More South Korean men share household work with wives

By Park Sae-jin Posted : February 12, 2016, 14:50 Updated : February 18, 2016, 16:31

[Photo by Park Sae-jin = swatchsjp@ajunews.com]



 Ironing is still seen as a fiddly job among South Korean men but their overall contribution to household chores has increased significantly, reflecting a gradual social change, according to a recent government survey.

The survey of 5,018 households, conducted by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, showed that the number of men who spent time on housework increased sharply in 2015 from five years ago, especially in preparing meals and dishing washes. Childcare was dropped in the survey because it was widely accepted as women's work.

The poll indicates men's perception about household chores has been changing steadily in South Korea thanks to a rise in the number of double-income families and greater awareness of gender equality.

In 2015, 38.5 percent of husbands prepared meals for wives, compared to 22.2 percent in 2010, while 45 percent said they washed dishes, up from 29 percent. The only exception was ironing in which just 8.4 percent of men was involved last year, compared to 12.9 percent in 2010.

Still South Korean men do less housework than those in India, China and many other countries. In the ministry's separate survey published in late 2015, South Korean men spent 45 minutes on housework a day, compared to 227 minutes by women. It was the shortest among the 29 OECD member countries in which men spent an average of 139 minutes on domestic work.

아주경제 임장원 기자 = cwlim34@ajunew.com
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