Short-term parental leave starts — can be taken in blocks of 1 or 2 weeks
Source material is a Korean government announcement (in Korean).
From August 20, 2026, you can take short-term parental leave in blocks of 1 week (7 days) or 2 weeks (14 days), once a year.
Key facts
| Start date | August 20, 2026 |
|---|---|
| How it can be taken | 1 week (7 days) or 2 weeks (14 days), once a year |
| Previous rule | Parental leave could only be taken in blocks of 30 days or more |
| Purpose | Short-term care for school holidays and daycare or school closures, and balancing work and childcare (introduced by a legal amendment) |
Last checked:
Short-term parental leave, designed for short-term care needs such as school holidays or a sudden daycare or school closure, starts on August 20, 2026. Until now, parental leave could only be taken in blocks of 30 days or more. From that date, parents can take short-term parental leave in blocks of 1 week (7 days) or 2 weeks (14 days), once a year. The change supports balancing work and childcare and was introduced through an amendment to the relevant law.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
FAQ
In what blocks can short-term parental leave be taken?
It can be taken in blocks of 1 week (7 days) or 2 weeks (14 days), once a year.
When does it start?
It starts on August 20, 2026 and was introduced through an amendment to the relevant law.