A former airline chief who refused to allow female employees to take a leave of absence protected by employment law was fined nearly $ 1,800 (£ 1,300; 2m won) by a South Korean court.
Kim Soo-cheon, former head of Asiana Airlines, rejected 138 applications from 15 female flight attendants in 2014 and 2015.
Mr Kim says staff did not provide evidence of menstruation.
Since 1953, South Korean women have been allowed to take leave one day a month if they have periods of pain.
Menstrual Leaves
It allows women to take one or two days a day, sometimes unpaid, when they go through menstruation
It is found in many places, including Japan, Indonesia and Taiwan
However, the take-up among women is often low
Proponents claim that menstruation leave is as important for women as maternity leave, a recognition of basic biological processes.
But critics say it strengthens the negative stereotypes of women workers and could prevent even employers from hiring women
Court Verdict
A lower court first found against Mr Kim in 2017. He had argued there were “many suspicious cases” when employees requested leave around holidays or days off, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reports.
However, the court said asking employees to show they were going to their time “could violate privacy and human rights”.
The decision was upheld by the high court.
