🧾 Korea Unemployment Benefit Calculator
Estimate your job-seeking allowance (구직급여, the main unemployment benefit) from your last salary and insured period: daily amount, number of days and total. For job losses on or after 1 January 2026.
How to use it
- Enter your average gross monthly wage for the three months before you left the job (include overtime and allowances).
- Enter your contractual hours per day — this sets the minimum daily benefit (up to 8 hours).
- Choose your age on the day you left and your total employment insurance period (periods at different employers can be combined).
How the benefit is calculated
- Daily benefit = 60% of your average daily wage before leaving. The average daily wage is wages for the last 3 months ÷ calendar days in that period (89–92); this calculator divides by 92 to stay conservative.
- Cap — ₩68,100 per day for people who lose their job on or after 1 January 2026 (₩66,000 through 2025).
- Floor — minimum wage × 80% × daily contractual hours (max 8). With the 2026 minimum wage of ₩10,320, that is ₩66,048 for an 8-hour day.
- Because the floor and cap are so close, almost every full-time worker receives between ₩66,048 and ₩68,100 a day; anyone earning more than about ₩3.48M/month gets the cap.
Number of benefit days
| Insured period | Under 50 | 50+ or disabled |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1 year | 120 days | 120 days |
| 1 to under 3 years | 150 days | 180 days |
| 3 to under 5 years | 180 days | 210 days |
| 5 to under 10 years | 210 days | 240 days |
| 10 years or more | 240 days | 270 days |
Who qualifies
- At least 180 insured days in the 18 months before leaving.
- Involuntary separation — layoff, recommended resignation, contract expiry, retirement age — or a resignation for a recognized reason such as unpaid wages or a long commute after relocation.
- Being able and willing to work and actively looking for a job, with regular unemployment recognition.
- Benefits must be received within 12 months of the day after leaving, so register at Work24 (고용24) or a job center straight away.
Can foreigners receive unemployment benefits in Korea?
Only if you were enrolled in employment insurance. Enrollment is mandatory for F-2 (resident), F-5 (permanent resident) and F-6 (marriage migrant) visa holders. For many other visas, such as E-7 or E-9, coverage depends on the visa type, reciprocity with your country or voluntary enrollment — check your payslip for an employment insurance (고용보험) deduction. You also need a valid visa that lets you stay and look for work in Korea while claiming.
2026 estimate for reference. Eligibility and the final amount are decided by the job center. The cap and floor change yearly; confirm on Work24.