Jeju Air said Monday that the number of employees taking parental leave last year rose sharply compared with the previous year, reflecting the airline's ongoing efforts to help staff balance work and family life.
The number of Jeju Air employees who took parental leave has grown each year since 2023 — from 114 (16 men, 98 women) that year to 123 (29 men, 94 women) in 2024, and 186 (49 men, 137 women) last year. The 2025 figure represents a 51.2 percent increase, or 63 more employees, compared with 2024. Male employees taking parental leave rose 69 percent (20 people), while female employees increased 45.7 percent (43 people).
In line with government policy improvements on work-life balance, Jeju Air plans to roll out a series of measures in sequence: introducing a short-term parental leave system, creating spousal miscarriage and stillbirth leave, implementing pre- and post-birth leave for spouses, applying an expanded parental leave scope that allows male workers to take leave before their spouse gives birth, and extending the paid period for infertility treatment leave.
The company also conducts internal human rights impact assessments to continuously monitor potential issues related to employees' labor and human rights, while supporting the use of policies designed to protect maternity and promote work-life balance.
Jeju Air said it plans to boost use of its existing work-life balance programs while reducing the risks of discrimination and career disruption that can arise during pregnancy, childbirth and child-rearing. The goal is to create a work environment where employees can sustain stable careers alongside their family responsibilities.
"We are actively implementing work-life balance policies so that employees can respond more flexibly to the various caregiving demands that arise at each stage of their children's lives, while continuing their careers without interruption," a Jeju Air official said. "Going forward, we will reflect the diverse voices of our employees, expand programs that are genuinely useful, and build a healthy organizational culture."
Meanwhile, Jeju Air has been working to create a more flexible work environment by launching AI skills training to help employees quickly adapt to workplace changes brought about by the shift toward AI and digital transformation.
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