance fees and tuition (supporting up to 8 semesters per child and up to 16 semesters per employee, excluding graduate school) are covered. Employees with children aged 5 to 15 receive an annual child education subsidy of about 600,000 KRW, and if they have minor disabled children, they receive 200,000 KRW per month for education expenses.

KT Songpa Office In-house Daycare Center / Photo by KT

Childcare facilities at each office building operate based on company-wide announcements according to demand. Currently, six on-site daycare centers are operated, including the recently opened Songpa office daycare, Seocho (Uimyeon), Hyehwa, Bundang, Mokdong, and Pangyo. Children under the age of 5 are eligible for admission. All six centers have more capacity than the number of applicants, so there is little concern about competition for admission.

Maternity leave and parental leave systems help prevent career interruptions. KT employees with children aged 8 or younger or in the second grade of elementary school or below are guaranteed a total leave period of two years. Infertility leave (up to one year) and family care leave (90 days per year) are also available. The family care leave system can be used when family members need care due to illness, accidents, or old age. Additionally, KT operates a flexible working hours system (total volume autonomous work system) allowing employees to choose their preferred working hours between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. The number of employees who used maternity and parental leave was 488 in 2020, 460 in 2021, and 490 in 2022. The number of employees returning from parental leave in the same years was 213 (97.1%), 183 (96.7%), and 156 (94.0%), respectively, maintaining a high level, with over 97% retention for 12 months after returning for three consecutive years.

'Choose One from LG Gram or Ultra at School Entrance'... LG Uplus Provides CEO Congratulatory Gifts

Hwang Hyun-sik, President of LG Uplus

LG Uplus attaches 'CEO' to congratulatory gifts for employees' children’s births and school admissions. Employees can choose one item from a thermometer, mat, diaper trash can, or mobile as a birth gift. During leave, the company pays one-third of the ordinary wage. For children entering elementary, middle, or high school, laptops useful for studies are provided as entrance congratulatory gifts. Employees can choose between LG Gram and LG Ultra. At the time of elementary and middle school entrance, school bags are provided to support new school life.

Employees who have difficulty working during pregnancy can take up to six months of pregnancy leave. Upon childbirth, 90 days of maternity leave are granted, and spouses can take up to 10 days of paid leave within 90 days from the birth date. Employees within 12 weeks of pregnancy or after 36 weeks have their working hours reduced by two hours, and pregnancy checkup leave is also supported. Beyond legal support, employees with children aged 8 or younger can reduce working hours instead of taking parental leave. In addition to the statutory one-year parental leave, an additional one-year unpaid parental leave is available.

LG Uplus provides laptops as entrance gifts to the children of employees who are about to enter elementary, middle, and high school. Photo by LG Uplus

Time to spend with family is also guaranteed. In May, the month of family, family invitation programs are held. The event called 'Joyful Family Day' is an invitation event where employees can spend time with their children. The 'Happiness Plus' system allows employees to leave work two hours early on their own or their family members' birthdays, anniversaries, or memorial days. It can be used within one week before or after the anniversary and up to twice per person per year. Once a year, leader-level employees are supported to rest with their families at a 5-star hotel through the 'Leader Package.' LG Uplus’s Yongsan office has a company-run daycare center. Employees at Magok and Seoul Station offices can use daycare centers jointly operated with other group companies.