Nearly 90% of South Koreans have experienced working while ill. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jul. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – A recent survey has found that nearly 90% of South Koreans have experienced working while ill, highlighting a pervasive issue in the country’s work culture and prompting calls for legislative action.
The survey, conducted by a coalition of 49 civil society organizations and labor unions known as the Preparatory Committee for the Right to Rest When Sick, polled 1,000 citizens aged 15 and over with current or past employment experience.
The results, presented at a forum held at the National Assembly on July 18, paint a stark picture of the challenges faced by workers in prioritizing their health.
According to the findings, 88.2% of respondents reported having worked while sick. Moreover, 59.8% stated that they had never applied for sick leave or that their workplace lacked a sick leave policy altogether.
Of the 501 respondents whose workplaces offered sick leave, only 174 (34.7%) had actually used it. Among those, 122 had access to paid sick leave, while 52 took unpaid leave.
When asked about the most crucial support needed when ill, 62.1% of respondents identified sick leave as the top priority.
Other desired forms of support included income protection beyond medical expense coverage, rest and health facilities, a work culture that respects the need for sick leave, and options for remote or alternative work arrangements.
The forum also addressed the need for legislation mandating paid sick leave across all workplaces to ensure the right to rest when ill.
Yang Hyun-jun, a lawyer from Seoul National University’s Public Interest Law Center, emphasized the importance of protecting workers from dismissal or unfavorable treatment due to taking sick leave.
He also suggested that the government should consider providing full or partial wage compensation during sick leave periods.
“If paid sick leave is introduced alongside sickness benefits, the system should be designed to ensure that the right to rest when sick is primarily guaranteed in the workplace, with sickness benefits kicking in after the paid sick leave period ends,” Yang added.
The administration of President Yoon Suk Yeol, which campaigned on the swift introduction of sickness benefits, has been running pilot programs since July 2022. The number of regions participating in these programs increased from six in July 2022 to 14 in July 2023.
Over the two-year pilot period, 13,105 sickness benefit payments have been made, with an average duration of 18.7 days and an average payout of 862,574 won.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
