File an unpaid wage complaint 임금체불 진정
If your employer does not pay your wages, severance pay or allowances, you can file a complaint (진정) with the Ministry of Employment and Labor. It is free. A labor inspector looks into your case and orders the employer to pay. If the employer still does not pay, you may get money from wage guarantee insurance or the government (대지급금).
Can I file this?
Answer 2 quick questions.
Did you work and not get all of your pay, severance or allowances on time? (If you quit, has it been more than 14 days since you left?)
If your employer still has time to pay (for example, less than 14 days since you quit), wait first. If you are not sure, call 1350 or 1577-0071.
Is the unpaid money from the last 3 years?
Wage claims expire after 3 years. Pay older than that may be lost. Ask for advice quickly.
You can file. Labor law protects foreign workers the same as Korean workers. Since 6 Nov 2025, officials investigating unpaid wages do not have to report undocumented workers to immigration.
Your timeline
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Step by step
Tick each item as you finish it. Your progress is saved on this device.
- 1
Collect your evidence
You do thisBefore you fileMore evidence makes your case faster. Keep copies of everything.
!For unpaid severance, keep payslips for your last 3 months. - 2
File the complaint
You do thisAs soon as possible, within 3 yearsFile with the labor office that covers your workplace: online on the Labor Portal, by mail, or in person. Online filing uses Korean identity checks (simple-authentication app, certificate or mobile phone). If you cannot log in, go in person or send the form by mail.
- 3
A labor inspector investigates
The agency does thisWithin 25 days of filing (can be extended)An inspector (근로감독관) calls you and the employer in to give statements. If the employer broke the law, the inspector orders them to pay. If they refuse, the case can go to criminal investigation. You get text or KakaoTalk alerts at each stage.
!If you do not come after being called 2 or more times, your case can be closed. - 4
Get the unpaid wage certificate
The agency does thisAfter the investigation, if still unpaidThe ministry can issue an unpaid wage certificate (체불 임금등·사업주 확인서). It confirms the unpaid amount and the employer. You need it to claim insurance or the substitute payment.
- 5
Claim insurance or the substitute payment
You do thisWithin 6 months of getting the certificateEPS workers: first claim the employer's wage guarantee insurance (up to 4 million won) from Seoul Guarantee Insurance with your certificate. If that does not cover you, claim the government substitute payment (대지급금) from the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service. They normally decide within 14 days.
!Substitute payment limits: up to 7 million won for wages and 7 million won for severance, 10 million won in total.
Documents checklist
Tick each document as you get it. Your list is saved on this device.
0 of 6 documents ready
- Employment contract (근로계약서)Your copy from your employer
- Payslips (급여명세서)Your employer
- Salary account statementYour bank
- Proof of hours: attendance records, chat messages, recordingsYour phone or records you kept
- Complaint form (진정서). English, Vietnamese, Thai, Khmer, Chinese and other languages availableLabor Portal complaint page, or the labor office
- Unpaid wage certificate (later, for insurance or substitute payment)Labor office, after the investigation
How to fill in the form
Tap a numbered area on the form, or use Next, to see what to write there.
EXAMPLE1Read this first
This English form is a translation for reference. You must submit the Korean form, written in Korean. If writing Korean is hard, go to the labor office and ask for help or an interpreter.
21. About you (Complainant)
Your name, ID number (write your Alien Registration Number), address, mobile phone and email. Tick Yes to get status updates by text and on the Labor Portal.
32. About your employer (Respondent)
The employer's name and phone, the business name, the address where you actually worked, the business phone, and how many people work there. Tick Workplace or Construction site.
Blank official form shown as an example. The English version is for reference only: the form you submit must be the Korean form, filled in Korean. Use the English one to understand each box, or ask the labor office for an interpreter. Page 2 asks for your work period, wages and what happened. Download the official form (PDF) ↗
Undocumented or worried about your visa?
- Labor law covers you whatever your visa status.
- Since 6 Nov 2025, officials investigating unpaid wages do not have to report undocumented workers to immigration.
- This does not change your visa status itself.
- While your wage case is open, you may be able to apply for a G-1 stay status. Under G-1, work is generally not allowed. Ask 1345.
Other ways to get paid
- You can file a criminal complaint (고소) if you want the employer punished.
- You can go to civil court, for example small claims for up to 30 million won.
- If your average monthly pay was under 4 million won, Korea Legal Aid Corporation can help for free: 132.
Who to call
Tap to call.