Charging jobseekers a placement fee is illegal

Taking money from a worker in return for a job referral is prohibited in principle.

The basic rule

• Under employment security law, paid job placement businesses must be registered or licensed, and fees cannot exceed the set range.
• Referring people and taking money without registration is illegal.
• The Employment Permit System (EPS) is a government process, leaving no room for private brokers. See employment-permit-system.
• Deducting a placement fee from wages each month becomes an unpaid wages matter. See wage-deductions.

Fee limits and registration requirements are set by law. Always check with 1350.

Report demands like these

• "Pay me first and I'll secure the position"
• "I'll take a cut from your salary every month"
• "Leave a deposit with me"
• "Hand over your passport and I'll give you a job"
• Excessive fees beyond the permitted range

How to report

1. Gather evidence — message records, transfer records, business cards, office location.
2. Report and consult 1350 — interpretation is available.
3. You can file with your local labour office.
4. If it is fraud, report to 112 as well.
5. Money already paid can be reclaimed. Ask how during the consultation.

Where to go

• 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labour (with interpretation)
• Your local labour office
• 112 fraud reports
• 1577-0071 Foreign Workforce Support Centre
• Work24 www.work24.go.kr (free public job placement)

Questions people ask

Don't legitimate placement agencies charge too? Registered paid placement businesses may charge within the set range. Exceeding it, or operating unregistered, is illegal. Check with 1350.

I've already paid. Keep receipts, transfer records and messages and consult 1350. Reclaiming the money is sometimes possible.

I'm afraid of losing my job if I report it. Consult 1577-0071 or a migrant workers' support centre first. Anonymous consultation is possible.

How do I find work for free? Employment centres and Work24 (work24.go.kr) are free. See job-centers and worknet-job-search.

Take care

Never hand over a large sum on the promise of "a good position". Most people never see the money again, and there is no job either. Simply remembering that public job placement is free prevents most of this harm.

Related

job-scam · employment-permit-system · wage-deductions · worknet-job-search · job-centers

Source

Ministry of Employment and Labour www.moel.go.kr / As of 2026-08