In celebration of the launch of 'Daddy and I,' we are exploring the advantages of fathers' involvement in parenting, known as the "Dad Effect." Following our previous issue, we present the second story of Mr. Kim Gun, who is actively implementing the "Dad Effect" in his daily life. Mr. Kim, who lives in Sweden as a "Latte Papa," has published a book titled "Swedish Latte Papa." Let's hear firsthand about the "Dad Effect" in Sweden, a country renowned for its high levels of paternal involvement in childcare.

Interview and summary by the Mom & I editorial team

Kim Gun / Author of "Swedish Latte Papa"
Born in Seoul in 1981, he grew up in an ordinary family. He experienced a cultural shock during his exchange student days in Norway, which led him to return to Norway and complete a master's degree in health economics at the University of Oslo. He later moved to Sweden, where he met his wife, had two children, and settled in Stockholm. He currently works as a health economics researcher at AstraZeneca and is pursuing a Ph.D. at Karolinska Institute in Sweden, all while also managing the upbringing of his two children. His published works include "Swedish Latte Papa" and "I Live in a Welfare State."

As someone living in Sweden, the birthplace of the "Latte Papa," have you personally experienced the "Dad Effect"?

As someone who works in research, I am quite cautious when discussing correlations or causations. Although Sweden has had a paternal leave system for over 40 years, in the early days, fathers' involvement in childcare was extremely limited, similar to other countries. Therefore, it may be premature to discuss the relationship between paternal involvement and national identity. One study I found indicates that there is a significant number of boys in Sweden who experienced paternal involvement in childcare and have now become fathers themselves, referred to as the "second generation of paternal leave." According to the research, these individuals view fathers' participation in childcare as a more natural occurrence and exhibit attitudes that are not bound by traditional gender roles. For instance, when showing toys to children, they allow the kids to choose regardless of gender.

Moreover, the impact of fathers' involvement in childcare on gender equality seems evident. This was also the intention behind introducing paternal leave. At that time in Sweden, one of the biggest issues was that fathers felt pressured by their companies. The prevailing belief was that childcare was solely the mother's responsibility, and women were expected to resign and stay home after giving birth. However, with the active implementation of paternal leave, the burden of childcare was more appropriately shared between mothers and fathers. From a company perspective, the duration of maternity leave for female employees significantly decreased. This led to a culture where both men and women could return to work after taking parental leave, ensuring equal rights for women to engage in social and economic activities and spreading a culture of gender equality throughout society. Today, it has become almost meaningless to question the proportion of women in corporate or government positions in Sweden.

While living in Sweden, have you compared your experience as a Latte Papa raising children to your own childhood? What was your father's parenting style like, and do you have any regrets?

My father was an ordinary breadwinner in Korea. During weekdays and weekends, he spent a lot of time socializing outside the family. I grew up in a household with three children born within a year of each other, and I often heard my mother express how difficult it was to raise us alone. However, this was a common situation at the time, so I don't particularly feel disappointed in my father.

What I do find somewhat regrettable is the lack of role models for fathers involved in parenting. It is said that when children grow up and become parents, daughters take their mothers as role models, and sons take their fathers, with those experiences forming the foundation of their parenting. If there are not many aspects to reference from one's own father as a role model, it can be more challenging when faced with difficult situations in parenting. However, conversely, I believe this allows for the freedom to create one's own parenting environment without being limited to role models.

Based on your experiences, can you share the positive effects of fathers' involvement in childcare?

The people around me become happier. For mothers who are solely responsible for childcare, fathers' participation is welcomed and greatly helps improve the couple's relationship. In the first year of parenting, my wife and I faced conflicts, but we were able to overcome that difficult period through the wisdom of empathy gained during my paternal leave. Additionally, I can build a strong relationship with my children. It is said that difficulties in parenting during adolescence are a natural progression, but I believe that the current relationship will be a great help later on. Not relying on elderly grandparents for childcare is also an advantage.

Do you believe that fathers must actively participate in childcare and parenting? Why?

The greatest benefit of fathers' involvement in childcare is likely to be for the fathers themselves. As I could somewhat sense from my own father's experience, fathers often become external figures who bring home the income. They may work late during the week or be busy napping on weekends, resulting in statistics showing that fathers spend an average of less than 10 minutes a week with their children. This is even more pronounced for "goose fathers" who send their families abroad for early education. While many fathers claim they are working hard for their families, they often find themselves distant from their children. I want to ask fathers who are postponing time with their kids for work what they truly want to gain in life. While not every father in Korea can leave an apartment to each child, I believe they can be a strong support for their children until they grow up. The starting point for this is paternal involvement in childcare.

Is there a message you would like to share with the readers of Daddy and I regarding "Latte Papa"?

These days, in Korea, paternal leave is actively encouraged, but it seems to still be in its early stages. There are concerns about workplace perceptions, reduced income, and career interruptions. However, it is worth considering that avoiding paternal leave because it is the easiest choice—passing childcare responsibilities to mothers while continuing to work—may not be the best approach. Even living in Sweden, I found myself constantly thinking of reasons not to take parental leave before I started. If fathers and mothers could freely choose between work and childcare under the same conditions, I believe most would choose work. While institutional improvements are necessary, so is a change in mindset. However, if mindsets improve, institutions will also get better, and vice versa. Fathers' involvement in childcare can be the starting point for this change. I hope all fathers actively participate in childcare, not just for someone else, but for themselves.