In the last session of the Disciplinary Linkage Project Seminar, which was themed on Welfare Services and Women’s Social Rights, we welcomed Dr. Kim Jimi to give a report on her comparative research on welfare policies of Korea and Japan.

Traditionally, the family (women, in particular) has been tasked with the role of providing care services in Korea. With the recent changes surrounding the family, however, there has been rapid progress in the review of welfare policies since 2000. In her report, Dr. Kim validated the effects of the rapid improvements in childcare services and services for the elderly on women’s social rights, particularly on their rights to work and to give care.

In response to Dr. Kim’s report, many questions have been raised regarding the causes of the changes in family values in Korea and the other aspects pertaining to the right to give care, leading to enriching discussions that continued even after the closing time.(15.Feb. 2012）