Curse of 'M': Work-Life Balance and Essential Development of Policies in Social and Cultural Aspects

Abstract

Along with the mood of 'Beyond GDP', it is necessary to explore how these subjective concepts such as happiness and well-being are quantified to be compared among many countries. The concept of 'Work-life balance (WLB)' is likely to be located on the boundary between the subjective and objective areas. Thus, this article aims to examine the policies related to WLB and how to change or develop those policies considering the concept of WLB and the circumstantial particularity of Korea. There are several suggestions on certain developments in the existing policies interfering WLB at three levels. First the government needs to conduct campaigns to transform traditional gender roles through active advertisement. Second, the company needs to use the long-lasting 'hierarchical organisation culture' for employee's work-life balance for regulating working hours and exhausting paid holidays and maternity or paternity leave. Finally, families should understand and support their wives' current circumstances facing the struggle between a mother and economic worker.