Should workers get time off to mourn pets?

For many pet owners, losing a companion animal can feel like losing a family member.

But whether that grief should be recognized at work remains a divisive question in South Korea.

A small but growing number of companies now offer pet bereavement leave, reflecting the rise of pets as family members.

But the idea remains controversial, exposing a gap between changing household realities and workplace benefits still largely built around marriage, childbirth and childcare.

As of 2026, only a handfu ...