Abstract
The purpose of this study is to compared the length of working hours and its effects on family life for Korean and Japanese full-time working couples. For this study, the survey used structured questionnaires and time diaries(one weekday and holiday), and the data were collected in the fall of 1995. A subsample of full-time working couples, 82 couples from Seoul and 79 couples from Tokyo, was used for the purpose of this study. The major findings are as follows; 1) On average, the weekday working hours of Korean husbands were longer than Japanese husbands(11 hours 31 minute, 10 hours 52 minutes a day, respectively). Wives in both countries worked almost identical lengths of time (9 hours 2 minutes in Korea and 8 hours 42 minutes in Japan). Working hours of husbands were longer than those of wives in both countries. Husbands' overtime. Almost (90%) of our Korea sample worked 6 days or 5 1/2 days per week, however the majority (69%) of our Japanese sample worked only 5 days per eek. 2) More Korean husbands and wives reported that their family life was constrained by wives working hours than their Japanese counterparts did. 3) All wives in both countries reported that the husbands long working hours has effects on quality family time. Korean wives perceived that their working hours had effects on time spent on child care, however Japanese wives perceived that their working hours affected their personal time and housework time. Korean husbands agreed with their wives working hours negatively affected their personal leisure time. Japanese husbands reported that their working hours negatively affected their sleeping time.
