(C) Monash Lens

SEOUL — A recent survey reveals a significant gap between public perception and the reality experienced by pregnant women in South Korea. According to the Planned Population Federation of Korea (PPFK), approximately half of pregnant women reported never receiving special consideration or support related to their pregnancy.

The PPFK released the results of its "Pregnancy Consideration Awareness and Practice Survey" on Tuesday, which involved 1,000 pregnant women and 1,000 non-pregnant individuals conducted between October and November.

The Perception Gap and Daily Challenges

The findings highlight a stark contrast in perspectives: while 82.6% of non-pregnant respondents claimed to have provided support to pregnant women, only 56.1% of pregnant women felt they had actually received such consideration. Furthermore, the average "consideration score" perceived by pregnant women dropped by 2.0 points from the previous year to 64.9, while the score among the general public rose to 69.1.

In daily life, the most prevalent negative experience cited by pregnant women was second-hand smoke on the streets (82.2%), a figure that saw a dramatic 20.5 percentage point increase compared to last year. In terms of public transportation, "giving up seats" remained the most needed form of assistance (48.4%) and the most frequent type of support received (31.3%).

Workplace Struggles and Domestic Life

The workplace remains a challenging environment for many. The survey found that 41.0% of pregnant employees cited "pressure and cold stares from supervisors and colleagues" as their primary negative experience. This was followed by "disadvantages in promotions and career advancement" at 22.9%.

Regarding maternity protection policies, while 75.2% of pregnant workers utilized available systems—most commonly shortened work hours (80.3%) and time off for prenatal checkups (62.0%)—a significant portion (45.8%) of those who did not use these benefits attributed it to their employment status, such as being non-regular workers or freelancers.

In the domestic sphere, the lack of family understanding regarding physical and emotional changes was the most cited grievance (30.4%). Conversely, "sharing household chores" was identified as both the most received (41.3%) and the most desired (46.0%) form of support from family members.

A Call for Cultural Change

Lee Sam-sik, President of the PPFK, emphasized that the survey underscores a disconnect between social awareness and the actual lived experiences of pregnant women. "Issues such as priority seating on public transport and street smoking cannot be solved through legislation alone," Lee stated. "It is crucial to foster a shift in civic awareness and encourage proactive efforts in daily life."