South Korea: paternity and parental leave periods extended

On 30 September 2019, South Korea’s Labour Minister announced employees would be able to take 10 days paid paternity leave (instead of 3 previously) when their children are born. This revised legislation comes into force on 01 October 2019. To cushion the financial impact of the reform on the smallest companies, the government intends to finance five of the ten days leave. The government also intends to extend parental leave, taken by fathers and mothers. Currently parents of children aged under 8 can take a maximum of one year’s parental leave. The new text intends to add two years of part-time parental leave that would amount to a potential reduction in working time of 2 years in total.