October 18, 2011, Women’s Action for Decent Lives and Jobs (WADLJ) hosted a press conference at the Hall of Discussion belonging to the National Assembly, in order to promote legal reforms regarding “infant-care paternity leave”. In Korea, the only way to encourage males to participate in childcare is to take paternity leave. However, last year, only 819 males used paternity leave since companies are not happy with it and paternity leave is poorly-paid.
Infant-care paternity leave aims at setting up another leave for males, aside from the present legal paid parental leave. Until babies are 1 year old, males can be allowed to take more than one month leave. The WADLJ suggested that the Employment Insurance should give up to 2 million Won for the leave. The legal reform shows too differences from the present one: the amount is much higher than the present maximum 1 million Won, and the system can be over-wrapped with women's maternity leave and parental leave.
Jung Moon Ja, the chairperson of KWWA urged the National Assembly to pass the legal reformation when the regular National Assembly opens, saying "Presently, the ruling and opposition parties all agree the necessities for infant-care paternity leave system. The act is pending in the Legal Examination Subcommittee.
Kim Mi-kyung who came back to work after taking parental leave twice, said “While I took paternity leave twice, my husband didn't dare to take any childcare related leave at all.” “Koreans usually think caring child is women's work. In addition, my husband work very late. Hence, I have to take care of my children by myself. This is very stressful. This stress also affects my children badly,” emphasizing the need for the infant-care paternity leave system.
Suh Byung-chan who is presently taking paternity leave, said "Although I have took paternity leave more than one month, but my baby still call me "mommy" not daddy," complaining about the existing gap between his baby and him.
The WADLJ claimed "the participation of males in childcaring is regarded as the key of changing the present 'glass ceiling effect' culture relatively disadvantaging women and Korea's long work-hour cultures." During the press conference the WADLJ urged the National Assembly to pass the 'infant-care paternity leave system' promptly, in order to protect the paternity right for men and balance the existing women's partial childcare responsibility.