I-EUMLiving in Korea

Unpaid wages — you can claim even without valid status

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)

Wages for work already done can be claimed even if you did not hold work authorization. The claim expires 3 years from each payday — the oldest amounts disappear first.

📌 Key points

Do not decide alone — get advice first. The Foreign Workers Counseling Center (1577-0071) handles wage claims in 18 languages. Filing with the Ministry of Employment and Labor is free.

📍 Where to go

Foreign Workers Counseling Center 1577-0071 (18 languages) · MOEL center 1350 (weekdays 9am–6pm) · File via the labor portal or your local labor office

⚠️ Things to watch out for

There is a protection for those without status (labor inspectors' immigration-reporting duty can be waived). It does not apply in every case and it does not make your stay lawful — before filing, confirm with a counselor whether your situation qualifies.

❗ What happens if you don't

This cannot be undone

Wages older than 3 years cannot be claimed. Leaving Korea does not erase the claim, but prepare a power of attorney, a Korean bank account, and proof of employment before you go.

If it is already late
Even if 3 years have passed, please ask 1350 first. When the counting starts differs for each kind of wage, and sometimes only part of it is out of time. Even if you have left the country, your right to claim remains, so please do not give it up.

See also

Basis

This content was checked on 2026-08-28.

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