'Seoul-type Paid Sick Leave' Expanded from 11 to 14 Days, Annual Maximum Living Expense Support of 1.19 Million KRW

Support up to 14 days this year, including 3 days of outpatient care linked to hospitalization and 1 day of health checkup
Year-round applications accepted at health centers in 25 districts and 424 community service centers

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government will expand the ‘Seoul-type Paid Sick Leave Support’ by the 14th for daily workers, part-timers, and one-person self-employed individuals who were not eligible for paid sick leave under the Labor Standards Act and thus found it difficult to receive treatment without worry even when sick.

According to Seoul City on the 13th, the ‘Seoul-type Paid Sick Leave Support,’ which was previously only available during hospitalization, will from this year also provide up to 3 additional days of support for outpatient treatment for the same illness before and after hospitalization or discharge. Accordingly, the annual paid sick leave support days will be expanded from the existing 11 days to 14 days. In particular, daily wages equivalent to the Seoul Living Wage of 85,610 KRW per day will be supported, allowing recipients to receive up to 1,198,540 KRW annually. Applications can be made at health centers in 25 autonomous districts and 424 community service centers at any time.

The ‘Seoul-type Paid Sick Leave Support’ is a system designed to prevent vulnerable workers such as daily workers, special employment workers, and small-scale self-employed individuals who are not eligible for paid sick leave under the Labor Standards Act (with a standard median income of 100% or less) from falling into medical poverty. It provides living expenses equivalent to wages (Seoul Living Wage) funded by the city during the period when they cannot work due to hospitalization and treatment.

The support targets are National Health Insurance regional subscribers who are workers or business income earners with a standard median income of 100% or less, and who have been hospitalized or received outpatient treatment linked to hospitalization, or undergone general health checkups by the National Health Insurance Corporation (excluding cancer screenings). The eligibility criteria are based on income and property. Income follows the 2021 household size-based income standards announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and property must be 250 million KRW or less; both criteria must be met.

Applications can be made at the community service centers (424 locations) and health centers in 25 autonomous districts where the applicant resides. Applicants can download the application form from the websites of Seoul City, autonomous districts, health centers, or community service centers, fill it out, and submit it in person, by registered mail, or by fax (with the original sent by registered mail). The support funds will be paid within 30 days (excluding holidays) after application.

The application deadline is within 6 months from the date of discharge (or health checkup), and the support funds will be paid within 30 days (excluding holidays) after application. However, in special cases, the deadline can be extended by up to 60 days. For more details, contact the local community service center and health center, the 120 Dasan Call Center, or the Seoul City Health Promotion Division.

Park Yu-mi, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Citizen Health Bureau, said, “Seoul is the first in the nation to implement the ‘Seoul-type Paid Sick Leave Support’ to help vulnerable workers suffering from illness receive timely treatment, thereby improving health levels and supporting quick social reintegration,” adding, “We will continue to strive to expand support to prevent medically vulnerable groups from falling into medical poverty.”

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