Comparing Perceptions of Marriage, Childbirth, and Childcare in Sweden and South Korea

Abstract

In this article, we make a cross-country comparison of perceptions of marriage, childbirth, and childcare, as well as acceptance of relevant policies, based on a survey conducted in 2024 with 2,500 Swedish adults aged 20 to 45 and the same number of Korean respondents in the same age range. For most survey items—including those on marriage and fertility intentions, desired number of children, awareness of existing policies, and perceived accessibility of available programs—responses were more positive in Sweden than in Korea. Attitudes toward marriage and childbirth were found to be more negative in Korea, possibly reflecting concerns about an uncertain future, fear of career interruption, and doubt about the effectiveness of government policy measures. Differences between the two countries were especially pronounced in levels of trust in population policies and perceived access to childbirth support. Disparities were also notable in perceptions of accessibility to parental leave, government budget allocations for population policies, gender roles, and the difficulty of balancing work, housework, and childcare. These findings suggest that raising Korea’s birthrate will require not only broader public awareness and acceptance of relevant policies, but also the development of effective policies and conditions conducive to work-family balance.