South Korea: Employment insurance will be expanded to include more categories of workers

South Korea is taking steps to broaden its social safety net for the workforce. The country's labour ministry issued a draft decree on July 22, 2026, aimed at extending employment insurance coverage to additional job categories. This move marks a significant update to the current policy, which already supports insurance planners, after-school instructors, delivery drivers, and credit card recruiters.

The proposed changes bring specific groups into the fold. This includes cross-recruiters who work across both life and non-life insurance sectors, as well as recruiters for credit unions and the Korean Federation of Community Credit Cooperatives. The education sector also sees changes, with the inclusion of instructors for specialized programs at kindergartens and daycare centers.

Additional updates target the logistics and financial sectors. Drivers who handle furniture installation as part of their delivery work under the Act on Consumer Logistics Services are now included. Affiliate recruiters for credit card membership are also covered under the new proposal.

The labour ministry designed these changes to address the current gap where the existing scheme covers too few categories. By expanding these protections, the government expects to add approximately 17,000 workers to the insurance rolls. This legislative update remains open for public commentary until August 31, 2026, allowing stakeholders to weigh in before the decree moves forward.

These adjustments reflect a wider trend of governments adapting social protections to fit modern employment patterns. As gig work and specialized labor roles grow, ensuring these individuals have access to insurance becomes a priority for national labour departments. The ministry move ensures that more workers gain access to the benefits and stability that traditional employment insurance provides.