Lee Jun-seok "Self-employed and Non-regular Workers Giving Birth Women, Up to 6.3 Million Won Paid for 3 Months"

Internal Conflict Related "Rapid Election Campaigning, No Political Intent"

The Reform New Party announced on the 19th that it proposes a 'National Maternity Leave Pay System' for women giving birth, including self-employed individuals, small business owners, and non-regular workers.

On the same day, Lee Jun-seok, co-representative, stated at a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office, "Regardless of the type of employment contract or whether one is enrolled in employment insurance, we will pay women who give birth, including those who experience miscarriage or stillbirth, 100% of their average monthly income for three months, up to a maximum of 6.3 million KRW."

Lee said, "It is no exaggeration to say that maternity leave pay is a system only for public officials, regular workers, especially employees at large corporations," and explained, "Among the 230,000 mothers last year, only 78,000 received maternity leave pay benefits."

The current maternity leave pay system provides 100% of the average wage, up to 2.1 million KRW, for three months from employment insurance to workers who have been enrolled in employment insurance for more than 180 days and have been granted maternity leave by their company.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He emphasized, "If the 'National Maternity Leave Pay System' is introduced, all working mothers can freely use maternity leave, and female self-employed workers and small business owners can be guaranteed minimum maternal protection by hiring substitute workers even if they cannot use the full 90 days of maternity leave."

He also said, "If the system is introduced, it is expected that up to 150,000 working mothers will benefit annually," and added, "Currently, 300 billion KRW of employment insurance funds are invested annually in maternity pay, but we will secure an additional budget of up to 300 billion KRW through national subsidies."

Lee criticized, "The pledges made by the two major parties, such as expanding parental leave and increasing loans for newlyweds, are 'half-baked policies' that apply only to some of the people," and said, "They are pledges that alienate half of the population."

Meanwhile, regarding the official resolution of the 'Lee Jun-seok Sadang' by the New Future side on the same day, Lee dismissed concerns, saying, "The resolution we made today and the simplification of policy announcement procedures are intended to win the election," and added, "It is somewhat puzzling to interpret this as having other political motives beyond the intention to quickly conduct election campaigns."

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