The usage rate of parental leave among 'fathers' working at regional banks was found to be in the 0% range. While it is not that the parental support system is lagging behind at regional banks, analyses suggest that the unique organizational culture within these banks has led to a decline in the usage rate of male parental leave. Employees at regional banks lamented that 'the work-life balance for male employees is still a distant reality.'
According to the Financial Supervisory Service's electronic disclosure system on the 3rd, the average usage rate of male parental leave among 11 banks that disclosed the status of male parental leave and maternity leave was recorded at 5.4%. Compared to commercial banks, the usage rate of parental leave at regional banks was notably lower. At Busan Bank, the number of male employees who took parental leave last year was 8, resulting in a usage rate of just 1.2%. At Gyeongnam Bank and iM Bank (formerly Daegu Bank), which transitioned to a commercial bank last year, the number of male parental leave users was 5 and 1, respectively, staying in the 0% range. Jeju Bank had no male parental leave users last year, and Jeonbuk Bank only disclosed the status of female parental leave.
The usage rate of parental leave is calculated by taking the total number of all employees with children born last year as the denominator and the number of employees who used parental leave within one year of the child's birth as the numerator. Regardless of the spouse's workplace and affiliation, any employee with a child born last year is included in the denominator for the parental leave usage rate calculation.
The usage rate of male parental leave at commercial banks headquartered in Seoul was relatively higher compared to that of regional banks. The male parental leave usage rate at KB Kookmin Bank was 7.0%, Shinhan Bank 7.5%, and Hana Bank 7.3%. In the case of Woori Bank, 82 male employees took parental leave last year, recording the highest usage rate among the four major commercial banks at 13.6%. The usage rate for IBK Corporations Bank, a government policy bank, stood at 3.2%, marking the lowest rank among nationwide operating banks.
Employees at regional banks believe that the cultural differences between Seoul and non-capital regions have led to the gap in the usage rate of male parental leave. A regional bank employee with experience in both Seoul and local areas said, 'It is not that the parental leave system for males is backward just because it is a regional bank.' However, they noted that 'in corporations affiliated with regions—not just banks—there is hesitation among managers and staff about whether it is acceptable for men to take parental leave,' suggesting that the perception that men can naturally take parental leave has not yet been fully established.
It is also difficult to give a favorable assessment to commercial banks. Among the top 10 companies by market capitalization in the securities market, the average male parental leave usage rate of 9 non-financial corporations, excluding KB Financial Group, is 8.8%. Aside from Woori Bank and Kbank, no banks recorded a higher male parental leave usage rate than 8.8%. The highest male parental leave usage rate among the top 10 companies in terms of market capitalization was at LG Energy Solution, which recorded 22.7%. According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, men accounted for 31.6% of all parental leave users last year.
Experts emphasized that organizations need to establish measures to ensure that the use of parental support systems does not lead to increased burdens on fellow employees. Kang Min-jeong, a researcher at the Korea Women's Policy Institute, said, 'Corporations like banks must have methods prepared in advance to fill the productivity gaps caused by parental leave,' and advised that 'as the awareness among workers that 'my work increases because of parental leave users' improves, a culture that accepts male parental leave usage as a norm will take root.'