Starting this year, it has been mandated to disclose the parental leave usage rate in the business reports of publicly listed corporations, leading to the public availability of the status by each corporation. Generally, many entertainment corporations have complied with the disclosure obligation, but some corporations did not include the parental leave usage rate.
According to the Financial Supervisory Service's electronic disclosure system on the 12th, HYBE's parental leave usage rate was 35% (9 people) last year. Additionally, JYP recorded 75% (6 people), SM Entertainment 70% (10 people), Studio Dragon 67% (2 people), CJ E&M 62.5% (100 people), DearU 11% (2 people), YG Entertainment 44.5% (11 people), and SM C&C 80% (5 people).
These corporations were named among the top 10 in the entertainment corporate brand reputation survey conducted this month by the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute.
The government mandated the disclosure of parental leave usage rates in the business reports of publicly listed corporations starting this year. Previously, the parental leave usage rates for both genders had been disclosed by public institutions, and in November of last year, the corporate disclosure formats were revised to expand this to private corporations.
The parental leave usage rate is calculated as the proportion of workers with children born within one year from the date of birth who used parental leave within one year after childbirth. For instance, if out of 20 workers with children born in 2023, 8 used parental leave between 2023 and 2024, the usage rate would be 40% based on 2024.
Among the entertainment companies in the top 10, only Artist Studio did not disclose its parental leave usage rate last year. Artist Studio is known for producing dramas such as "Reborn Rich" and "Check-in Hanyang."
In the first quarter report this year, it was stated that "according to the corporate disclosure format guidelines, it will be omitted from the quarterly report and will be included in the semi-annual and annual business reports." Most entertainment corporations disclosed their parental leave usage rates in the first quarter report.
Kakao Entertainment is not subject to disclosure of business reports and thus is not obligated to disclose its parental leave usage rates.
Entertainment corporations generally followed the items mandated by the Financial Supervisory Service for disclosure, such as "employees returning after 12 months" and "number of employees using reduced work hours for child-rearing." Based on last year's figures, CJ E&M, with 2,990 employees, had the highest number of employees (79) who returned after parental leave for over 12 months. HYBE recorded the highest number of employees (12) who used spousal parental leave, but none used "reduced work hours for child-rearing."
An official from the entertainment industry noted, "With the revision of the corporate disclosure format, failure to adequately fill in related items may lead to corporate guidance or other actions, so it seems that entertainment corporations have complied well with the disclosures," adding, "As these are newly revised items, it is expected that the Financial Supervisory Service will also focus on them and conduct inspections."
He continued, "Generally, entertainment corporations have a high proportion of female employees, so there are no significant restrictions on the usage of parental leave," explaining, "Since there are many young employees, the number using parental leave is not as high compared to other industries."