Infertility leave (난임 휴직) for public officials takes effect December 3, 2026 — available instead of sick leave
Source material is a Korean government announcement (in Korean).
From December 3, 2026, public officials who need fertility treatment can apply for infertility leave (난임 휴직) instead of sick leave. Amendments to the Decree on the Appointment of Public Officials and the Decree on the Appointment of Local Public Officials, which set out the detailed operating standards, were given advance notice on September 17, 2026.
Key facts
| Effective date | Infertility leave (난임 휴직) can be applied for from December 3, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Advance notice of legislation | September 17, 2026 — amendments to the 'Decree on the Appointment of Public Officials' and the 'Decree on the Appointment of Local Public Officials' |
| Legal basis | Newly established as a separate ground for leave on request under the 'State Public Officials Act' and the 'Local Public Officials Act' as amended in June 2026 |
| Ground for leave | 'Receiving fertility treatment such as assisted reproductive technology due to infertility' |
| Approval principle | The appointing authority is to approve applications for infertility leave as a rule — but decides whether to approve where the leave runs 2 years or more per child to be born, or where it is particularly necessary for the efficient use of personnel |
| Before the effective date | Until the effective date, sick leave continues to be used as before under the current rules |
| Inquiries | Ministry of Personnel Management, Personnel Innovation Planning Division 044-201-8294; Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Local Personnel System Division 044-205-3347 |
Last checked:
On September 17, 2026, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Personnel Management gave advance notice of amendments to the 'Decree on the Appointment of Public Officials' (공무원임용령) and the 'Decree on the Appointment of Local Public Officials' (지방공무원임용령), which set out the detailed operating standards for infertility leave (난임 휴직). From December 3, 2026, public officials who need fertility treatment can apply for infertility leave instead of sick leave (질병 휴직). The amendments specify 'receiving fertility treatment such as assisted reproductive technology due to infertility' as a ground for infertility leave, and the appointing authority is to approve applications for infertility leave as a rule. The amendments were prepared to set out the matters needed to implement infertility leave, which was newly established as a separate ground for leave on request under the 'State Public Officials Act' (국가공무원법) and the 'Local Public Officials Act' (지방공무원법) as amended in June 2026.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
FAQ
How has this been handled until now?
Until now, public officials who needed fertility treatment had to use sick leave, but from December 3, 2026 they can apply for infertility leave.
Is an application always approved?
The appointing authority is to approve applications for infertility leave as a rule. However, where the period of infertility leave is 2 years or more per child to be born, or where it is particularly necessary for the efficient use of personnel, the authority may decide whether to approve it, and may in that case request advice from a committee that includes relevant experts.