Wider employment, family and welfare safety net in the second half of 2026 — parental leave, advance child support payments and tougher penalties for unpaid wages
Source material is a Korean government announcement (in Korean).
From the second half of 2026 the employment, family and welfare safety net widens, with parental leave before birth where a spouse is pregnant (18 September), an advance child support payment of 200,000 won a month per child (29 October), and tougher penalties for unpaid wages (September and October).
Key facts
| Parental leave before birth | From 18 September, available before the birth where a spouse is pregnant and at risk of miscarriage or premature birth |
|---|---|
| Short-term parental leave | From 20 August, for children aged 8 or under or in the second grade of elementary school or below, once a year, in blocks of 1 to 2 weeks |
| Advance child support payment scheme | From 29 October, the state pays 200,000 won a month per child up front until the child turns 18 |
| Wider insolvency wage guarantee payment | From 20 August, from the final 3 months to the final 6 months |
| Tougher penalties for unpaid wages | Unpaid retirement benefits from 18 September and unpaid wages from 8 October: up to 5 years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won |
Last checked:
A series of measures on work-life balance, closing gaps in welfare coverage and strengthening workers' rights take effect in employment, family and welfare in the second half of 2026. From 18 September, a worker whose spouse is pregnant and at risk of miscarriage or premature birth can take parental leave before the birth. From 29 October, the advance child support payment scheme means the state pays 200,000 won a month per child up front until the child turns 18. Penalties for unpaid wages rise to 'up to 5 years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won' from September and October.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
FAQ
What is the advance child support payment scheme?
From 29 October, where a single-parent family does not receive child support from the non-custodial parent, the state pays 200,000 won a month per child up front until the child turns 18, regardless of the household's income or assets. Legal requirements, such as the amount of child support set by the court, still have to be met.
How do penalties for unpaid wages get tougher?
For unpaid retirement benefits from 18 September, and for unpaid wages from 8 October, the statutory penalty rises from 'up to 3 years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won' to 'up to 5 years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won'.