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There has yet to be an appraisal of the economic value of household work. (Getty Images)
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Development of “family equality index” to promote culture of equitable division of domestic work
The South Korean government plans to develop statistical indicators to assess the economic value of unpaid household labor. In addition to a survey of the division of household work by gender, its plans also include development of a “family equality index” to promote a culture of equitable division of labor within the home. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF) announced the addition of the measures to its third “healthy family framework plan,” a finalized version of which was announced at a meeting of social issue-related Cabinet ministers on Aug. 31. The healthy family framework plan is a family policy road map developed every five years; formulated in 2015, the third plan extends through the year 2020. As a measure to achieve the newly introduced policy goal of “establishing a democratic family culture” in the third framework plan, the administration plans to consider broadening the time determining a child’s family name and clan affiliation from the current date of marriage registration to the time of birth registration. Allowing children to choose maintain their surnames Another plan involves amending the law to allow children to maintain their surname rather than adopting their father’s surname and clan affiliation in cases where the father belatedly learns of a child born to and raised by a mother without his knowledge. In cases of changing a child’s family name, the decision method is to be revised to reflect the child’s own wishes. Research is also being conducted on improvements to the asset system for married couples for a more equitable marital relationship. The development of statistical indicators to assess the value of unpaid household labor and “Satellite Account of Unpaid Household Labor” were previously included in the second national statistical development framework plan announced by Statistics Korea in Dec. 2017. The aim to contribute to more gender-equal family relationships through a societal appraisal of the value of housework. “The accounts are currently under development, with details to be announced as early as October or so,” a Statistics Korea official said. A campaign for the improvement of sexist kinship terms is also being implemented to contribute to more democratic and equitable family relationships. Findings from a 2016 National Institute of Korean Language survey showed 65 percent of respondents calling for changes to the practice of wives referring to their husbands’ younger brother and sister with the more respectful terms “doryeonnim” and “agassi,” respectively, while the wife’s younger brother and sister are respectively referred to by the less respectful names “cheonam” and “cheoje.” Measures to fight discrimination against single-parent households The administration further plans to strengthen customized support for different family types to avoid discrimination against single-parent households and other forms of family. Its planned measures include amending the current childbirth reports, which currently distinguish between children born within and outside of wedlock, and removing details about stepparents and a spouses’ children from resident registration documents. MOGEF said the additions to its healthy family framework plan were a reflection of greater diversity in family types (including single-parent, multicultural, and single-person households) and changing perceptions of marriage and family among South Koreans. “Values regarding family are in need of change, and we need to see to it that ‘everyday democracy’ becomes more deeply rooted in our consciousness and daily life, with equality among the members of families,” said Minister of Gender Equality and Family Chung Hyun-back. By Hwang Ye-rang, staff reporter Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
