Unemployment Benefit Calculator
Estimate the Korean job seeker allowance from your monthly average wage and insured years. We apply 60% of average daily wage within statutory caps and floors.
Average gross monthly pay over the 3 months before separation.
Total insured years across employers (within 18 months prior to separation). Whole numbers, e.g. 3.
If applicable, payment days increase by 30–60 days depending on insured years.
Estimated total benefit
11,554,560KRW
Daily benefit: 64,192 KRW × 180 days
- Average daily wage
- 100,000KRW
- 60% of average daily wage
- 60,000KRW60%
- Payment days
- 180 days3 to under 5 years insured
- Daily floor (KRW 64,192) applied
- Payment days: 180 (3–5 yrs)
What is Korea's unemployment benefit?
Unemployment benefit (formally job-seeking allowance) is paid by Employment Insurance to workers who lose their job involuntarily, supporting living costs and job-search during the transition. Korea's unemployment benefit operates under the Employment Insurance Act and requires recognition of eligibility at an employment center. The benefit is 60% of average wage before separation, calculated per day, with a daily upper limit (around KRW 77,000 in 2026) and a lower limit (about 80% of the minimum wage). Very high wages are capped at the upper limit, very low wages at the lower limit; in between, the 60% value applies. Receivable days (the prescribed days) range from 120 to 270 depending on insured period (cumulative Employment Insurance enrollment) and age at separation. Workers aged 50+ or persons with disabilities can receive longer. Applications must be made within 1 year of separation; after 1 year, remaining days are forfeited. This calculator targets workers at regular workplaces. Special cases such as Employment Insurance for daily workers/artists, voluntary enrollment for the self-employed, and fraud recovery rules are not reflected. Confirm precise eligibility, daily amount, and days via the Employment Insurance website or by visiting an employment center.
When is this calculator useful?
Before being laid off or contract end
Estimate the daily amount and total days before leaving the company so you can plan living expenses and job-search timeline. Eligibility depends on the separation reason.
Voluntary resignation due to wage arrears or closure
Even apparently voluntary resignations can be recognized as involuntary when there is just cause such as wage arrears or business closure. Use this calculator to estimate the amount.
Calculating remaining days within 1 year after leaving
If you re-employed early but still have days left, check the additional amount you can apply for within the 1-year statute of limitations.
Early re-employment incentive review
If at least half of the days remain when you start a new job, you can receive half of the remaining days as a lump-sum early re-employment incentive. Estimate the lump sum here.
Daily cap and floor (2026 reference)
- Daily cap
- 66,000 KRW
- Daily floor
- 64,192 KRW
Minimum hourly wage × 80% × 8 hours
Payment days (2026)
| Insured years | Under 50 (days) | 50+ / disabled (days) |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year insured | 120 | 120 |
| 1 to under 3 years insured | 150 | 180 |
| 3 to under 5 years insured | 180 | 210 |
| 5 to under 10 years insured | 210 | 240 |
| 10 years or more insured | 240 | 270 |
How to read the result
The result is composed of the following items. • Daily average wage: total wages in the 3 months before separation ÷ total days in that period. • Daily benefit: 60% of average wage, capped by the upper/lower limits. • Prescribed days: 120–270 days depending on insured period and age. • Total receivable amount: daily benefit × prescribed days. Actual payments are typically made every 14 or 28 days in arrears, and unemployment recognition (proof of job-search) is required 1–2 times per month. Without recognition, payment for that period may be suspended.
Things to keep in mind
- Voluntary resignation (personal reasons) is in principle not eligible. Exceptions include wage arrears, worsening work conditions, or impossible commute when recognized as just cause. Case-by-case judgments are made by the employment center.
- After 1 year from separation, any remaining days are forfeited (1-year statute of limitations). Apply early.
- Job-search activity must be documented at least once a week; without proof, payment for that cycle is suspended.
- Short-term part-time or freelance income during the benefit period must be reported. Unreported income is treated as fraud, with recovery and penalties.
- The early re-employment incentive requires at least half of the prescribed days to remain when starting a new job that continues for at least 12 months.
- Foreign workers can also receive benefits when enrolled in Employment Insurance. Whether enrollment is mandatory depends on visa status (F-2/F-5/E-9, etc.) — check with your HR team.
Frequently asked questions
- Who qualifies for unemployment benefit?
- You generally need at least 180 cumulative insured days within the 18 months before separation, must have separated involuntarily, and must actively seek re-employment. Voluntary resignation is excluded unless an exception applies (e.g. unpaid wages, unreasonable commute).
- Why might my actual payment differ from this estimate?
- This calculator divides monthly average wage by 30 to derive the daily wage. The Employment Center uses the wage total over the 3 months before separation divided by the actual day count, which can differ slightly. Daily caps and floors are also revised yearly by the Ministry of Employment and Labor.
- What is the early re-employment allowance?
- If you find stable work and stay employed for 12+ months while at least half of your remaining payment days are still left, you can claim 50% of the remaining benefit as an early re-employment allowance. This calculator does not include it.
- Is there a deadline to claim?
- You must claim within 12 months from the day after separation. Any payment days you have not used within that window are forfeited, so apply for eligibility recognition at your local Employment Center as early as possible.
- Are 'recommended resignation' and 'dismissal' eligible the same way?
- Recommended resignation, dismissal, contract expiration, and retirement are all classified as involuntary and are eligible. However, the separation reason code on the employer's report determines eligibility, so ask the employer for an accurate separation confirmation.
- What if I get re-employed and leave again shortly after?
- If you worked less than 30 days at the new job, the prior job's remaining prescribed days are still usable. Periods under 30 days are not combined.
- Can foreigners receive unemployment benefit?
- Yes, when enrolled in Employment Insurance and separated involuntarily. Mandatory enrollment depends on visa status (F-2/F-5 mandatory; some visas optional) — confirm enrollment first.
- How do I document job-search activity?
- Applying to online postings, attending interviews, vocational training, language/qualification exams, etc., all qualify. Registration and application records via Work-Net are the easiest evidence; at least one activity per week is recommended.
Official Sources
Always verify with the official sources below