Unpaid wages? How to file a complaint, and what help foreigners can use

If your employer has not paid your wages, you can file a complaint (임금체불 진정) with the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Until 23 September the ministry is also running extra checks on about 8,000 workplaces, but you can file a complaint at any time.

How to file

• Online on the Labour Portal (labor.moel.go.kr), after logging in, or in person at the labour office for your workplace's area. Post also works.
• It is free. The standard handling time is 25 days.
• If you left your job, pay that is not given within 14 days of leaving counts as unpaid. This includes severance pay and bonuses.
• Keep your contract, payslips and bank records.

Help when the employer still does not pay

• Substitute payment (대지급금): the government pays unpaid wages for the employer, up to 10 million won. Foreign workers can claim it from the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service (근로복지공단) when the employer's wage guarantee insurance did not cover them.
• The 1% living-cost loan for workers with unpaid wages is not open to foreigners. Its credit guarantee excludes foreigners.

Phone help
Call 1350 and press 5 for help in English or Chinese.

Next step: gather your contract and pay records, then file the complaint on the Labour Portal or at your local labour office.

Sources: MOEL Labour Portal complaint page; MOEL press release, 31 August 2026; MOEL press release, 1 September 2026; Easy-to-find Legal Information. Checked 15 September 2026.