Unpaid Wages
If your wages, allowances, or severance aren’t paid on the due date, foreign workers are protected by law just the same regardless of nationality or visa. You can file a complaint (jinjeong) to demand payment, or a criminal report (goso) for a Labor Standards Act violation. Gather evidence and report to the Ministry of Employment and Labor — a labor inspector investigates, and multilingual help is available at ☎1350. Whether it is a violation and the exact amount are decided by the inspector/experts, so don’t conclude on your own.
What to prepare
- Employment contract
- Attendance / working-hours records
- Pay slips and bank deposit records
- A note of the unpaid amount and period
- Passport and ARC
How to proceed
- 1Secure evidence first (documents above — slips and bank records are key)
- 2Consult the labor counseling center ☎1350 (interpretation available)
- 3File online via the MOEL labor portal (labor.moel.go.kr) or visit the regional labor office for your workplace
- 4A labor inspector investigates the facts (processing takes time — varies by case)
- 5If confirmed, a corrective/payment order follows — non-compliance can lead to legal action
- 6If still unpaid, you may be guided to wage-guarantee schemes and legal steps
Tips
- You can report even before leaving Korea — wage claims have a time limit, so don’t delay.
- ⚠️ Whether it’s a violation and the amount are decided by the inspector — don’t conclude alone; consult ☎1350 or a labor attorney first.
- Even after you quit, your right to be paid remains (you can report if you have evidence).
- If it’s hard alone, get help from a labor attorney, a migrant worker support center, or Korea Legal Aid (☎132).
Key contacts
- Ministry of Employment and Labor counseling ☎1350 (multilingual / interpretation)
- Korea Legal Aid Corporation ☎132 (free legal advice)
- MOEL labor portal labor.moel.go.kr (online complaint)
Solve it with a tool
Related guides
This is general information and has no legal force. Labor and residence rules depend on your situation and policy — always verify with experts (Ministry of Employment and Labor ☎1350, a labor attorney) and official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-09