Maternity Leave in Korea

Updated 5 October 2016

Laws here seem to change all the time. I would personally error on the side of caution. Here's what the laws say as far as employment insurance go. Here's some information in English and here's a five point summary of maternity leave.

You are also entitled to shorter work hours if you're in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy or if you are 36 weeks and beyond.

The Law
Any woman (including foreigners) who has been at her job for at least a year prior to giving birth is entitled 90 days paid maternity leave (60 days are at full pay and 30 days are at partial pay, which is around 1.8 mil.). She gets 120 days if she has has multiple (75 days are at full pay and 45 days are at partial pay, which is around 1.8mil). She must fulfill both of the following requirements:

1. She's worked a year before she takes leave.
2. She's paid into the unemployment scheme for at least 180 days (I'm not sure if you can make back-payments). The employer pays her and the ministry reimburses her employer.

The Reality
Unfortunately, few women actually take the entire time. Just like with paternity leave in Korea, some employers will simply tell you no out of ignorance while others will tell you no despite the fact that they know the opposite to be true. Many women have been forced to leave their jobs or have gotten fired for being pregnant in Korea. Whether or not you fight is up to you. Many Korean women don't take maternity leave, but rather quit and become stay at home moms. Or if they do take maternity leave, they don't take the full 90 days. Legally your boss has to allow it, however, I have known people who have . . .

• not been renewed
• not been paid during maternity leave
• been made to pay their replacements
• lost their jobs (legally they can't fire you for up to 30 days after birth, after that it's fair game)

Bottom line: Have a back-up plan or two.

Additional Time Off: Parental leave
You can take up to a year off as unpaid leave (though here it says they get 40% of their base salary with a max of 1 mil won) known in Korea as childcare leave "육 아휴직". You can legally take up to a year of unpaid leave while your child is under 6 (72 months) providing you've been with the same employer more than a year. There is a grey area surrounding teachers who are on a one year contract that have been renewed.

Maternity leave laws on EPK!

• Labor Standards 2011
• Equal Employment Act 2011
  

Maternity leave laws on AFIK

• Free Medical Care for Pregnant Women
• Equal Employment Act 2011
• Labor Standards 2011

Maternity leave laws online

• 2014 Employment Policy on the Ministry of Labor's Website
• "Act on Equal Employment and Support for Work-Family Reconciliation Article 18.2" (Paternity Leave) became effective August 2012 
• Am I entitled to maternity leave? 
• Pregnancy, Maternity, Childcare Leave Info in English
• Live in Korea

General legal advice

• American Embassy Lawyer List
• Ask Korea Law
• ATEK had a huge list of lawyers on their Legal Resource page but no longer exists and I don't know how to find the cache of this.
• Korea Business Central
• Korean Laws in English
• Labour Board: 1350 and 031-259-0203
• Legal Office for Foreign Teachers (LOFT) Facebook group. Be sure to check out the files.
• List of Lawyers (LOFT) (Legal Office for Foreign Teachers)
• Immigration: 1345. They're open from 9 to 5pm, but closed for lunch between 12-1pm. Press 1 for Korean, 2 for Chinese, and 3 for English. Have your ARC ready because you get faster service if you enter your ARC number. 
• Kangnam Labor Law Firm
• KLAC (Korea Legal Aid Corporation) 
• Practical Advice for Legal Situations (PALS) on Facebook. Be sure to check out the files.
• Seoul Bar Association on Mondays from 2:00 to 5:00 PM has free legal advice. To get there take the subway to Seocho Station on Line #2 to Seocho Station (224) and go out exit 7. The office is behind the Hyundae Gas Station. Tel: 3476-8080.  
• Seoul Global Center: 02-2075-4138. They have lots of useful info about living in Korea. They can also exchange driver's license for Korean ones for Canadians. 
• Union TNC, Seoul, Jongro-gu, kyong eun dong, SK Building, 1st floor, Office 113. (It's by Anguk Station).Tel: 02-318-5274; Email:uniontnc@gmail.com 

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Walking Out Hours After Giving Birth

Over two years ago I went to Rosa's clinic where I was going to give birth and asked how long I could stay after giving birth. Rosa told me I was allowed to stay a maximum of 8 (eight!) hours, but that most people stayed between 6-8 hours. My eyes nearly popped out of my head. I couldn't understand being forced to leave so quickly after pushing a human out of my body.

