A professor in the sociology department of a Catholic University shares her thoughts on the kind of life she envisions in our world.
Although he has now left the political arena, the primary slogan of a former politician still resonates with people. It was 'life with dinner.' "An economy that takes on a human form in a life with evenings." (This expression suggests a vision for an economy that values work-life balance and human dignity). This slogan captured people's hearts with an image that seemed to counteract the rapid growth of our society and the fatigue it caused.
Imagine a life spent having dinner with family, strolling leisurely along riverbanks or in the local park, playing badminton with children, or cycling around the neighborhood. An acquaintance of the professor mentioned that hearing 'Life with Evening' brought peace to his heart and moved him to tears. It is said that suddenly, everyone in our country thought that perhaps they could be happy. To that extent, 'life with dinner' was something we all desired and hoped for. This 'life with dinner' necessitates substantial and challenging changes that must transform the country’s socioeconomic system.
In advanced Western welfare states, the policy agenda related to 'life with dinner' is termed 'work-family balance.' Commonly abbreviated as 'work-life balance,' it refers to restructuring family life and the labor market from a work-centric model to one that supports both work and family life. By doing so, we aim to achieve a balance between work and leisure.
It is no exaggeration to say that work and family are central aspects of our lives. Therefore, what is most essential for a 'life with evenings' is the ability to adjust working hours and support family life in the evenings. Europe's advanced welfare states have attained a significant degree of balance between work and family life. They lead lives where 'work-family balance' is feasible through various laws that alter the labor market structure and welfare policies related to family life. These include measures like reducing working hours when necessary, shortening the workweek, prohibiting discrimination against part-time work, and allowing parental leave for various family-related situations through parental insurance or childcare support. Such legal and institutional measures have been established and embraced by society at large.
Korea has introduced various systems by benchmarking the experiences of advanced welfare states. There have been many achievements, including free childcare, flexible working hours, and the provision for both parents to take parental leave. However, the most significant changes needed in the labor market are minimal, and 'work-family balance' is, in reality, very challenging except for a very small number of occupations. In particular, the corporate culture that favors long working hours and is reluctant to invest in new systems is persistent and chronic, making it difficult to implement changes, even with institutional reforms regarding working hours.
To achieve 'work-family balance' and 'life with dinner' under these adverse labor market conditions and practices, active intervention and support from the government are necessary. The ability to improve these conditions relies on the country's policy efforts. The dream persists, but the reality seems distant. These are harsh times, and we yearn for the days when we could dream of a 'life with evening.'
