Public officials' childcare leave extended to 6th grade

South Korea is expanding parental leave for public officials, allowing them to take leave until their children reach the age of 12, or complete the 6th grade of elementary school. This significant policy shift, approved by the State Council on May 26, aims to address childcare gaps that may arise as children progress through elementary school.

The enhanced leave policy allows public officials to take up to three years of parental leave per child. Currently, private sector employees in South Korea can take up to 1.5 years of parental leave per child (a combined maximum of three years for both parents) for children aged 8 or younger, or those in the 2nd grade of elementary school, under the Equal Employment Opportunity and Work-Family Balance Assistance Act and the Employment Insurance Act.

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The core change is raising the age of eligible children for parental leave from the current 8 years old or 2nd grade of elementary school to 12 years old or 6th grade of elementary school.

In addition to the expanded parental leave, a new category of "infertility leave" will be established for public officials. Previously, those undergoing long-term infertility treatment had to use general sick leave. The new infertility leave will be available for up to one year, with a possible one-year extension under special circumstances. This leave is set to take effect in six months.

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The State Council also approved an amendment to the Basic Pension Act, which will allow individuals who applied for the basic pension and were initially rejected to receive payments if they later become eligible, without needing to reapply. This measure, effective from July, aims to streamline the process for eligible citizens aged 65 and over who fall within the bottom 70% of income distribution.

These policy changes reflect a broader effort to strengthen the social safety net and support work-life balance for public servants. The government stated that the revised basic pension system will utilize existing government information to determine eligibility, ensuring that individuals do not fall through the cracks due to complex application procedures.

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