Gyeonggi Province Introduces “Special Leave” for Public Officials Affected by Malicious Complaints

Gyeonggi Province will introduce a “special leave” system for public officials who have suffered damage due to malicious civil complaints.

On December 28, Gyeonggi Province announced that the “Ordinance Bill for the Full Revision of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Employee Service Ordinance,” which includes this measure, was passed at the 5th plenary session of the 387th regular meeting of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council on December 26.

The amendment stipulates that public officials who have suffered physical or psychological harm due to malicious complaints may be granted up to two days of special leave per year for treatment and psychological recovery.

With this ordinance revision, Gyeonggi Province will become the first metropolitan government to establish a “Detailed Operation Plan for Special Leave for Public Officials Affected by Malicious Complaints” and will implement the system starting in January 2026.

Gyeonggi Provincial Government

Following the death of a Gimpo City public official last year, Gyeonggi Province formed a “Task Force for Responding to Malicious Complaints and Handling Employee Grievances” and has planned various systems to protect civil affairs officials exposed to high-risk complaints such as verbal abuse and assault.

In addition to the introduction of special leave, the province is also promoting several measures to protect and boost the morale of civil affairs officials, including: ▲ psychological counseling and treatment support through the Mind Health Recharge Center ▲ a two-day, one-night healing program ▲ support for medical expenses and legal action for affected officials ▲ complete recording of all complaint-related calls. Gyeonggi Province also plans to introduce name tag-type recording devices to further ensure a safe environment for civil affairs officials.

Cho Byungrae, Director General of the Autonomous Administration Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, stated, “We deeply empathize with the difficulties faced by civil affairs officials on the front lines,” adding, “We will continue to provide institutional and practical support so that public officials can focus on their work with confidence.”