KWDI Korean Women’s Development Institute

Korean Women's Development Institute(KWDI) has been conducting the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families(KLoWF) in order to trace changes in women's lives in Korea. Specifically, the survey was designed to cover women's economic activities, family relationships and structures, and everyday lives. The KLoWF aims to provide a comprehensive database both for academic researches and policy analyses related to gender issues. The first wave data was gathered in 2007, interviewing 9,068 households and 9,997 individuals. The second wave data gathering was commenced in the October of 2008, being successfully concluded in June, 2009. The third wave was commenced in 2010 and concluded in 2011 with the results of among 9,068 original households 7,209 households have been successfully interviewed with the retention rate amounting to 80.1%. Of the 9,997 original household members, 77.8%(7,780 members) have responded to the survey. The major research results of the KLoWF fourth wave(2013) are as following. First, the fourth wave’s main survey was conducted to 9,483 households(aged 19-64 female eligible households of 11,234 members). 6,737 households(9,068 original households) have responded to the survey with the retention rate of 75.2%. Second, the first, second, third and fourth wave results were published intended for domestic and international experts to use in their own research. The fourth wave’s main survey was the first year of expanding the women’s health category. KWDI and RCGHA(Research Centre for Gender, Health and Aging which is the main institute of ALSWH) of Newcastle University in Australia have signed a MOU in November 2012. Along with the MOU, KWDI hosted the third KLoWF international conference. Various researches concerned with family, job and women’s health that were conducted by domestic and foreign scholars was presented and discussed during the conference. Third, KWDI implemented a fundamental analysis based on the fourth wave survey result. Fundamental analysis was to analyze characteristics of fourth wave survey and implement comparison with third wave data. Fourth, in order to prepare for fifth wave survey, KWDI implemented mid-term field work. Mid-term field work was conducted to 8,834 households. After final contact of third and fourth wave survey, there were total of 9,477 households. However, there were exclusion of 588 households with wrong contact information (phone or their home address) and 55 households in status of death, missing or immigration in the total household. Fifth, there has been some establishments to promote International and domestic user's convenience with KLoWF research. The KLoWF's English website was established to provide our guidelines and questionnaires in English which made it possible for foreign researchers to access easily. Also KWDI released a publication of KLoWF Brief and held a Panel Forum to encourage the usage of KLoWF. The KLoWF figure out the increase of women's economic activity and its outcomes such as the harmonization of work-family and the work-family transitions status. By these findings, it is feasible to empirically investigate the world of women's lives and allows to forecast the present and the future of our society and family. As low fertility, aging, child-care, compatibility of work-family, family-friendly social environment are the major issues of our society, the results of KLoWF will be used as core basic resource to establish comprehensive women and family policy. It will also promote the harmonization of enjoying the right of being a parent as well as being a worker to the members of our society