Ministry of Gender Equality and Family-Sweden Collaborate on Gender Equality Policies... Award Ceremony for Dad Childcare Photo Contest Held

Extension of 2-Year Validity for Memorandum of Understanding on Exchange Cooperation
Following Last Year, Dad Childcare Photo Contest Held Again This Year
One Grand Prize, Two Runner-up Prizes, and Ten Consolation Prizes Selected

Selected as the Grand Prize Winner in the Dad Parenting Photo Contest: 'Even Fathers Used to Style Their Hair Once'

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Swedish Ministry of Employment jointly held an award ceremony for the Dad Childcare Photo Contest and agreed to continue cooperation on gender equality policies.

On the 2nd, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family extended the validity period of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on gender equality policy exchange and cooperation with the Swedish Ministry of Employment for two more years at the Government Seoul Office. The two countries signed the MOU in 2019 during Swedish Prime Minister Stefan L?fven's visit to Korea.

On the Korean side, Vice Minister Kim Kyung-sun, and on the Swedish side, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Rydberg, who is visiting Korea, will sign the MOU on behalf of the Ministry of Employment.

The two countries have been promoting mutual cooperation such as discovering joint projects in the field of gender equality and strengthening international community collaboration. A representative example is the 'Dad Childcare Life Photo Contest' jointly held for the first time last year.

This year, a total of 1,079 photos (from 727 participants) were submitted to the Dad Childcare Life Photo Contest, and through expert judging, one grand prize, two runner-up prizes, and ten consolation prizes were selected.

The grand prize (best work), titled "Even Fathers Used to Fix Hair Sometimes," was praised for well illustrating the shared caregiving culture where fathers are no longer just assistants in childcare but active participants, shown through a father taking care of his three children and tying his daughter's hair.

Daniel Bolven, the Swedish Ambassador to Korea, said, "Through photos of Korean fathers actively involved in childcare, I hope empathy for the importance of gender-equal parenting roles will increase," adding, "Looking at the entries reminded me of the special time I spent with my children during two parental leaves."

Vice Minister Kim Kyung-sun of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said, "I expect that the extension of this MOU period and the award ceremony for the Dad Childcare Life Photo Contest will further strengthen exchanges and cooperation between Korea and Sweden in the field of gender equality and serve as an opportunity for the development of our gender equality policies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.