Right to Rest When Sick! Pohang City... Phase 1 'Sangbyeongsudang Pilot Project' Extended Until 2025

Sangbyeong Allowance to be Fully Introduced in 2025 After 3-Year Pilot Project

Up to 90 Days Payment Available for Workers Aged 15-65 in Pohang Area

Pohang City will extend the implementation of the ‘Phase 1 Sickness Allowance Pilot Project’ promoted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare until 2025.

Pohang City Hall.

The sickness allowance is a system that compensates for income loss to allow workers to focus on treatment when they are unable to engage in economic activities due to illness or injury unrelated to work. Pohang City has been implementing the Phase 1 Sickness Allowance Pilot Project since July 4 last year.

As of May 31 after the project started, 1,148 sickness allowance applications have been submitted in Pohang City, with 831 cases amounting to 823 million KRW paid, receiving great response from citizens.

Along with Pohang City, five other cities/counties/districts (Bucheon City in Gyeonggi Province, Jongno District in Seoul, Cheonan City in Chungnam Province, Changwon City in Gyeongnam Province, and Suncheon City in Jeonnam Province) were the first in the country to start the pilot project three years earlier before the official implementation of this system. These areas are expected to benefit more workers by extending the Phase 1 Sickness Allowance Pilot Project period until 2025.

In Pohang City, workers aged 15 to under 65 residing in the region and workers working at workplaces within the region (regardless of address) who are unable to work for more than 7 days due to non-work-related illness or injury and meet the eligibility criteria can receive 46,180 KRW per day (43,960 KRW in 2022) from the 8th day up to a maximum of 90 days.

Since the medical certificate for sickness allowance application is not issued retroactively, it must be issued immediately when illness or injury occurs. Applications can be submitted within 14 days from the date of issuance of the medical certificate by visiting the Pohang Southern Branch of the National Health Insurance Service or by mail (registered), FAX, or through the website.

Detailed information can be obtained through the National Health Insurance Service website, the Pohang Southern Branch, or the National Health Insurance Service call center.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok said, “As the Phase 1 Sickness Allowance Pilot Project being implemented in Pohang City is extended until the official introduction of the system in 2025, we will strengthen publicity so that workers working in Pohang can enjoy the right to rest when they are sick, and actively strive to ensure that many citizens can benefit.”

The Ministry of Health and Welfare has selected Yongin City and Anyang City in Gyeonggi Province, Dalseo District in Daegu, and Iksan City in Jeonbuk Province as the Phase 2 Sickness Allowance Pilot Project areas, which will begin the pilot project from July 3.

Unlike the Phase 1 pilot project areas, the Phase 2 pilot project areas will add criteria regarding income and property (income below 50%). The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to design a sickness allowance system suitable for domestic conditions through a three-year pilot project and social discussions, and to promote full-scale introduction from 2025.

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