Starting this November, South Korean workers utilizing legally mandated fertility treatment leave will see their paid time double from two days to four days, alongside a significant increase in government-backed financial support, according to announcements from the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The policy shift aims to ease the financial and professional burdens on couples undergoing procedures like artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization (IVF) amid ongoing demographic challenges.
Expanded Paid Leave and Higher Wage Ceilings
Under the updated guidelines issued by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the statutory fertility treatment leave framework allows eligible employees—including male workers—to take up to six days off per year for medical procedures. While the total annual allotment remains capped at six days, the mandated paid portion increases from two days to four days.
To offset the economic impact on households, the government is raising the maximum daily wage cap for fertility treatment leave benefits. The upper limit will double from 16만8420원 to 33만6840원, according to ministry data. This financial support is administered through the Employment 24 portal or local employment centers, and applications must be submitted between one month after the leave begins and up to 12 months after it concludes. Employers also maintain the option to disburse the paid leave funds directly upfront and subsequently claim reimbursement.
Stricter Enforcement and Employer Penalties
To protect workers from professional repercussions, South Korean labor laws enforce strict penalties for workplace discrimination related to family planning leave. According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, employers who subject workers to unfavorable treatment or penalize them for taking fertility treatment leave face up to three years in prison or a maximum fine of 3000만원. These punitive measures take full effect alongside the expanded leave provisions in November.
Ministry officials emphasize that the stricter regulatory environment is designed to eliminate workplace stigma. “As the average age for pregnancy and childbirth rises, the need for government support regarding fertility treatment leave is growing substantially,” said Jeong Jung-sook, Director-General for Employment Support Policy at the Ministry of Employment and Labor. “As an essential 제도 (system) for overcoming low birth rates, we are strengthening government assistance while fostering an environment where workers can use the leave without feeling pressured by their workplaces.”
Streamlined Administrative Procedures
Recent administrative reforms have also simplified the application process for workers seeking benefit disbursements. Following an administrative interpretation change implemented by the labor ministry, the scope of recognized fertility treatments now covers pre-procedure medical evaluations, active procedures such as artificial insemination and IVF, and subsequent recovery periods.
Additionally, the government streamlined verification requirements to reduce administrative friction for patients. Since May, applicants no longer need to submit a traditional physician’s diagnosis to claim benefits. Instead, workers can substitute the standard medical certificate with the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s official “Fertility Treatment Subsidy Decision Notice” (난임부부 시술비 지원 결정통지서), lowering the barrier to accessing financial support.
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