Paternity Leave of a Male Lawmaker in His 30s "Changed My Perspective on the World" [K Population Strategy]

Wife Gave Birth While President-Elect
Reduced All Outside Activities
Stayed Together with Wife at Postpartum Care Center
Would Make Same Choice Even If Childbirth Occurred During Term

A current male member of the National Assembly who experienced ‘paternity leave.’ A father to a daughter just over one hundred days old. This is about Kim Jaeseop, a 37-year-old member of the People Power Party who was elected in the 22nd National Assembly election last April. Kim’s term began on May 30, and as a member-elect at the time of his spouse’s childbirth, he devoted about a week solely to childcare without any external activities. In effect, he took what could be called ‘spouse paternity leave.’

In an interview held on the 12th at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, Kim said, “After having a baby, my perspective on political issues shifted from the present to the future,” adding, “As a politician, it means everything has changed.” Leading the bipartisan parliamentary group ‘Sunpoong Forum’ to address low birth rates, Kim is preparing his first bill related to paternity leave and parental leave.

Kim Jae-seop, a member of the People Power Party, is giving an interview to Asia Economy at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

-Your wife gave birth last April. Did you take paternity leave?

△Since I was a member-elect, I was not in a position to submit a spouse paternity leave application anywhere. Nevertheless, I refrained from all external activities such as TV appearances for at least a week and focused entirely on caring for the baby. I stayed almost constantly with my wife at the postpartum care center. I learned how to feed formula and burp the baby. I also learned how to change diapers and swaddle. I even tried ‘kangaroo care.’ At that time, I thought it was a period to spend only with the baby, so I focused solely on that.

-If your wife had given birth during your term, do you think you would have taken paternity leave institutionally?

△I think I would have. Of course, if there were very important National Assembly schedules such as the audit or confirmation hearings, it might have been impossible, but if it was not a critical agenda, I think I would have taken paternity leave. I expect I would have taken at least three days.

-What institutional improvements did you feel were necessary while focusing on childcare after birth?

△I believe it is necessary to increase the income replacement rate during parental leave (as of November 2023, about 41.8% of the ordinary wage). In the long term, when taking parental leave, the income replacement rate should be higher than it is now so that both parents can be confident in having and raising children. Even in similar occupations, fathers generally earn slightly more than mothers, so when fathers take parental leave, it directly impacts household income. As a result, fathers have to continue working despite wanting to take parental leave. At the current income replacement rate, I think it is difficult for young people to readily decide to have children. If we observe that the willingness to give birth or birth rates significantly increase depending on the income replacement rate, then adjustments are necessary.

-Will this be discussed in the Sunpoong Forum?

△Of course. There are many research groups and forums related to low birth rates, but the characteristic of the Sunpoong Forum is that it is mainly composed of newlyweds who actually need to have children now, young unmarried members, and beginner parents like me who have just had children. The realistic problems we experience ultimately cause low birth rates. I think the biggest advantage of our research group is that we can politically agenda these issues.

-How are you conducting your legislative activities while raising a baby over one hundred days old?

△I get up at 5 a.m. to exercise, read the newspaper in the morning, appear on broadcasts, and then come to the Members’ Office Building. However, I always finish evening schedules early. I try to finish by 8 p.m. and not go past 9 p.m. After work, I try to spend 3 to 4 hours with the baby before bedtime, feeding and caring for him. I also have to bathe him myself.

-What do you think is the reason why the 20s to 40s generation is not having children?

△The biggest reason is that it has become an era with little hope. There should be hope that life will improve despite adverse conditions, hope that Korea will develop further, and hope that working hard in society leads to higher status, better jobs, and schools, but too many social problems confront the younger generation. For the first time, our generation is poorer than our parents, and the next generation worries they will be poorer than us, which leads to not having children. There are very practical issues like housing, but the most decisive point is that the hopes young people can have in Korea have largely disappeared.

Kim Jae-seop, a member of the People Power Party, is giving an interview to Asia Economy at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

-Some may criticize that focusing on childcare means neglecting legislative activities.

△I think it must be proven by results. Not only me, but all 300 members of the National Assembly empathize with solving the low birth rate problem. It is about how realistically and vividly we create policies and whether we have a sense of the problem, and I believe you only understand by raising children. Therefore, raising children plays the role of giving the most concrete and realistic awareness of the issues, so I do not think it is something to be criticized.

-You go home by 9 p.m. How do other members react to this?

△Nowadays, everyone understands. They say, “You have to take care of the baby.” Since being elected as a member of the National Assembly, I have completely quit drinking. I think it is because members raising children are rare. There is no one else raising a newborn while doing legislative work. I do not see it as receiving consideration but as a duty given to me. The situation I am in is the starting point of the most important issue in our country. I consider it a very significant duty. I see it as my calling, and my sense of responsibility and duty grows knowing that people raising children hold important decision-making positions.

-How do you plan to support your wife who will return to work?

△I think it is undesirable for her not to be able to do her work because of childcare burdens. I hope my wife’s life is not solely focused on the baby. While the baby is precious and must be well cared for, my wife also has her own life. I want to help as much as I can. Probably the biggest help I can provide is to establish institutional frameworks as a member of the legislature. I think creating policy support for women experiencing career interruptions can be my role.

-Based on your experiences and concerns while raising a child after birth, what kind of legislative activities do you plan to pursue?

△I plan to propose a bill after a comprehensive review of the concepts of paternity leave and parental leave. There is research showing a significant relationship between home ownership types and birth rates, so this is also under policy review. I plan to prepare concrete alternatives so that the ‘Newborn Special Stepping Stone Loan’ can provide effective benefits to young people in the metropolitan area.