I then asked if they had any wheelchairs to wheel me out on after giving birth. Now it was Rosa's turn to look at me strangely as she told me I had to walk out.

Having second thoughts
I don't know. I'll be honest, at that point I was starting to think that I was getting into something that was over my head. I mean, come on, women usually stay 3 days after giving birth vaginally, 5 days if it's a C-section. And even then they're wheeled out.

Finding out about options
I started doing more research and eventually took a birthing class with Karen. I found out that not only was it possible, but it was something that most women around the world do. Think of women in the past, who were attended by women and who thought of birth as a natural process, not a huge medical procedure. (I do recognise the fact that not all babies can be born without any medical intervention, however, I think that the medicine profession has taken over the birthing process far too much) Think of the women in the Far East who leave the rice paddies, squat, birth their baby, and walk back to the paddies with their baby on their boobs. Or women who birth in the middle of a birthing pool in their living room surrounded by their whole families. They can do it, so why can't we?

Contrast that with what many women face as a reality of being strapped to the bed, not able to move, hooked up to a number of drips and drugs, being shouted at to push while the machines beep in the background, the doctor barely looking at you as he cuts the cord and leaves. It's all so impersonal, so cold. It's not the intimate, spiritual, and emotion journey that it should be.

My daughter's birth
I found a great doula, Casey, who helped me every step of the way. Stacy also attended my birth since she was shadowing Casey at the time. Although I didn't get the exact birth I wanted due to things beyond my control (my water broke 3 weeks early due to emotional shock), I was able to avoid most interventions and did walk out of the clinic a little less than 8 hours later.

I can't describe the high I felt. It was amazing. Even though I had been in labor for about 53 hours and spent the later 18 hooked up to pitocin I felt wonderful. I'd never felt so alive and full of energy. Not only did I walk out unassisted, but I was pretty much painfree other than the tugging I felt from the stitches. I wanted to walk out holding my daughter, but Rosa wouldn't let me. Still being able to walk out instead of being wheeled to the car was an incredible feeling.

The problem we have to deal with
Unfortunately we have Hollywood and the media to thank for our distorted views on birth that is so ingrained on us after years and years of watching tv. The number 1 surgery performed in the US is a C-section. Approximately 1 out of 3 babies in the USA (and Korea) are delivered via C-section. This number far greater than the WHO recommended rate of 10%-15%. which is about the same as the C-section rate in Korea. Sadly, many of these C-sections are unnecessary. One way to avoid C-sections is to stop unnecessary interventions.

More Resources for C-sections

• C-Sections: An Easy Way Out
• C-Section: How to Avoid, Prepare for, and Recover From Your Cesarean 
• C-Section Rate Stable for Third Year, New Report Shows
• C-Section Rates Vary Across US Hospitals
• The Essential C-Section Guide
• Why the National US C-Section Rate is So High

You can change all that
There are a number of things you can do to get the birth you want. It's your birth, you should be able to choose what you want to do. Walking out shortly after giving birth is totally a possibility.


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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Breastfeeding in Public in Korea

Updated 5 September 2016

I was recently asked what Koreans think about breastfeeding in public. I have to say that only once have I had an issue with it. I have no qualms about breastfeeding in public and have done so on the subway, bus, and even walking down the street cradling my daughter when she was sleeping. My daughter's almost 2 and a half and I'm still breastfeeding. In Korean age she's 4 and I think that some Koreans believe that breastfeeding until Korean age 2 is ok, but after that it's not.

Breastfeeding Lounges
Many department stores, immigration offices, some restaurants, as well as some train stations will have breastfeeding lounges. They can run from basic to very nice. They'll have things such as changing tables, microwaves, fridges, cribs, wipes, and even scales. Here's a map of breastfeeding lounges throughout Seoul. This is not a complete map.

