What may lawfully be deducted from wages

Wages must in principle be paid in full, directly to the worker.

Deductions set by law (no consent needed)

• Income tax and local income tax
• The worker's share of the four major insurances — pension, health, employment
• Other items with a statutory basis

Deductions needing consent

• Accommodation and meals — see dormitory-fees
• Repayment of company loans
• Social club fees, dormitory management fees and the like

These need a written agreement and cannot exceed what was agreed.

Deductions that are not allowed in principle

• "Fines" for doing the work badly
• Deducting a pre-set damages amount — agreeing damages in advance is prohibited.
• Holding your passport or bankbook and taking money at will — holding a passport is itself a problem. See passport-confiscation.
• Broker or introduction fees without consent

How to check

1. Get your payslip. Deduction items and amounts must be shown. See payslip.
2. Compare with the amount deposited.
3. Ask the company in writing about anything you don't recognise.
4. If it can't be explained, consult 1350.

Where to go

• 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labour (with interpretation)
• Your local labour office
• 1577-0071 Foreign Workforce Support Centre
• 1345 · 1577-1366 interpretation

Questions people ask

They dock my pay for being late. Not paying for hours not actually worked is one thing; taking an additional "fine" is another. Fine-type deductions are a problem. Check with 1350.

They take money from my pay because I broke a machine. Damages must be handled through a separate process; unilateral deduction from wages is not allowed in principle. Get advice.

An introduction fee is deducted every month. Continuing to take broker fees from wages is a serious problem. Consult 1577-0071 or 1350 immediately.

They don't give me a payslip. Issuing a payslip is the employer's duty. Ask for it, and report it if they still refuse.

Take care

Never leave your bankbook, seal or PIN with the company. You lose the ability to see what you were actually paid, and it can be a sign of forced labour. See the forced-labor guide.

Related

payslip · dormitory-fees · unpaid-wages · passport-confiscation · forced-labor

Source

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