Parental leave benefit is much larger when both parents take it. This is the 6+6 dual-parent scheme: for a child under 18 months, if both mother and father take leave, each gets 100% of ordinary wage for the first 6 months, with the cap rising each month. It can mean millions of won more than one parent taking leave alone. Check your estimate by selecting "6+6" in the parental leave calculator.
What is 6+6?
- Condition: both parents take leave for a child under 18 months.
- Benefit: each parent's first 6 months are paid at 100% of ordinary wage, with a monthly-rising cap.
- Simultaneous or sequential: either works — each parent gets their own 6-month special period.
Monthly caps (per parent)
The key is the rising cap. The higher your ordinary wage, the more you benefit from those higher caps.
| Month | Rate | Cap (per parent) |
|---|---|---|
| Months 1–2 | 100% | ₩2.5M |
| Month 3 | 100% | ₩3.0M |
| Month 4 | 100% | ₩3.5M |
| Month 5 | 100% | ₩4.0M |
| Month 6 | 100% | ₩4.5M |
| Month 7+ | 80% (standard) | ₩1.6M |
From month 7, it reverts to standard benefit (80%, ₩1.6M cap).
Alone vs. both parents (first 6 months, per parent)
Assuming ordinary wage is above the caps, here's the first-6-month benefit.
| Case | First 6 months (one parent) |
|---|---|
| Standard (250·250·250·200·200·200) | ₩13.5M |
| 6+6 (250·250·300·350·400·450) | ₩20.0M |
| Difference | +₩6.5M per parent |
Each parent gets this difference, so a couple can receive about ₩13M more combined (maximum, when ordinary wage exceeds the caps).
Example: a couple earning ₩4M each
Both parents have a ₩4M ordinary wage. ① 6+6 first 6 months each: 250+250+300+350+400+400 (month 6 cap is 450 but wage is 400) = ₩19.5M each. ② Couple total ≈ ₩39M. ③ Had they each taken standard leave, the first 6 months would be ₩13.5M each (₩27M), so 6+6 yields about ₩12M more. Check your own figures with the calculator set to "6+6".
Checklist
- ☐ Is the child under 18 months?
- ☐ Does your spouse also have coverage and qualify?
- ☐ Choose simultaneous or sequential to fit your situation
- ☐ Each should take 6+ months to fully use the special period
- ☐ Coordinate with spousal maternity leave and parental leave timing
Key point. 6+6 does not require taking leave at the same time. One parent can take 6 months, then the other — each still gets the special period. If a total income gap worries you, sequential use keeps household income flowing.
FAQ
Q. Does 6+6 apply to a second or third child?
Yes, per child, as long as the under-18-months condition is met. Confirm details with the employment center.
Q. What if only one parent has a high wage?
The rising cap benefits higher wages more. Have the higher earner cover the later months (5–6, caps ₩4.0M–4.5M) to maximize the total.
Q. Do we apply for 6+6 separately?
Claiming parental leave benefit triggers the special treatment when conditions are met. Since the spouse's leave must be verified, submit the relevant info when applying. The employment center (Employment 24) will guide you.
Q. What about after month 7?
The 6+6 special applies only to the first 6 months; from month 7 it's standard benefit (80%, ₩1.6M). Total duration follows the rules in our parental leave guide.
6+6 pays the first 6 months at 100% with rising caps when both parents take leave. Above the caps, a couple can receive over ₩10M more — if you can both take leave, it's worth planning.
This is general information based on the 2026 rules; actual eligibility and amounts depend on the employment center's review. Confirm with the Ministry of Employment and Labor (1350).
