The Political and Social Economy of Care in South Korea Ito Peng Department of Sociology, and School of Public Policy and Governance University of Toronto Presented at WIDE Conference Basel, Switzerland June 18, 2009

Why Korea? Korea – a perfect example of North- South socio-economic context. Korea – a perfect example of North- South socio-economic context. NorthNorth Erosion of male breadwinner model household Erosion of male breadwinner model household Care crisis Care crisis SouthSouth Large informal sector Large informal sector Pervasive labour market discrimination against women Pervasive labour market discrimination against women Under-developed welfare state Under-developed welfare state

Korean care regime Familialistic Familialistic Strong male breadwinner model Strong male breadwinner model But, social policy changes suggest possible shift to modified familialism and modified male breadwinner But, social policy changes suggest possible shift to modified familialism and modified male breadwinner

Recent Policy Reforms Time Time 90 day full paid maternity leave90 day full paid maternity leave 3 day full paid paternity leave3 day full paid paternity leave 9 mo parental 500,000 Won/mo9 mo parental 500,000 Won/mo Flexible hour/part-time workFlexible hour/part-time work Service Service Child care expansionChild care expansion Money Money Child care supportChild care support

Childcare Expansion

Total number of children enrolled in childcare centres : Total number of children enrolled in childcare centres : 48,000 (1990) – 1,099,033 (2007) Total number of childcare centres : Total number of childcare centres : 1,919 (1990) - 29,823 (2007) Percentage of children in childcare or pre- schools (2004): Percentage of children in childcare or pre- schools (2004): 59.5% (3 year old) 66.4% (4 year old) 88.7% (5 year old)

Childcare Expansion Natl gov. budgets for ECE : Natl gov. budgets for ECE : 356 billion Won (2002) billion Won (2006) for Childcare : for Childcare : 435 billion (2002) - 2,038 billion (2006)

Why and How of the reform Demographic, economic, and political imperatives Demographic, economic, and political imperatives Low fertility – rapid population ageing – labour shortageLow fertility – rapid population ageing – labour shortage Economic crisis – labour market restructuring – economic stimulation and job creationEconomic crisis – labour market restructuring – economic stimulation and job creation Gender equality demandsGender equality demands Social investment in care as a useful policy framework to address different policy agenda Social investment in care as a useful policy framework to address different policy agenda

Total fertility rates in South Korea between 1955 and 2050 (estimates)

Social Investment in Childcare Social investment strategy Social investment strategy Focus on social welfare and care sectorFocus on social welfare and care sector Demands, opportunities Demands, opportunities International trend and support International trend and support Virtuous circle between social and economic developmentsVirtuous circle between social and economic developments Social care as a new growth engineSocial care as a new growth engine