Korea101
Korea 101  /  Jobs  /  Unpaid wages
JOB · 101

If you're not paid

Wage theft is illegal and the process is free. Here's exactly what to do.

In short

  • Wage theft (임금체불) is illegal and you can act on it — your visa status doesn't change that. Foreign workers are hit disproportionately, so know the process.
  • Call 1350 — the Ministry of Employment and Labor hotline — to report unpaid wages, with interpreter support. Filing a complaint is free.
  • Gather evidence: your contract, payslips, bank records, work schedules, messages — anything showing what you're owed.
  • You can file while keeping your visa, and in serious cases wage theft can justify a workplace transfer (for E-9 workers).

Not being paid what you're owed is one of the most common and stressful problems foreign workers face in Korea. The good news: the law is firmly on your side, the complaint process is free, and there's multilingual help. Acting early and keeping evidence makes all the difference.

What counts as wage theft

  • Not paying your wages at all, or paying late past the agreed date
  • Paying less than agreed, or less than minimum wage (₩10,320/hr in 2026)
  • Not paying overtime, holiday, or weekly-holiday (주휴수당) pay you're owed
  • Refusing severance pay (퇴직금) after you worked 1+ year
  • Making deductions you never agreed to in writing

Step by step

Collect your evidence

Gather your employment contract, payslips, bank statements showing what was (or wasn't) deposited, work schedules or time records, and any messages about pay or hours. You don't need all of it to file, but more evidence speeds things up.

Call 1350 (MOEL labor hotline)

Report the unpaid wages to the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The menu is in Korean, but interpretation is available — if you need a language connection first, call 1345 (immigration/foreigner support) or the Foreign Worker Counseling Center 1644-0644.

File a complaint at the Labor Office

Submit a wage-theft complaint (임금체불 진정) at your local Employment and Labor Office. It's free. They investigate and can order the employer to pay.

Cooperate with the investigation

A labor inspector reviews the case and can summon the employer. Many cases resolve at this stage once the employer faces official pressure.

Escalate if needed

If the employer still won't pay, the case can go further, including toward legal action. There are also government funds that can advance certain unpaid wages in specific situations — ask the Labor Office.

Don't quit or leave the country first without advice. Especially on an employer-tied visa (E-8/E-9), how and when you leave a job affects your status. You can file a wage-theft complaint while keeping your visa, and serious violations can justify a legal workplace transfer — but get guidance from 1350/1345 before walking away.

If your passport or ARC is being held

An employer holding your passport or ARC is illegal, full stop. You need your ARC to access these very worker-protection services. If this is happening, report it immediately to MOEL (1350) or immigration (1345) — treat it as urgent.

Related workplace problems

  • Workplace injury: get medical treatment first, then report to your employer and the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service. Don't let anyone pressure you to hide it — that's illegal and costs you your benefits.
  • Discrimination or abuse: the National Human Rights Commission handles workplace discrimination; the Foreign Worker Counseling Center (1644-0644) has interpreters.

Common questions

Does it cost money to file?

No. Filing a wage-theft complaint at the Labor Office is free, and the hotlines offer interpretation at no charge.

Will filing hurt my visa?

You can file while keeping your visa. In fact, for E-9 workers, serious violations like wage theft can be grounds for a legal workplace transfer. Get advice from 1350/1345 first.

What if I already left the job or the country?

You may still be able to claim — keep all your evidence. Contact the Labor Office or 1350 to check your options, but it's much easier to act while you're still in Korea.

My employer says my visa means I don't get severance. True?

False. Severance is owed to anyone who worked 1+ year, regardless of visa or whether you resigned. Refusing it is a violation you can report.

Sources: Ministry of Employment and Labor (moel.go.kr), Labor Standards Act, Wage Claim Guarantee Act, and current migrant-worker rights guidance. Helplines: 1350 (MOEL), 1345 (immigration), 1644-0644 (Foreign Worker Counseling Center).

Last verified: July 2026. Procedures and support services can change — confirm current steps by calling 1350 or 1345. General information, not legal advice.

Dealing with unpaid wages?

You're not alone — ask others who've filed how it went. Post in the community and tag it Jobs.

Ask the community →