South Korea is undergoing a profound shift in family life. In the past, it was more common for men to go to work while women stayed home taking care of the children. Now, dual-income households form the majority among families with children.

According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family’s Statistics on the Lives of Men and Women 2025, released Tuesday to mark the 30th Gender Equality Week, 58.5 percent of married households with children under 18 had both parents working in 2024. This represents an 11.3 percentage point increase from 2015.

Among households with children aged 6 or younger, the proportion of dual-income families rose even more dramatically, climbing 15.1 points to 53.2 percent. Marking the highest level since records began, this reflects not only the financial pressures of child-rearing but also a generational shift in gender roles and workplace participation.