Abstract
To achieve in-depth understanding of the essence of the process of becoming a father, the Colazzi method for analysis of phenomenological and qualitative research was applied to examination of in-depth interviews of 7 fathers in their early twenties and thirties residing in Gwangju City. Interviews were held individually three times during $Oct{\sim}Dec$. 2004. Subjects were first time parents of babies less than 12 months of age. Results were that these first time parents' experience of fatherhood was understood in 37 themes, 13 theme clusters, and 5 categories: "beginning life treated as a father," "witnessing continuous substance of pain," "escape from family-centered life," "the baby seems to recognize me as a father," and "acquiring insight of a father."