Guide · JOB · 101
If you're not paid
Wage theft is illegal and the process is free. Here's what to do.
In short
- Wage theft (임금체불) is illegal and you can do something about it, whatever your visa status. It happens to foreign workers a lot more often, so it's good to know the process.
- Call 1350, the Ministry of Employment and Labor hotline, to report unpaid wages. Interpreters are available. Filing a complaint is free.
- Gather evidence: your contract, payslips, bank records, work schedules, messages. Anything that shows what you're owed.
- You can file and keep your visa, and in serious cases wage theft can be a reason for a workplace transfer (for E-9 workers).
Not getting paid what you're owed is one of the most common and stressful problems foreign workers have in Korea. The law protects you here, the complaint process is free, and help is available in many languages. Acting early and keeping evidence helps a lot.
What counts as wage theft
- Not paying your wages at all, or paying after 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
- Taking 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) paid in, work schedules or time records, and any messages about pay or hours. You don't need all of it to file, but more evidence makes things faster.
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 help with language 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 looks at the case and can call in the employer. Many cases get settled at this stage once the employer is under official pressure.
Take it further if needed
If the employer still won't pay, the case can go further, including legal action. In some situations, government funds can also pay certain unpaid wages in advance. Ask the Labor Office.
If your passport or ARC is being held
An employer holding your passport or ARC is illegal in every case. You need your ARC to use these worker-protection services. If this is happening to you, report it right away to MOEL (1350) or immigration (1345). Treat it as urgent.
Related workplace problems
- Workplace injury: get medical treatment first, then report it to your employer and the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service. Don't let anyone pressure you into hiding it. That's illegal and you'd lose 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 for free too.
Will filing hurt my visa?
You can file and keep your visa. For E-9 workers, serious violations like wage theft can even be grounds for a legal workplace transfer. Talk to 1350/1345 first.
What if I already left the job or the country?
You may still be able to claim, so keep all your evidence. Contact the Labor Office or 1350 to check your options. It's much easier to act while you're still in Korea, though.
My employer says my visa means I don't get severance. True?
No. Severance is owed to anyone who worked 1+ year, no matter the visa or whether you resigned. Refusing to pay 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, so check the current steps by calling 1350 or 1345. General information, not legal advice.
Dealing with unpaid wages?
Lots of people have been through this. Ask others who've filed how it went. Post in the community and tag it Jobs.