By Jane Han
Staff Reporter

It was a woman's excellent cooking skills and love for children that men once fell for, but now, they're willing to trade all that if she brings home a fat paycheck. Stay-at-home moms are emerging as one of many casualties of the tough economy.

A survey of 518 working men by online recruiter Job Korea showed Thursday that more than 90 percent of men in their 20s and 30s preferred a working spouse, with most of them citing household finances as their No. 1 reason.

About 30 percent said keeping a career would help women develop their inner self.

The majority of respondents who favored a two-earner household hoped for anywhere around 5 to 6 million won of monthly income, while 20 percent aimed higher at around 6 to 7 million won a month.

More than 70 percent said they would not mind if their wives earned more than them, which goes against the traditional built-in sentiment among Koreans that men should be the bigger breadwinner.

A 2007 National Statistical Office (NSO) report shows that 48 percent of married women are taking part in economic activities, and another poll last year indicated that six in 10 families have both spouses in the workforce.

The figure is expected to continuously rise, as general living expenses and education costs are pressing moms and dads to make more money.

``A working husband and wife is the most logical response to improve their finances, but childcare is still a big obstacle for most parents,'' said an official of Job Korea.

The NSO data also shows that working women don't seem to be exempt from work around the house, as an average woman spends about 3 hours and 30 minutes a day doing housework, much higher than men's 30 minutes.

jhan@koreatimes.co.kr