Reporting discrimination

Unfair treatment because of your nationality or origin is discrimination. You can file a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission.

What counts

• Paying different wages or allowances because of nationality
• Giving promotion or training only to Korean staff doing the same work
• Refusing to hire someone because of nationality
• Insulting remarks about race, skin colour or country of origin
• Refusing service at a shop or facility because of nationality
• Refusing to rent a home because someone is foreign

Steps

1. Write it down — date, place, who, what was said and done.
2. Gather evidence — messages, recordings, photos, payslips (for wage discrimination), witnesses.
3. File with the National Human Rights Commission — 1331 or www.humanrights.go.kr. It is free.
4. For wage or working condition discrimination, also report to 1350.
5. For insults or assault, report to the police, 112.

What you need

• A record of what happened
• Evidence (messages, recordings, photos)
• Witness names and contacts
• Labour contract and payslips, for employment discrimination

Where to go

• 1331 National Human Rights Commission · www.humanrights.go.kr (free)
• 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labor
• 112 insults and assault
• 1345 · 1577-1366 interpreted advice
• Your local support centre for foreign workers and Family Center
• 132 Korea Legal Aid Corporation

Questions people ask

Does filing cost money? Filing with the Human Rights Commission is free.

I don't speak Korean. Ask a support centre to accompany you, or use 1577-1366 interpretation. You can also request interpretation from the Commission.

I have no evidence. Your own detailed record and witness statements count. Start keeping them now.

Can I file without valid status? Human rights and discrimination complaints are separate from immigration status. If worried, go through a support centre.

My child faces discrimination at school. Tell the school and the district education office, and get advice from 1331 and 1388.

Take care

Discrimination repeats if it is endured. Even just keeping a record becomes powerful later. Write down today's incident today.

Related

workplace-harassment · sexual-harassment-work · labor-standards-basics

Source

National Human Rights Commission www.humanrights.go.kr / As of 2026-08