Abstract
We provide a comprehensive review of family policy in South Korea (Korea hereafter) for international readers. Alarmed by
recent social and demographic changes, the Korean government has started to establish explicit family policies from the mid
2000s. These policies have signified a symbolic attention shift to family matters in the history of social policy in Korea.
In this paper, we focus on three areas of family policy: (a) work-family policies, (b) a healthy family policy, and (c) a
policy for multi-cultural families. Work-family policies aim to help working families with young children balance work responsibilities
and family caregiving through multiple leave options and child care support. The Framework Act on Healthy Families, the first
explicit family policy in Korea, requires local governments to provide family services through Healthy Family Support Centers.
The Multi-Cultural Family Support Act also established a formal support system for multi-cultural families with immigrant
spouses, a population group that has recently increased in Korea. We further discuss the domestic and comparative contexts
of Korean family policy and provide suggestions for the remaining challenges.
recent social and demographic changes, the Korean government has started to establish explicit family policies from the mid
2000s. These policies have signified a symbolic attention shift to family matters in the history of social policy in Korea.
In this paper, we focus on three areas of family policy: (a) work-family policies, (b) a healthy family policy, and (c) a
policy for multi-cultural families. Work-family policies aim to help working families with young children balance work responsibilities
and family caregiving through multiple leave options and child care support. The Framework Act on Healthy Families, the first
explicit family policy in Korea, requires local governments to provide family services through Healthy Family Support Centers.
The Multi-Cultural Family Support Act also established a formal support system for multi-cultural families with immigrant
spouses, a population group that has recently increased in Korea. We further discuss the domestic and comparative contexts
of Korean family policy and provide suggestions for the remaining challenges.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s10826-011-9480-1
- Authors
- Meejung Chin, Department of Child Development and Family Studies, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- Jaerim Lee, Department of Family and Housing Studies, Yeungnam University, Kyeongbuk, 712-749 South Korea
- Soyoung Lee, Department of Family and Child Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA
- Seohee Son, Department of Family and Resource Management, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, South Korea
- Miai Sung, Department of Home Economics, Korea National Open University, Seoul, South Korea
- Journal Journal of Child and Family Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-2843
- Print ISSN 1062-1024