Special Leave Introduced for Male Public Officials Accompanying Spouses to Pregnancy Checkups

Introduction of Pregnancy Checkup Accompaniment Leave and Long-Term Service Leave
Amendment to National Public Officials Service Regulations Passes Cabinet Meeting

A new special leave has been established for male public officials to accompany their spouses to pregnancy checkups, and female public officials who are within 12 weeks or after 32 weeks of pregnancy are now guaranteed the right to use maternity protection hours. In addition, a new long-term service leave for national public officials with more than 10 years of service has also been introduced.

On July 15, the Ministry of Personnel Management announced that an amendment to the 'National Public Officials Service Regulations' containing these provisions had passed the Cabinet meeting and would take effect from July 22.

This amendment aims to create a work environment that is friendly to pregnancy and childbirth and to boost the morale of long-term employees. It introduces 'pregnancy checkup accompaniment leave' for male public officials who accompany their spouses to pregnancy checkups. Like the existing pregnancy checkup leave available to pregnant public officials, the accompaniment leave for spouses can be used within 10 days during the pregnancy, either as a full day or half day. When applying for the first time, applicants must submit a family relationship certificate to prove their relationship with their spouse and a pregnancy confirmation document for the spouse. For each checkup, they must attach medical records or other documents verifying the spouse's pregnancy checkup.

In addition, if a public official within 12 weeks or after 32 weeks of pregnancy applies for maternity protection hours, approval is now mandatory. As before, pregnant public officials may apply to use up to two hours of maternity protection time per day regardless of the stage of pregnancy. However, to guarantee the right to rest for the health of both the mother and fetus during early or late pregnancy, the approval for use has been made mandatory.

A long-term service leave system for national public officials is also being established. Public officials with more than 10 years but less than 20 years of service may use five days of leave during that period, while those with more than 20 years of service may use seven days of leave before retirement. The period of service is calculated in accordance with the Public Officials Pension Act, in the same way as annual leave. Since the purpose is to grant the right to rest to long-term employees, it is in principle to be used at once, but through a revision of related regulations, it may be split once if necessary. The five days of leave for those with more than 10 years but less than 20 years of service must be used within that period, and any unused leave by the day the 20th year of service is reached will automatically expire.

However, to ensure sufficient time for use by public officials who, as of the effective date of the amendment, have more than 18 years but less than 20 years of service, these officials will be allowed to use the leave until July 22, 2027, even if they reach 20 years of service after the effective date.

Yeon Wonjeong, Commissioner of the Ministry of Personnel Management, said, "We hope that public officials who have served in public office for a long time will be able to recharge and boost their morale," and added, "We will also strive to create a work environment where public officials can work comfortably during pregnancy, childbirth, and while raising children."