Korea Parental Leave Benefit Calculator
Calculate Korea's parental leave benefit — monthly amounts and the total — from your ordinary wage and the length of leave.
How the parental leave benefit is set
- Each month the benefit is the monthly ordinary wage on the day your leave starts multiplied by a payment rate. If that amount is above the cap it is cut to the cap, and if it is below the floor it is raised to the floor (Enforcement Decree of the Employment Insurance Act, Art. 95(1)).
- From month 7 the rate drops to 80% of the ordinary wage. Months 1–6 are 100%. So a lower amount in month 7 is normal.
- The floor is ₩700,000 in every period. If your ordinary wage is so low that the calculated amount is below it, you receive the floor.
- If you take leave in several blocks, the blocks are added together to decide which month you are in (Art. 95(2)). A period shorter than one month is paid in proportion to the days of leave (Art. 95(3)); this calculator counts whole months only.
| Leave period | Payment rate | Monthly cap | Monthly floor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Months 1–3 | 100% of the ordinary wage | ₩2,500,000 | ₩700,000 |
| Months 4–6 | 100% of the ordinary wage | ₩2,000,000 | ₩700,000 |
| Month 7 to the end of leave | 80% of the ordinary wage | ₩1,600,000 | ₩700,000 |
The 6+6 Parents Parental Leave scheme has higher caps for the first 6 months
If your child is within 18 months of birth and both parents take parental leave, each parent receives 100% of the ordinary wage for the first 6 months of their leave, up to the monthly caps below (Decree Art. 95-3(1)(i)). The parents can take leave at the same time or one after the other, and the scheme applies to the months of leave that both have used.
| Month of leave | Monthly cap |
|---|---|
| Month 1 | ₩2,500,000 |
| Month 2 | ₩2,500,000 |
| Month 3 | ₩3,000,000 |
| Month 4 | ₩3,500,000 |
| Month 5 | ₩4,000,000 |
| Month 6 | ₩4,500,000 |
From month 7 the regular benefit applies again (80% of the ordinary wage, cap ₩1,600,000). The floor of ₩700,000 applies to each parent in the same way.
Examples by monthly ordinary wage — 12 months of leave
| Monthly ordinary wage | Months 1–3 (per month) | Months 4–6 (per month) | Month 7 on (per month) | Regular, 12-month total | 6+6, 12-month total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ₩1,500,000 | ₩1,500,000 | ₩1,500,000 | ₩1,200,000 | ₩16,200,000 | ₩16,200,000 |
| ₩2,000,000 | ₩2,000,000 | ₩2,000,000 | ₩1,600,000 | ₩21,600,000 | ₩21,600,000 |
| ₩2,500,000 | ₩2,500,000 | ₩2,000,000 | ₩1,600,000 | ₩23,100,000 | ₩24,600,000 |
| ₩3,000,000 | ₩2,500,000 | ₩2,000,000 | ₩1,600,000 | ₩23,100,000 | ₩26,600,000 |
| ₩4,000,000 | ₩2,500,000 | ₩2,000,000 | ₩1,600,000 | ₩23,100,000 | ₩29,100,000 |
The table is calculated with the same function as the calculator on this page. At a monthly ordinary wage of ₩2,000,000 or more, 80% is above the cap of ₩1,600,000, so the cap is the monthly payment; below that it is 80% of the ordinary wage. The 6+6 total uses the 6+6 caps for the first 6 months and the regular rules for months 7–12.
What you need to receive it
- You need at least 180 days of employment insurance insured unit periods before your leave starts. Periods at earlier employers are added together; if the gap between losing and regaining coverage is 3 years or more, the periods before the gap do not count.
- Apply on the Work24 website or at the Employment Center for your workplace or home. You can apply from 1 month after your leave starts until 12 months after it ends.
- You submit the application form, the confirmation of parental leave (first time only), copies of payroll records or an employment contract that show your ordinary wage, and records of any payments from your employer during the leave.
- While you receive the benefit, you must report on the application if you work 15 hours or more a week under your contract or earn ₩1,500,000 or more a month from work or a business. If you do not, payment can be restricted or treated as improper receipt.
- Self-employed people and freelancers are not eligible for the benefit. The government says civil servants and private-school teachers are not covered by the 6+6 scheme.
What this calculation does not include
- The special rule for single parents (Decree Art. 95-3(3)) is not included. The Work24 guide lists a monthly cap of ₩3,000,000 for the first 3 months. If it applies to you, check it with the Work24 simulator.
- The ordinary wage is the amount on the day your leave starts. It is the pay promised for regular work on a regular, uniform basis (Enforcement Decree of the Labor Standards Act, Art. 6); pay for work beyond that, such as overtime, night and holiday work, is left out. Whether a regular bonus counts depends on your employer's pay structure, so check it against your payroll records.
- Proportional payment for a period shorter than a month, and restrictions when you work or earn income while receiving the benefit, are not included.
- Foreign nationals — whether you are covered by employment insurance, and so whether you can claim this benefit, depends on your visa type and on whether you enrolled. This page assumes you are covered and does not decide that. Call the Ministry of Employment and Labor Counseling Center (1350) before you rely on the figures.
Basis: National Law Information Center — Enforcement Decree of the Employment Insurance Act, Arts. 95 and 95-3 (the version in force from September 18, 2026, Presidential Decree No. 36588, checked October 2026); the Work24 guide to parental leave benefit (last updated 2025-09-15); the Korea Policy Briefing guide to the 6+6 Parents Parental Leave scheme. This is an estimate; whether you qualify and the actual amount are decided by the Employment Center (Ministry of Employment and Labor Counseling Center: 1350).
Frequently asked questions
Why does the benefit drop from month 7?
Article 95 of the Enforcement Decree sets 100% of the ordinary wage for months 1–6 and 80% from month 7. At a monthly ordinary wage of ₩2,000,000 or more, 80% is above the cap of ₩1,600,000, so you receive the cap; below that you receive 80% of the ordinary wage.
Do both parents have to be on leave at the same time for 6+6?
No. It applies if the parents take parental leave at the same time or one after the other within 18 months of the child's birth. Even if neither parent reaches 6 months, you receive the higher amount for the months of leave you have in common. If you take leave in blocks, the child must be within 18 months on the start date of each block.
How do I find my ordinary wage?
When you apply you submit payroll records or an employment contract that show your ordinary wage. Ask your employer's HR staff for the exact figure. You can also cross-check it with the Work24 simulator.
Is what I enter saved?
No. The calculation happens only in your browser; nothing is sent to a server or stored.
I am a foreign national. Can I receive parental leave benefit?
It depends on whether you were covered by employment insurance, which depends on your visa type and whether you enrolled. This page only calculates the amount if you qualify. Call the Ministry of Employment and Labor Counseling Center (1350) to ask whether you can claim.
Where do I apply?
You apply on the Work24 website or at the Employment Center for your workplace or home. Call 1350 to find the right center.
More free tools
Add it to your home screen and it opens like an app — after the first visit it works offline too. What you type never leaves your device.