Abstract

This chapter examines the development of work-life balance in South Korea. The proportion of dual-income household with children is becoming to be a majority, and at the same time the population is ageing and there is an increase in demands for elderly care. The Korean work-life balance policy was slow to start in responding to these changes, but the policy has rapidly developed as the Korean government set the work-life policy as the key agenda for recovering from the low fertility rate. By investigating the development process through childcare policy, leave policy and flexible working, how policy targets shifted from supporting to women’s employment to enhancing gender quality in work-life balance.