Measures to Support Low Birth Rates

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission announced a plan to improve public employee personnel management, allowing civil servant couples to work in the same region for childbirth and childcare purposes.

This plan aims to support dual-income civil servants who are postponing their plans for children due to different work locations or who are handling childcare alone.

Revised Personnel Regulations

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission plans to revise personnel regulations to exceptionally allow transfer even during the ‘restriction period’ for public servants who are planning to get married or pregnant, are expected to give birth, or are in the process of raising children.

This revision will enable civil servants to relocate to live in the same area as their spouse if they wish.

Job Management Standards for Military Civilian Couples

The Ministry of National Defense will establish job management standards for military civilian couples in the ‘Military Civilian Personnel Management Directive’.

This will ensure that military civilian couples can work in the same region for childbirth and childcare purposes.

Establishing Specific Job Management Standards

Each central administrative agency will establish specific job management standards to allow civil servants who are planning to get married or pregnant, have a child, or are in the child-rearing period to be assigned to the same workplace as their spouse if possible.

This will promote a public service culture where couples can live together and work and raise children at the same time.

Response from Ministries

The Ministry of Public Administration and Security announced a partial amendment to the ‘Local Public Official Appointment Ordinance’ in response to the recommendations of the Civil Rights Commission.

The Ministry of Personnel Management will review revisions to related laws such as the ‘Public Official Appointment Ordinance’.

The Ministry of National Defense also accepts this and plans to revise the directive.

Statement from the Chairman of the Civil Rights Commission

Yoo Cheol-hwan, the chairman of the Civil Rights Commission, stated that supporting couples so that giving birth and raising children together can become a happy part of their daily lives is the basis of practical measures to address low birth rates.

He added that the commission is working with related ministries to create a public service culture where couples can live together and work and raise children at the same time.