Seoul Area Teachers Can Apply for Early Retirement Due to Serious Illness Anytime

Effective from November this year
Retirement dates are at the end of February and August

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Teachers in the Seoul area who are unable to perform their duties due to severe illnesses will be able to apply for honorary retirement at any time starting this month.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 2nd that the honorary retirement application period, previously fixed at 4 days twice a year, will be changed to allow applications at any time.

This system improvement aims to guarantee the opportunity for honorary retirement applications to teachers who cannot wait until the regular application deadline due to urgent treatment for severe illnesses or who missed the application period while focusing on treatment. Eligible teachers for honorary retirement are those who have served for 20 years or more under the Public Officials Pension Act and voluntarily retire at least one year before the mandatory retirement date. To this end, an internal plan was established based on the "Regulations on Payment of Honorary Retirement Allowances for National Public Officials," specifying that unavoidable reasons include cases requiring urgent treatment for severe diseases.

However, to prevent cases such as frequent transfers that infringe on students' right to learn or mid-term contract termination of fixed-term teachers, the regular retirement dates will remain the same?end of February and end of August?and honorary retirement applicants will be reviewed and finalized accordingly.

An official from the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education stated, "This change resolves the unfair limitation on the opportunity for teachers with severe illnesses who find it difficult to meet the regular application period to receive honorary retirement allowances. It is expected to boost morale by ensuring the honorable retirement of teachers who have contributed to Seoul education for over 20 years."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.