Parental leave benefits for foreign workers double last year

Parental leave benefits paid to foreign workers in Korea doubled last year, with total payments reaching 36.45 billion won, the Ministry of Employment and Labor said Sunday. The number of recipients rose to 2,031 from 1,354, and 1,476 foreign nationals had already received 26.71 billion won through July this year. Rep. Park Soo-min said the government needs more tailored policies as foreign workers build families and deeper roots in Korea.

Payments to foreign workers rose from 18.15 billion won the year before to 36.45 billion won last year.

The number of recipients increased by more than 50 percent to 2,031 from 1,354.

Through July this year, 1,476 foreign nationals had received 26.71 billion won in parental leave benefits.

Ethnic Korean Chinese accounted for the largest share of support, with 1,154 recipients sharing 22.56 billion won.

Under Korean labor laws, foreign workers with visas such as E-9 or H-2 can enroll in employment insurance and receive parental leave benefits.

Published Sep 20, 2026 2:14 pm KST

Parental leave benefits paid to foreign workers in Korea doubled over the past year, data showed Sunday.

The data, submitted to Rep. Park Soo-min of the People Power Party by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, showed total payments reached 36.45 billion won last year, up from 18.15 billion won the year before. The number of recipients rose more than 50 percent to 2,031 from 1,354.

Through July of this year, 1,476 foreign nationals have already received 26.71 billion won in benefits.

Foreign nationals made up 1.2 percent of the total recipients as of July, up from 1.1 percent last year and 1 percent two years ago.

Ethnic Korean Chinese received the most support, with 1,154 recipients sharing 22.56 billion won, followed by Vietnamese with 895 recipients and 12.87 billion won. Besides the top two groups, 652 Chinese nationals claimed 11.54 billion won in benefits, 366 Americans received 5.78 billion won, 261 Japanese received 4.99 billion won and 177 Canadians claimed 3.08 billion won.

Under Korean labor laws, foreign workers holding relevant visas, like E-9 or H-2 visas, can enroll in employment insurance and are eligible for parental leave benefits.

As more foreign workers build families and establish deeper roots in the country, the government needs to set up more sophisticated, tailored policies that account for the broader implications of parental leave, Rep. Park said.

韩国雇佣劳动部周日表示，去年韩国向在韩外籍劳工发放的育儿假福利翻了一番，总额达到364.5亿韩元。领取福利的人数从1354人增至2031人，截至今年7月，已有1476名外籍人士领取了267.1亿韩元的福利金。国会议员朴秀敏表示，随着外籍劳工在韩国组建家庭并扎根更深，政府需要制定更有针对性的政策。

支付给外国劳工的款项从前一年的 181.5 亿韩元增加到去年的 364.5 亿韩元。

受助人数增加了 50% 以上，从 1354 人增加到 2031 人。

截至今年7月，已有1476名外国公民获得了267.1亿韩元的育儿假福利。

朝鲜族华人获得的援助最多，共有 1154 人获得援助，共获得 225.6 亿韩元。

根据韩国劳动法，持有E-9或H-2等签证的外国工人可以参加就业保险并享受育儿假福利。

发布于2026年9月20日下午2:14（韩国标准时间）

周日公布的数据显示，过去一年韩国向外国劳工支付的育儿假福利翻了一番。

根据雇佣劳动部提交给国民力量党议员朴秀敏的数据显示，去年共发放了364.5亿韩元的抚恤金，高于前一年的181.5亿韩元。领取抚恤金的人数也增长了50%以上，从1354人增至2031人。

截至今年7月，已有1476名外国公民获得了267.1亿韩元的福利。

截至 7 月，外国公民占总受益人数的 1.2%，高于去年的 1.1% 和两年前的 1%。

获得援助最多的族裔是朝鲜族华人，共有1154人领取了225.6亿韩元；其次是越南族，共有895人领取了128.7亿韩元。除前两大族裔外，还有652名中国公民领取了115.4亿韩元的援助金；366名美国公民领取了57.8亿韩元；261名日本公民领取了49.9亿韩元；177名加拿大公民领取了30.8亿韩元。

根据韩国劳动法，持有相关签证（如E-9签证或H-2签证）的外国工人可以参加就业保险，并有资格享受育儿假福利。

朴议员表示，随着越来越多的外国劳工组建家庭并在该国扎根，政府需要制定更完善、更有针对性的政策，以考虑到育儿假的更广泛影响。