The Political and Social The Political and Social Economy of Care Economy of Care

in South Koreain South Korea

Ito PengIto PengDepartment of Sociology, andDepartment of Sociology, and

School of Public Policy and GovernanceSchool of Public Policy and GovernanceUniversity of TorontoUniversity of Toronto

Presented at WIDE ConferencePresented at WIDE ConferenceBasel, SwitzerlandBasel, Switzerland

June 18, 2009June 18, 2009

Why Korea?Why Korea? Korea – a perfect example of North-Korea – a perfect example of North-

South socio-economic context.South socio-economic context.• NorthNorth

Erosion of male breadwinner model Erosion of male breadwinner model householdhousehold

Care crisis Care crisis

• SouthSouth Large informal sectorLarge informal sector Pervasive labour market discrimination Pervasive labour market discrimination

against womenagainst women Under-developed welfare stateUnder-developed welfare state

Korean care regimeKorean care regime

FamilialisticFamilialistic

Strong male breadwinner modelStrong male breadwinner model

But, social policy changes suggest But, social policy changes suggest possible shift to modified familialism possible shift to modified familialism and modified male breadwinnerand modified male breadwinner

Recent Policy ReformsRecent Policy Reforms TimeTime

• 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 leave @ 500,000 Won/mo9 mo parental leave @ 500,000 Won/mo• Flexible hour/part-time workFlexible hour/part-time work

ServiceService• Child care expansionChild care expansion

MoneyMoney• Child care support Child care support

Childcare ExpansionChildcare Expansion

Childcare ExpansionChildcare Expansion Total number of children enrolled in Total number of children enrolled in childcare centreschildcare centres: :

48,000 (1990) – 1,099,033 (2007)48,000 (1990) – 1,099,033 (2007) Total number of childcare centresTotal number of childcare centres::

1,919 (1990) - 29,823 (2007)1,919 (1990) - 29,823 (2007) Percentage of children in childcare or pre-Percentage of children in childcare or pre-schools (2004):schools (2004):

59.5% (3 year old)59.5% (3 year old)

66.4% (4 year old)66.4% (4 year old)

88.7% (5 year old)88.7% (5 year old)

Childcare ExpansionChildcare Expansion

Natl gov. budgets for ECENatl gov. budgets for ECE::356 billion Won (2002) - 886 billion 356 billion Won (2002) - 886 billion Won (2006) Won (2006)

for Childcarefor Childcare: : 435 billion (2002) - 2,038 billion 435 billion (2002) - 2,038 billion (2006)(2006)

Why and How of the reformWhy and How of the reform Demographic, economic, and political Demographic, economic, and political

imperativesimperatives• Low fertility Low fertility – rapid population ageing – – rapid population ageing –

labour shortagelabour shortage• Economic crisis Economic crisis – labour market – labour market

restructuring – economic stimulation restructuring – economic stimulation and job creationand job creation

• Gender equality demandsGender equality demands Social investment in care as a useful Social investment in care as a useful

policy framework to address different policy framework to address different policy agenda policy agenda

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

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1955 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2015 2050

Social Investment in ChildcareSocial Investment in Childcare

Social investment strategySocial investment strategy• Focus on social welfare and care sectorFocus on social welfare and care sector

Demands, opportunitiesDemands, opportunities International trend and supportInternational trend and support

• Virtuous circle between social and Virtuous circle between social and economic developmentseconomic developments

• Social care as a new growth engineSocial care as a new growth engine