The official source lists more than one English text for this article (for example an amendment with a different effective date). Check the Korean original for the version in force.
version 1 of 2(1) An employer shall grant a pregnant woman a total of a 90-day maternity leave (120-day maternity leave, if she is pregnant with at least two children at a time) before and after childbirth. In such cases, at least 45 days (60 days, if she is pregnant with two or more children at a time) of the leave period after childbirth shall be allowed. <Amended on Feb. 1, 2012; Jan. 21, 2014>
(2) Where a pregnant female employee requests the leave under paragraph (1) due to her experience of miscarriage or other reasons prescribed by Presidential Decree, an employer shall allow her to use the leave at multiple times any time before her childbirth. In such cases, the period of leave after the childbirth shall be at least 45 days (60 days, if she is pregnant with at least two children at a time) consecutively. <Newly Inserted on Feb. 1, 2012; Jan. 21, 2014>
(3) Where a pregnant woman has a miscarriage or stillbirth, an employer shall, upon the relevant employee's request, grant her a miscarriage/stillbirth leave, as prescribed by Presidential Decree: Provided, That the same shall not apply to any abortion carried out by artificial termination of pregnancy (excluding cases under Article 14 (1) of the Mother and Child Health Act). <Amended on Feb. 1, 2012>
(4) The first 60 days (75 days, if she is pregnant with at least two children at a time) in the period of leave under paragraphs (1) through (3) shall be stipendiary: Provided, That when maternity leave benefits, etc. have been paid under Article 18 of the Equal Employment Opportunity and Work-Family Balance Assistance Act, the obligation to pay shall be exempted up to the relevant amount. <Amended on Dec. 21, 2007; Feb. 1, 2012; Jan. 21, 2014>
(5) No employer shall order a female employee in pregnancy to engage in overtime work, and if there exists a request from the relevant employee, he or she shall transfer her to an easy type of work. <Amended on Feb. 1, 2012>
(6) A business owner shall reinstate her to the same work or to the work for which wages of the same level as before leave are paid after the end of a maternity leave under paragraph (1). <Newly Inserted on Mar. 28, 2008; Feb. 1, 2012>
(7) Where a female employee who has been pregnant for not more than 12 weeks or for not less than 36 weeks requests the reduction of her work hours by two hours a day, the employer shall permit it: Provided, That he or she may permit to reduce her work hours to six hours if her work hours are shorter than eight hours a day. <Newly Inserted on Mar. 24, 2014>
(8) No employer shall reduce an employee's wages for reason of reduction of work hours under paragraph (7). <Newly Inserted on Mar. 24, 2014>
(9) Where a pregnant female employee requests to modify the start and end time of work hours while maintaining the contractual daily work hours, the employer shall permit such modification: Provided, That the same shall not apply to cases prescribed by Presidential Decree, such as where the normal operation of business can be significantly impeded. <Newly Inserted on May 18, 2021>
(10) Matters necessary for the methods and procedures for requesting a reduction of working hours under paragraph (7) and the methods, procedures, etc. for requesting the modification of the start and end time of work hours under paragraph (9) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Newly Inserted on Mar. 24, 2014; May 18, 2021>
version 2 of 2(1) An employer shall grant a pregnant woman 90 days of maternity leave (100 days for a pregnant woman who gave birth to a premature baby, and 120 days for a pregnant woman who is pregnant with two or more children at a time) before and after childbirth. In such cases, the period of leave shall be allocated at least 45 days (60 days for a pregnant woman who gave birth to two or more children at a time) after childbirth, and matters necessary for the scope of premature babies, procedures for granting leave, etc. shall be prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. <Amended on Feb. 1, 2012; Jan. 21, 2014; Oct. 22, 2024>
(2) Where a pregnant female employee requests the leave under paragraph (1) due to her experience of miscarriage or other reasons prescribed by Presidential Decree, an employer shall allow her to use the leave at multiple times any time before her childbirth. In such cases, the period of leave after the childbirth shall be at least 45 days (60 days, if she is pregnant with at least two children at a time) consecutively. <Newly Inserted on Feb. 1, 2012; Jan. 21, 2014>
(3) Where a pregnant woman has a miscarriage or stillbirth, an employer shall, upon the relevant employee's request, grant her a miscarriage/stillbirth leave, as prescribed by Presidential Decree: Provided, That the same shall not apply to any abortion carried out by artificial termination of pregnancy (excluding cases under Article 14 (1) of the Mother and Child Health Act). <Amended on Feb. 1, 2012>
(4) The first 60 days (75 days, if she is pregnant with at least two children at a time) in the period of leave under paragraphs (1) through (3) shall be stipendiary: Provided, That when maternity leave benefits, etc. have been paid under Article 18 of the Equal Employment Opportunity and Work-Family Balance Assistance Act, the obligation to pay shall be exempted up to the relevant amount. <Amended on Dec. 21, 2007; Feb. 1, 2012; Jan. 21, 2014>
(5) No employer shall order a female employee in pregnancy to engage in overtime work, and if there exists a request from the relevant employee, he or she shall transfer her to an easy type of work. <Amended on Feb. 1, 2012>
(6) A business owner shall reinstate her to the same work or to the work for which wages of the same level as before leave are paid after the end of a maternity leave under paragraph (1). <Newly Inserted on Mar. 28, 2008; Feb. 1, 2012>
(7) Where a female employee within 12 or 32 weeks of pregnancy (referring to the entire period of pregnancy in the case of a female employee at risk of miscarriage, premature birth, etc. prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Employment and Labor) applies for a reduction of working hours by two hours per day, an employer shall grant such application: Provided, That an employee whose working hours per day are less than eight hours may be permitted to reduce her working hours to six hours per day. <Newly Inserted on Mar. 24, 2014; Oct. 22, 2024>
(8) No employer shall reduce an employee's wages for reason of reduction of work hours under paragraph (7). <Newly Inserted on Mar. 24, 2014>
(9) Where a pregnant female employee requests to modify the start and end time of work hours while maintaining the contractual daily work hours, the employer shall permit such modification: Provided, That the same shall not apply to cases prescribed by Presidential Decree, such as where the normal operation of business can be significantly impeded. <Newly Inserted on May 18, 2021>
(10) Matters necessary for the methods and procedures for requesting a reduction of working hours under paragraph (7) and the methods, procedures, etc. for requesting the modification of the start and end time of work hours under paragraph (9) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Newly Inserted on Mar. 24, 2014; May 18, 2021>[Enforcement Date: Feb. 23, 2025] Articles 74 (1) and 74 (7)