The evolving Korean childcare regime

Abstract

PurposeThe objective of this paper is to understand changes and progress of the Korean childcare regime by examining the evolutional process of childcare initiatives that were developed since the Japanese colonial rule.Design/methodology/approachThis study employed a qualitative-based research design with a particular emphasis on explanatory research. Meanwhile, the data were gathered through the peer-reviewed literature and reports.FindingsThe findings indicate that Korea has had three types of childcare regimes: effective-informal, productivist and inclusive-liberal orientation. It also pinpoints that while the care regime development followed the European regime, the egalitarian society, which is a social prerequisite for modern welfare state-building, has not yet been fully established. This paradoxical situation eventually impedes the development of universal childcare aimed at promoting gender equality and a work-life balance.Originality/valueThis article offers a model and characteristics of the Korean childcare regime dating back to the Japanese colonial period up until the Moon Jae-In administration, where it still receives less attention in most of the social policy literature (see Table 1).

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“…In addition, President Kim Dae-Jung through the Ministry of Government Affairs and Home Affairs expressed a strong will to implement contracting out social services programs to NGOs and private organizations, in order to expand the welfare benefits to cover the entire population during the crisis (Yuda, 2020b). Responsibility for this scheme was mandated to a number of government institutions as supervision.…”

“…The collaborative welfare governance took a solid form once the progressive leadership of Moon Jae-In came to power in 2017, replacing the two periods of the conservative regime of Lee Myung Bak and Park Khun Hee. Under Moon’s administration, the labor unions got a favorable bargaining position in policymaking (Yuda, 2020b). This could be seen in the emergence of pro-worker policy initiatives aimed at promoting full employment, job expansion, and improving welfare benefits to be more generous following the Scandinavian model (Yuda, 2020a).…”

“…[while] the eligibility of this program was extended to all the poor, including able-bodied adults, although able-bodied adults must comply with work requirements in order to receive full cash benefits. (Ku, 2007: 25) In addition, President Kim Dae-Jung through the Ministry of Government Affairs and Home Affairs expressed a strong will to implement contracting out social services programs to NGOs and private organizations, in order to expand the welfare benefits to cover the entire population during the crisis (Yuda, 2020b). Responsibility for this scheme was mandated to a number of government institutions as supervision.…”