Problems with Breastfeeding in Public
Which brings me to the one time I have had an issue with breastfeeding in public. We were on the subway and I started to breastfeed her and an old lady asked how old she was and I said she was 3. She proceeded to do the flapping hand thing and say something about age 2. So I did the flapping hand thing as well and told her to go away. She in Korean and me in English. I don't understand Korean, but I'm pretty sure the jist of it was that my daughter was too old to breastfeed according to her. Even though I nursed my daughter until she was almost 4 (western), I did it less and less in public as she got older.

Koreans are Open to Breastfeeding
Many older people will actually tell you to breastfeed. I remember being on the subway when she was a baby and them telling me that she was hungry and that I should feed her. I've also been assisted by a random ajumma in the sauna with latching. It can be annoying, all the unwanted advice you get. It's just cultural. They do it to Koreans as well. They're trying to help and they mean well.

I have found that nursing seems to be more talked about with the older generation. And by that, I've found that they want to give you advice. But that might be a generation gap issue with older people offering more advice in general, ex, your baby's too cold, or too hot, or too whatever. 

There are nursing rooms in subway stations, department stores, zoos, kids' cafes, immigration offices, and even some of the new subway trains have them. They're very nice, some have multiple rooms with changing areas, nursing areas, sink, microwave, etc. Some are more basic and just have a table and chair.

Koreans' Reactions to Breastfeeding
I know that some women try to cover up and use nursing covers. Those seem to work for the first couple of months and then babies want to see what's going on and will push it off. There are other options, such as nursing in a wrap or carrier, or using your hand or scarf to cover up a bit. Just like you wouldn't like eating under a blanket, many babies don't like it either.

I've heard of some good come back from women who are told to cover up. Some are nicer than others. One of my favorites is when I woman is offered a blanket and she tells the person thanks, but she doesn't need it and they're welcome to use it to cover their eyes if they'd like to.

I have never, ever been stared at. When people realize you're breastfeeding they tend to divert their eyes and look away. There are many, many articles about breastfeeding in public, or nursing in public (NIP) out there. Here's one from Double Think called Every Argument about NIP Debunked. It has photos, so you might not want to view it at work. I personally like the warrior photo.

Breastfeeding Legalities: legally during the first 12 months after giving birth you are either allowed to come an hour late, leave an hour early, or given an hour two 30 minute sessions to pump at work. Here is some useful links. All docs are from 2011.

• the Act on Equal Employment Support for Work-Family Reconciliation in English 
• the Act for Equal Employment Support for Work-Family Reconciliation in Korean 
• the Labor Standards in English. 

The Acts for Equal Employment have all maternity, paternity, and childcare laws. However, laws are not always followed here. You may be given a closet to pump in or told to go to the bathroom.



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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

HypnoBirthing® vs Hypnobabies®

Updated 14 November 2017

When I was pregnant, I looked into many different types of child birthing classes and two hypnosis classes kept coming up. Below you can find out the pros and cons of each of these methods. While HypnoBirthing® and Hypnobabies® both try to allow the mother and baby to have a natural, peaceful birth, there are still a few differences between the two programs. Some of this information is based off Birthing Naturally and Pregnancy, Birth, and Babies. If you're a professional intrested in the process of getting advanced hypnotherapy training, check out the hypnosis and childbirth online certification.
 

HypnoBirthing®

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HypnoBirthing® Pros

• Created by Marie Mongan, M.Ed., M.Hy. in the late 1980s, it was the first course to use hypnosis for childbirth.
• Many women say that the information that they learn in the course can be used for other parts of their lives. 
• It's more effective for home births than hospital or clinic births.
• Many women find that it's very helpful for them in the early stages of labor.
• There are many HypnoBirthing® practitioners and it has a strong following. 

HypnoBirthing® Cons

• Since it's based on the idea that childbirth should be painless, coping techniques aren't provided. 
• Because women don't learn about pain or interventions, they are often given unnecessary interventions.
• Benefits and risks of different birthing options are not discussed.
• Many women find that HypnoBirthing® doesn't work at the end of their labor.

