Sick leave and treatment leave

If you're ill, you should rest. The question is paid or unpaid — check in advance.

Two categories

1. Work-related injury or illness — may qualify for industrial accident medical and absence benefits, applied for through the Workers' Compensation Service. See industrial-accident-benefits.
2. Illness unrelated to work — governed by company rules and your contract. Many workplaces have no paid sick leave.

The process

1. See a doctor and get a certificate or note. See medical-certificate.
2. Tell the company immediately — in writing, by text or email.
3. Submit the required documents (medical certificate, admission/discharge confirmation). See sick-note-work.
4. If injured at work, consider an industrial accident claim. See industrial-accident-report.
5. Agree your return date and conditions and keep a record.

Worth knowing

• Annual leave is often used as sick leave. See annual-leave.
• Dismissal can be restricted during industrial accident recovery periods. Check with 1350.
• For long absences, agree terms with the company in writing.
• "If you rest, you may as well quit" can be improper. See unfair-dismissal.

Where to go

• 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labour (sick leave, dismissal)
• 1588-0075 Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service
• 1577-0071 Foreign Workforce Support Centre
• The hospital's administration desk (documents)
• Local migrant workers' support centres

Questions people ask

Do I lose pay on sick leave? For non-work illness, company rules apply. Check the workplace rules and ask 1350. For an industrial accident there are absence benefits.

I submitted a certificate but they told me to come in. The doctor's opinion takes precedence. Returning too soon is dangerous. Consult 1350.

I took sick leave and was dismissed. That may be unfair dismissal. Gather evidence and consult 1350 and the Labour Relations Commission. See unfair-dismissal and mediation-labor.

I don't know whether it counts as an industrial accident. Explain the situation to 1588-0075 and they will help you judge. It is free.

Take care

Working through illness leads to worse accidents — particularly with machinery or driving. Always keep a record of telling the company (text or email); otherwise you can be accused of unauthorised absence.

Related

sick-note-work · industrial-accident-benefits · annual-leave · unfair-dismissal · medical-certificate

Source

Ministry of Employment and Labour www.moel.go.kr / As of 2026-08