Based on a comparative study between European and East Asian countries, this study aims to make policy suggestions for the parental leave policy and female employment policy in Korea. First of all, more efforts from the Korean government are required to extend the coverage of eligibility, to raise the leave benefits, and to strengthen supervision over discrimination against women in the workplace. In addition, the government needs to link the parental leave policy with other employment policies to reduce working hours and promote the use of general vacation. Lastly, the government should expand the public childcare service and encourage fathers’ engagement in childrearing. This will help female leave-takers return to the workplace and keep maintaining the work-life balance, which will lead to an ultimate success of the parental leave policy.