Unemployment Benefit Calculator
Job-seeking benefit amount and period.
Official basis · some exemptions excludedBased on 2026 rulesSources: Employment Insurance Act · Employment Insurance · Ministry of Employment & Labor
Average monthly gross pay over the last 3 months.
Total estimated benefit
0원
The daily benefit is set between the floor and the cap.
What is unemployment benefit?
Job-seeking benefit is paid to employment-insured workers who lose their job involuntarily while they seek re-employment. It is based on 60% of average wage before leaving, bounded by a floor and a cap.
Benefit days table (2026)
- Under 1 year insured: 120 days. 1-3 years: 150/180 days. 3-5 years: 180/210 days. 5-10 years: 210/240 days. 10+ years: 240/270 days (under 50 / 50 and over).
Floor and cap
The daily benefit is 60% of average wage, but not below the minimum-wage-based floor, and not above the fixed daily cap.
Daily benefit floor and cap (2026)
The daily benefit is basically 60% of average wage, bounded by the following floor and cap.
| Item | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Floor | 66,048 KRW | 2026 minimum wage 10,320 KRW × 8h × 80% |
| Cap | 68,100 KRW | Ministry of Employment and Labor daily cap (from 2026.1.1) |
Because the gap between the floor and cap is narrow, the effective payout rate can fall below 60% for both low and high earners.
Worked examples
Example 1. Age 35, average monthly wage 2,500,000 KRW, 4 years insured.
- Average daily wage = 2,500,000 ÷ 30 = 83,333 KRW → 60% = 50,000 KRW
- 50,000 < floor 66,048 KRW → daily benefit 66,048 KRW (floor applies)
- Under 50, 4 years insured (3-5 year band) → benefit days 180
- Total estimated benefit = 66,048 × 180 = 11,888,640 KRW
Example 2. Age 52, average monthly wage 4,000,000 KRW, 12 years insured.
- Average daily wage = 4,000,000 ÷ 30 = 133,333 KRW → 60% = 80,000 KRW
- 80,000 > cap 68,100 KRW → daily benefit 68,100 KRW (cap applies)
- 50 and over, 12 years insured (10+ year band) → benefit days 270
- Total estimated benefit = 68,100 × 270 = 18,387,000 KRW
Eligibility and how to claim — check this before the amount
Unemployment benefit is not automatic on losing a job. Eligibility screens out more claims than miscalculation ever does, so it is worth checking first.
Three conditions, all required
- Insured period. At least 180 paid days of employment insurance within the 18 months before leaving — counted as paid days, not calendar months, so a five-day-a-week worker typically needs seven to eight months.
- Involuntary departure. Contract expiry, recommended resignation, closure or redundancy. The separation code on the employer's confirmation form governs, so an inaccurate filing must be corrected.
- Active job seeking. You must be able and willing to work. Job-search activity is verified at each recognition date, and unverified periods are not paid.
Voluntary resignation that still qualifies
Resigning voluntarily can still qualify where the reason is recognised as justified: unpaid or sub-minimum wages, sustained overtime beyond the legal cap, or workplace harassment.
A relocation making the commute three hours or more round trip, caring for a family member for 30 days or more without leave being granted, or pregnancy and childcare where leave was refused, are also recognised.
The employment centre decides case by case, so gather supporting evidence in advance — payslips and bank records for unpaid wages, reports or statements for harassment.
Delay costs you money
The claim window is 12 months from the day after leaving. Once it closes, remaining benefit days lapse — so those with the longest entitlement lose the most by filing late.
The sequence is fixed: register on Work-Net, complete the online orientation on the Employment Insurance site, then apply in person at an employment centre. The first payment deducts a seven-day waiting period, and recognition follows roughly every four weeks.
Finding stable work with more than half the entitlement unused, and staying 12 months or more, qualifies for an early re-employment allowance of half the remaining benefit.
Common causes of overpayment findings
- Unreported part-time work. Any earnings during a recognition period must be declared, however small.
- Claiming after starting a job. Employment ends the unemployed status from the first day, even before the first payday.
- Token job-search activity. Applications made without intent, or fabricated activity records, are not recognised.
- Findings bring repayment plus additional collection and suspension of remaining benefit — though voluntary disclosure can waive the additional collection.
Legal basis
- Eligibility — Employment Insurance Act art. 40
- Separation reason limits — Employment Insurance Act art. 58 and Enforcement Rule art. 101
- 12-month claim window — Employment Insurance Act art. 48
- Early re-employment allowance — Employment Insurance Act art. 64
- Overpayment sanctions — Employment Insurance Act arts. 61 and 62