The four principles of wage payment
Wage payment follows four principles. Breaking them is illegal.
The four principles
- Direct payment — it must be paid to you. Not through a broker or the boss's acquaintance.
- Full payment — nothing may be deducted except what the law allows.
- Payment in currency — it must be money. Not goods, vouchers or credit.
- Regular payment — at least once a month, on a set date.
What can and cannot be deducted
- Can be deducted: taxes, social insurance premiums and other items set by law; and board and lodging costs where the proper procedure was followed.
- Cannot be deducted: arbitrary "fines", "damages", "lateness charges", "the cost of a broken dish", "dormitory deposits".
Steps
- Get a payslip. It must show what was deducted and how much.
- Compare it with your bank records.
- If something looks wrong, ask the employer to explain. Keep the conversation in messages.
- If it is not resolved, get advice from 1350.
What you need
- Payslips
- Bank transfer records
- Labour contract
Where to go
- 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labor (interpretation available)
- Your regional labour office · labor.moel.go.kr
- Your local support centre for foreign workers
Questions people ask
I'm paid in cash and get no payslip. Issuing a payslip is the employer's duty. If you are paid in cash, photograph or note the date and amount every time.
The boss says he will look after my bankbook. You must manage it yourself. Never hand your bankbook, card or PIN to anyone.
They pay half now and say the rest comes later. That breaks the full and regular payment principles. Record the dates and amounts delayed.
Take care
If you are told board and lodging will be deducted, check how much and on what basis, in the contract and on the payslip. Deductions without a basis are unpaid wages.
Related
minimum-wage · unpaid-wages-report · unpaid-wages-evidence · severance-pay
Source
Ministry of Employment and Labor www.moel.go.kr / As of 2026-08