South Korea — Employment Insurance Act art. 40, 45, 46, 50 and Annex 1, Enforcement Decree art. 68 (base daily wage cap ₩ 113,500 from 2026). Rules in force on 10/24/2026.

Estimate for guidance only: check the official sources or a licensed professional before relying on it.

Last job and wages

Last working day (이직일)

Total wages of the last 3 months before leaving (₩)

Scheduled hours per day (max 8)

Age and insured period

Age on the last working day (만 나이)

Registered person with a disability

Insured period: years

Insured period: extra months

Eligibility

At least 180 insured paid days in the 18 months before leaving

I left involuntarily or for a justified reason (dismissal, contract end, recommended resignation)

I have read and accept the terms of this simulation

Reset

Frequently asked questions

Who can receive the job-seeking benefit?

Insured employees who left involuntarily or for a justified reason, had at least 180 insured paid days in the last 18 months, and are able and actively looking for work.

How is the daily amount set?

60 % of the average daily wage of the last 3 months, capped at ₩ 68,100 a day for separations from 2026 and never below 80 % of the minimum wage for your daily hours (₩ 66,048 for 8 hours in 2026).

How long is it paid?

120 to 270 days depending on the insured period and on whether you were 50 or older (or disabled) on the last working day.

Does quitting voluntarily count?

Usually not, unless the reason is recognised as justified, such as unpaid wages, harassment, a long commute after relocation or the end of a contract.

Related calculators

How the South Korean unemployment benefit is estimated

This calculator estimates the South Korean unemployment benefit, called 실업급여 in everyday speech and legally the job-seeking benefit (구직급여) of the Employment Insurance Act. It is meant for insured employees who lost their job between 2025 and 2027 and want to know how much they could receive each day, for how many days and in total. You enter the last working day, the total wages of the last three months, your scheduled hours per day, your age, whether you have a registered disability, your insured period and two eligibility checks. The result shows the daily amount, the benefit days, the total, the limits applied and a table of benefit days by insured period.

The average daily wage is the total wages of the last three months divided by the calendar days of those three months, counted back from the day after the last working day. The base is capped at ₩ 113,500 (₩ 110,000 for separations in 2025). The daily benefit is 60 % of that base, but never less than 80 % of the minimum wage times the daily hours (in 2026 the minimum wage is ₩ 10,320, so the lower limit is ₩ 66,048 for 8 hours; in 2027 it is ₩ 10,700). The upper limit is therefore ₩ 68,100 a day in 2026. The number of days, from 120 to 270, comes from Annex 1 of the Act and depends on your age group and insured period.

Example: the last working day is 30 September 2026, the wages of the last three months total ₩ 12,000,000, the person is 35 and was insured for 4 years. The average daily wage is ₩ 130,434.78, above the cap, so the base is ₩ 113,500 and the daily benefit is the upper limit of ₩ 68,100. With 180 benefit days the total is ₩ 12,258,000. This is an estimate: it does not deduct the 7-day waiting period, does not model the early re-employment allowance, does not compare the ordinary wage with the average wage and ignores the reform announced in September 2026.