A foreign student asked me this. "I heard annual leave is a right guaranteed by law, so why does everyone write 'personal reasons' as the reason?" The right definitely exists, but how people use it varies depending on the workplace atmosphere. ## When the leave request form has a reason field You don't have to write in detail. 'Personal reasons' isn't a lie; it's closer to a short greeting. Many Korean workplaces have a small number of people sharing the work. When one person is out, a coworker has to cover that work right away. So you're showing that you're letting them know in advance and asking for their understanding. Giving your dates early matters more than writing a long explanation. ## When your boss asks "Why?" and asks you that Often, they aren't actually angry. It's a question to check whether that day is busy. Before explaining your reason, ask like this first. "Would it be okay for the schedule if I take that day off?" That makes the conversation go more smoothly. However, if they say you can't take time off unless you give a reason, or if they block you from using it altogether, it may be a problem rather than common practice. ## When you're a part-timer and don't know if you have annual leave I won't tell you a specific number of days here. It can vary depending on how long you've worked, how many hours you work per week, and the size of the workplace. First, check your employment contract. If you still aren't sure, call the Ministry of Employment and Labor helpline at 1350 and ask. It's much faster if you write down your contract details and the dates you worked before you call. Check at that time whether they offer consultations in foreign languages, too.