My Conclusions about HypnoBirthing®
I do know a handful of people who have studied HypnoBirthing® and while they said that it did help at the beginning of their labor, it didn't prepare them for the end of their labor, making them feel that they had failed and had nothing to fall back on. Now this is quite normal, for women to expect one thing and get another. It's always good to have a plan and a back-up plan. The problem with HypnoBirthing® is that it only provides one plan that everyone is supposed to follow.

HypnoBirthing® has its own set of words that you have to learn. There is no pain or contractions, but rather discomfort, sensations, and waves. I think that it's good that it tries to get rid of all the painful, negative images about birthing that we've been bombarded with all our lives. I also do know that it is possible to have a peaceful, pain-free birth. However, many women experience sensations that they are not prepared to deal with. Due to this, they may end up feeling bitter about their birth experience.

Hypnobabies®

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Hypnobabies® Pros

• Created by Kerry Tuschhoff, HCHI, CHt. Cl., who originally was a HypnoBirthing® practitioner and felt that the course was missing key information.
• They offer a home study option.
• They use powerful hypno-anesthesia techniques (medical hypnosis, like what people have used for surgeries) such as eye-open hypnosis with the finger-drop technique.
• Moms prefer it because it's more effective and provides a more rounded and more comprehensive view of child birthing, such as back labor and how to deal with it.
• There's more material that is updated frequently based on feedback from people who have used their course such as consumer information, recorded material, scripts for partners, and a quick reference guide.

Hypnobabies® Cons

• There are fewer instructors compared to HypnoBirthing®. 
• Classes are longer. There are six 3-hour classes compared to five 2.5-hour HypnoBirthing® classes.
• Home study courses  aren't the same as having an actual teacher. 
• Some people say that it strongly resembles HypnoBirthing®.

My Conclusions about Hypnobabies®
I think that Hypnobabies® is much more comprehensive than HypnoBirthing®. They teach about stages of labor and what coping techniques can be used for each stage. They compare expectant management to what active management techniques that many doctors use. They give women facts and allow them to pick and choose what they like to create their own birth plan. They recognize that different women want different things.

The fact that they also offer a home study course makes it a better option for people in Korea who may not be able to attend face-to-face classes with an instructor. Hypnobabies® recognizes that they don't have all the answers and due to that they use their customers' feedback to update the course.

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My Recommendation
I personally would recommend doing the home study option from Hypnobabies®. There are only a few HypnoBirthing® instructors and there aren't any Hypnobabies® instructors.

If you're looking for HypnoBirthing® classes, they can be found on my list of instructors as well as on the HypnoBirthing® website.

By doing the home study option from Hypnobabies®, you can work at your own pace in your own home. It's recommended that you start in your second trimester. You can start later, but keep in mind that it's a 5 week course and that babies come early. After you finish the course, you will want to review every day or so in order to keep the information fresh in your mind.



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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Ina May Gaskin and the Farm Midwifery Center

A pioneer in the field of natural birthing, Ina May Gaskin MA, CPM, PhD (Hon.) is the nation's leading midwife. She shows us how we should learn from how our ancestors birthed, without fear and trusting in our bodies. She recognises that there is a strong mind-body connection and the majority of women can birth without interventions.

Despite her low tech facilities on the Farm Midwifery Center, she has beat her high tech counterparts achieving low rates of interventions, morbidity, and mortality. She also has high rates of delivering twins and breech babies vaginally and even babies with shoulder dystocia.

An author of a handful of books about birthing and breastfeeding, as well as a recipient of many awards, she is out to change the world and help women birth without fear. Her website contacts articles, books, and videos and are backed up with statistical data.

Her book Ina May's Guide to Childbirth is a fantastic read since childbirth is explained in layman's terms, but also contains tons of medical references that you can show to your doctor to help back you up. Her TED talk is a powerful, moving video about reducing fear during the birthing process. The fear-pain-tension process is something that has to be eliminated and becoming informed is the first step you can take. Other videos that you might like to watch are Orgasmic Birth and Organic Birth and the Business of Being Born.  There's also a sequel, called More Business of Being Born, which has four parts.

1. Part 1: Down on the Farm
2. Part 2: Special Deliveries
3. Part 3: Explore Your Options
4. Part 4: The VBAC Dilemma

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.