There has recently been a rise in the number of single-parent male-headed families with the increase in divorces, industrial accidents and traffic accidents, etc. in Korean society. In the near future, the number of single-parent male-headed families will continuously increase along with the improvement of women´s status and the increasing divorce rate. This trend will result in a social problem that will affect both single-parent male-headed families and social institutions themselves. The main objectives of this study are first to identify the current state of single-parent male-headed families and then to suggest policy measures.
The main results of this study are as follows; first, the mean age of fathers in single-parent male-headed families is 45.4. More than 67% of these fathers have less than a middle school education, which is lower than the average educational level of men in Korea. Second, the main causes of single-parent male-headed families are divorce, 35.5%, death of spouse, 31.2%, runaway or abandonment, 23.1%, and separation, 9.7%. Third, the average monthly living cost of single-parent male-headed families is around 588 thousand won at 1994 constant prices, which is lower than the minimum cost of living. The monthly income of single parent male-headed families is 709 thousand won, which was 409,6´ less than that of farmers and urban workers in 1995. Fourth, the largest burdens of expense that single-parent male-headed families spend on living are for foodstuffs (24.7%), education of children (24.2%), and housing (22.6%). Fifth, among single-parent male-headed families in this study, 53.1% of fathers took sole charge of raising the children after marriage dissolution. Sixth, among single-parent male-headed families in this study, 36.9% of fathers responded that they themselves manage household chores after marriage dissolution, while 16.2% responded that their parents do. Seventh, 61.9% of fathers in single-parent male-headed families were positive towards remarriage and 44.8% hoped to remarry.
The following policy measures are recommended for the solving of problems related to single parent male-headed families derived in this data analysis. First, child allowance should be introduced to support the present public assistance program. In addition, the homemaker service program in the U.S.A. should be introduced to support household chores and care for children in single-parent male-headed families. Second, educational aid for single-parent male-headed families should be extended to all high school youngsters. In addition, a long-term loan will be offered to university students in single-parent male-headed families. Third, the government should emphasize educational services for the children of single-parent male-headed families. There should also be prioritization for pre-school children and youngsters of single-parent male-headed families to enter children´s homes and after school programs in welfare facilities, which will decrease the psychological burden on fathers at work. For normal socialization and to meet the child´s rights, the child welfare law should be revised for meeting of the child with the real mother. Fourth, information on remarriage should be computerized to support remarriage of father´s in single-parents male-headed families. Welfare facilities and family counseling offices should develop various programs to help remarried couples and family members understand each other´s standpoints and there should be inducement to join these programs.
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