The total fertility rate (TFR) of South Korea’s female military personnel, representing the average number of children expected to be born to a woman during her childbearing years, is at risk of falling below 1.0. In response, there are increasing calls for the military authorities to strengthen childcare support from a long-term perspective to address the demographic crisis.
According to South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense, as of Monday, the TFR of female soldiers in 2023 was recorded at 1.02, a decline from 1.22 in 2022.
The TFR of female soldiers has decreased steadily over the years: 1.61 in 2014, 1.55 in 2015, 1.53 in 2016, 1.55 in 2017, 1.57 in 2018, 1.26 in 2019, 1.15 in 2020, and 1.14 in 2021.
This figure, however, is higher than the national average TFR of 0.72 in 2023. The Ministry of National Defense attributes this to stable salaries, housing benefits, and related support policies provided by the military.
However, experts note that the small population size makes it difficult to compare this figure with the national TFR directly. While the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy predicted a national TFR of 0.75 for 2024, there are concerns that even a slight decrease in the TFR of female soldiers could drop below 1.0.
The Ministry of National Defense has implemented various supportive policies to help female soldiers balance work and family life. These include guaranteeing maternity protection time, childcare leave, exemptions from night duties, and flexible working arrangements.
The number of female soldiers taking maternity leave rose significantly from 451 in 2013 to 719 in 2018 and has remained relatively stable, with 632 in 2021, 661 in 2022, and 667 in 2023. The number of male soldiers taking paternity leave was recorded at 5,623 in 2021, 5,716 in 2022, and 5,362 in 2023.
The Ministry stated that while military parental leave systems have become well-established, the number of users is declining due to the broader impact of low birth rates in society.
Parental leave is also now widely utilized within the military. In 2014, 1,140 female soldiers applied for parental leave, which increased to 1,560 in 2022 before declining to 1,202 in 2023. The number of male soldiers on parental leave increased from 170 in 2014 to 1,649 in 2020, surpassing the number of female users, and reached 3,142 in 2023.
In June 2024, the Ministry of National Defense published the Military Family Happiness Guide, a booklet that accessiblely explains support policies for work-life balance. The guide includes information on pregnancy support programs, such as financial support for obstetric care, childbirth incentives, congratulatory allowances from the Military Mutual Aid Association, and childcare support policies, such as exemptions from duty assignments.
A military official stated, “We will continue to expand and enhance support systems for pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare to create an environment where female soldiers and all military personnel can harmonize their work and family lives.”
However, criticism persists that the military’s support policies for childbirth and childcare still need improvement. Many policies implemented thus far were first applied to civilian government employees before being extended to military personnel. Additionally, it has been pointed out that policies tailored to the unique circumstances of military service are insufficient.
The Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA) stated, “To ensure the fulfillment of military missions and foster an organizational culture, institutional discussions on supporting childbirth and child-rearing conditions for military families are necessary.” The institute also emphasized the importance of providing long-term and trustworthy childcare support.
KIDA highlighted the U.S. military as a benchmark example. The military provides childcare facilities for children from six weeks to four years old and offers in-home childcare services for families with difficulty using these facilities.
Additionally, the U.S. military operates 24/7 childcare centers that provide round-the-clock care for personnel working irregular hours and extend childcare support to children from kindergarten through seventh grade.
KIDA recommended that South Korea’s military significantly expand its childcare facilities and introduce in-home childcare services or subsidies for families unable to use these facilities. It also suggested considering the long-term implementation of 24/7 childcare centers.
