Parental Leave Replaced with 'Childcare Period'... Negative Marriage and Birth Terms to be Changed

The plan to change terms such as parental leave to 'childcare immersion period' or 'childcare period', and career-interrupted women to 'career-transition women' is being rapidly promoted. This is part of an effort to reorganize negative terms surrounding marriage and childbirth. This year, the budget allocated to directly overcoming low birthrate is expected to be 28.6 trillion won, and approximately 9.5 trillion won will be allocated to housing-related low birthrate projects. A plan to systematically and professionally manage 'dementia money' at each stage of dementia occurrence is being prepared.

On the 29th, the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy, chaired by Vice Chairman Joo Hyung-hwan, held the '13th Emergency Population Countermeasure Meeting'.

In the meeting, the outline of this year's budget for overcoming low birthrate was revealed. According to the committee, the direct low birthrate budget, including childcare support, is set to increase by 13% compared to last year, reaching 28.6 trillion won, and the housing-related low birthrate budget is expected to increase by 8% to 9.5 trillion won.

Plans to reorganize negative terms related to marriage and childbirth were also discussed. This is a policy response to the issue that some legal terms such as parental leave and career-interrupted women limit the positive aspects of the system and foster prejudice. The plan also includes replacing terms like 'in-laws' with 'spouse's family', 'housewife' with 'spouse', and 'baby carriage' with 'infant carriage' or 'young child carriage'.

An online survey targeting the public will be conducted next month to gather opinions. The improvement plan will be finalized, and a legislative amendment will be prepared to be submitted to the regular National Assembly in September.

Vice Chairman Joo stated, "Most of the current low birthrate financial products focus on household support," and emphasized the need to further expand efforts to develop financial products for companies that can practically support family-friendly management.

The management plan for dementia money, which is estimated to reach 154 trillion won in 2023, 222 trillion won in 2030, and 488 trillion won in 2050, was also discussed. Dementia money refers to the situation where an individual's assets are frozen due to dementia. This has become a social issue in Japan, which entered a super-aged society earlier than Korea. Although assets exist, they cannot be used, potentially leading to bankruptcy of children due to caregiving.

The committee plans to review measures such as providing education and guidance at the government level for the elderly over 65 and improving the private trust system to offer professional life support asset management services for dementia patients' medical and caregiving needs.

mirror@fnnews.com Kim Kyuseong Reporter