Increasing Survivor Pension Rates and Doubling Funeral Condolence Payments for Hazardous Duty: Public Official Disaster Compensation Strengthened

Up to 8 Years of Sick Leave for Work-Related Illnesses...

"Emergency Work Suspension" Introduced for Suicide Risk

Ministry of Personnel Management Announces Comprehensive Disaster Compensation Plan

State Responsibility Expanded from P

The payment rate for survivors' pensions for the families of public officials who died in the line of duty while performing high-risk tasks will be increased, and the minimum condolence payment for public officials who die on duty will be doubled from the current amount. Public officials engaged in high-risk duties who require long-term medical treatment due to work-related illnesses will be able to take a leave of absence for up to eight years, regardless of their occupation. In addition, a new "Emergency Work Suspension" system will be introduced, allowing public officials facing urgent situations such as suicide risk to immediately halt work and receive treatment.

On September 14, the Ministry of Personnel Management announced a "Comprehensive Plan for Improving the Public Officials' Occupational Accident Compensation System" containing these measures. The purpose is to expand the scope of the state's responsibility beyond compensation for accidents occurring during public service, to also cover prevention, rehabilitation, and return to work.

First, compensation for public officials and their families who have made sacrifices during public service will be strengthened. The payment rate for survivors' pensions for line-of-duty deaths in high-risk positions will be raised from the current 43–63% of the standard monthly income to 47–67%. The minimum condolence payment for public officials who die on duty will also be doubled from KRW 5.95 million to KRW 11.9 million based on this year’s standard.

The system will also be improved to ensure that survivors of public officials who died on duty do not lose out on veterans' compensation benefits due to lack of understanding or procedural delays. Currently, the bereaved must apply separately to the Ministry of Personnel Management and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to be recognized as national merit recipients. Going forward, amendments to the Act on the Honors and Support for Persons of Distinguished Services to the State and other related laws will be pursued so that veterans’ compensation rights are granted based on whichever is earlier: the filing date for survivors’ allowance claims or the application date for registration as a national merit recipient.

Support for the treatment and return to work of public officials injured on the job will also be expanded. Rehabilitation benefit eligibility will be extended to six months after the completion of medical care, up from the current three months, and the support period will also be increased from three to six months. The maximum amount provided for rehabilitation exercise expenses will be raised from KRW 300,000 to KRW 600,000.

The medical leave system for work-related illnesses will be standardized across job categories. The period of leave previously differing by occupation despite performing the same high-risk duties will be improved so that all public officials in high-risk positions can take up to eight years of work-related medical leave. In addition, a phased return-to-work system will be introduced, allowing public officials returning from long-term medical treatment to first work under an adjusted workplace and work scope, before transitioning to normal duties depending on their recovery progress.

The prevention system for managing risk factors prior to the occurrence of occupational accidents will also be strengthened. Each agency will be required to designate a person in charge of accident prevention and establish health and safety management regulations. There will also be new grounds for personnel actions such as job reassignment, medical leave, or leave of absence based on the results of psychological evaluations and health screenings.

In particular, a new "Emergency Work Suspension" system will be established to ensure that public officials identified as being in crisis, such as those at risk of suicide, can be immediately separated from their work duties and receive medical care. The Government Officials Mental Health Center will be expanded, and links with non-face-to-face counseling as well as with local suicide prevention centers will be strengthened. On this day, the Ministry of Personnel Management pre-announced an enactment of the "Regulations on Prevention of Occupational Accidents for Public Officials," with plans to implement them from the end of February next year.

An amendment to the National Public Officials Act will also be pursued to clearly specify the obligation to report workplace bullying and the duty of agencies to respond. To enhance the expertise of occupational accident compensation reviews, the number of committee members on the Public Officials’ Accident Compensation Review Committee will be increased from 100 to 200, and the Public Officials' Accident Pension Committee from 50 to 100.

Sanctions for fraudulent claims and the reward and protection system for whistleblowers will be strengthened. Legal grounds will also be established to restrict payment of survivors' benefits to those who have lost inheritance rights due to serious breaches of support obligations or crimes.

Choi Dongsuk, head of the Ministry of Personnel Management, stated, "We have institutionalized the principle that the state must responsibly protect public officials from accidents occurring in the course of their service to the people," adding, "We will create an environment where public officials can perform their duties with peace of mind."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.