When your wages have not arrived
Begin with dates and evidence. A short, organised record makes it easier for a labour adviser to understand what happened and what you are asking for.
By Seemile · Sources checked
Make a factual timeline
- Record the agreed payday, the period worked and the amount you believe is unpaid.
- Keep the contract, payslips, bank records and shift messages.
- Save copies of relevant messages in a place you can still access after leaving the job.
Ask for a written explanation
- Send a clear request for the unpaid amount and proposed payment date.
- Keep your language factual and retain the reply.
- Do not sign a document saying everything is settled unless you understand its effect.
Find the correct help
- A local labour office can advise on a wage complaint; Seoul foreign-resident centres can help with consultation or referral.
- Ask about interpretation when making the appointment.
- If residence permission is also a concern, obtain immigration advice separately rather than guessing that one issue resolves the other.
A little Korean goes a long way
- 아직 급여를 받지 못했어요. — I have not received my wages yet.
- 임금체불 상담을 받고 싶어요. — I would like advice about unpaid wages.
Official information
- My Seoul+ · Labour rights — Seoul Metropolitan Government
- Employment and Labor · Labor standards — Ministry of Employment and Labor
Keep going
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A promising vacancy is only useful if the role fits your residence status. Check that first, then spend your time on a focused application.
Read your employment contract before day one
The conversation at an interview is easy to forget. A written contract gives you something clear to check against the work and pay that follow.
Before turning a business idea into work in Korea
A company registration, a business course and immigration permission answer different questions. Put them on separate lines in your plan.
Can an international student take a part-time job?
Check before the first shift, including a trial shift. Student work permission depends on your course, status and the proposed job, not simply on being enrolled.