Employment insurance — opt in when hired, or no unemployment benefits
This page is machine translated from Ieumi's guide written in Korean. If the meaning is confusing, please look at the Korean original text. View original text (Korean)
For employment statuses such as Non-professional Employment (E-9), Working Visit (H-2), and E-7, unemployment benefits are not automatic. Coverage applies only after applying, and the application is submitted by the company to the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service. Past periods are not applied retroactively, so raise it as soon as you start the job.
📌 Key points
Enrollment takes effect from the day after application, and past periods are not applied retroactively. There is no way to enroll after you've already lost your job. F-5, F-6, and some F-2 holders are automatically enrolled. Don't confuse this with the statement "E-9 and H-2 are also automatically covered by employment insurance" — what is automatically applied is the employment stability and vocational skills development programs; unemployment benefits still require an application.
📍 Where to go
Through your employer, filed with the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service
⚠️ Things to watch out for
If your employer delays or refuses, contact the Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service at 1588-0075.
❗ What happens if you don't
If you lose your job without having opted in, you cannot receive unemployment benefits.
See also
Basis
- 고용보험법 제10조의2 · 시행령 제3조의3(외국인에 대한 법의 적용 범위) — 색인 대조 2026-08-28
- 출입국관리법 시행령 제23조(외국인의 취업과 체류자격) — 색인 대조 2026-08-28
- https://www.gangseolabor.org/counsel/online/page/1/post/131
- 고용보험법 제40조(구직급여의 수급 요건) 제1항제1호 (법제처 국가법령정보센터)
- 고용보험법 시행령 제3조의3 제1호 — 당연적용은 D-7 · D-8 · D-9 · F-5 와 「출입국관리법 시행령 제23조제2항 각 호」(일부 F-2 · F-6 등) — 법제처 API 원문 대조 2026-10-21 (MST 288717)
This content was checked on 2026-10-21.