Paternity leave [Getty Images Bank]
Paternity leave [Getty Images Bank]

The number of parental leave benefit recipients in the first half of this year surpassed 100,000 for the first time, setting an all-time high.

Male participation in parental leave is also approaching 40%, reflecting a broader shift toward a work-family balance culture. The government plans to strengthen parental support in the second half of the year through policy improvements, including the introduction of short-term parental leave and expanded spousal birth and miscarriage support.

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor's first-half 2026 work-family balance support program utilization report released Sunday, a combined 199,911 people used one of four programs — parental leave, reduced working hours for child-rearing, maternity leave and spousal birth leave — in the first half of this year. That is up 16.2%, or 27,945 people, from the same period last year, when 171,966 people used the programs.

Parental leave benefit recipients in particular reached 103,983, up 9.5%, or 8,990 people, from 94,993 in the first half of last year — the first time the figure has exceeded 100,000 in a first-half period. The ministry said it expects the annual total to also set a record if the current growth trend continues.

Male participation in parental leave has been consistently expanding. Men accounted for 40,320 parental leave benefit recipients in the first half of this year, or 38.8% of the total. The male share first crossed 30% in 2024, then rose to 36.5% in the first half of last year and 38.8% in the first half of this year.

The ministry attributed the rise in male uptake to reduced financial burdens from higher benefit payments and policy improvements, as well as a growing workplace culture of taking parental leave. "Fathers taking parental leave is no longer an exceptional case — it is becoming a new social norm," the ministry said.

The government will roll out a series of further expansions to work-family balance support programs in the second half of the year.

Starting Aug. 20, a new short-term parental leave system will take effect. When an unexpected child-care gap arises — such as a child's school or daycare closure, school vacation, hospitalization due to illness or accident, or a suspension of attendance due to an infectious disease — workers may take parental leave in one- or two-week increments, up to once per year. Benefits will be paid even for a single week of leave.

From Sept. 18, spousal support programs will also be strengthened. Of the maximum five days of spousal miscarriage or stillbirth leave, the first three days will be paid. Spousal birth leave will become available not only after delivery but also starting 50 days before the expected due date. Male workers will also be able to take parental leave before a child's birth to care for a spouse at risk of miscarriage or premature delivery.

From Nov. 27, the paid portion of infertility treatment leave will be extended from the current two days to four days.

"We will continue to expand support so that all working parents — including workers at small and medium-sized enterprises, those in special-type employment and freelancers — can balance work and child-rearing," Employment and Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon said.


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