Labour dispute mediation
Faster and cheaper than litigation — but there are strict filing deadlines.
What the Commission handles
- Remedy applications for unfair dismissal. See unfair-dismissal.
- Remedy for unfair transfer, suspension or pay cuts
- Discrimination correction applications — for fixed-term and dispatched workers. See discrimination-report.
- Workplace bullying cases, depending on the matter. See workplace-harassment.
- Mediation and arbitration between labour and management
Unpaid wages go to the labour office, not the Commission. See wage-claim-labor-office.
The process
- Check the filing deadline first. Unfair dismissal applications have a short deadline — check with 1350 immediately.
- File the application with the regional Labour Relations Commission.
- Submit evidence — the dismissal notice, contract, messages, statements.
- Attend the hearing. You may request an interpreter.
- Receive the ruling. If dissatisfied, you can seek review by the National Commission and then administrative litigation.
What to prepare
- The employment contract
- The dismissal or disciplinary notice (or a record of the circumstances if it was verbal)
- Pay records and proof of your period of employment
- A chronological account of events
- Colleagues' statements, messages, recordings
Where to go
- 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labour (procedural guidance)
- National Labour Relations Commission www.nlrc.go.kr
- Your regional Labour Relations Commission
- 132 Korea Legal Aid Corporation (representation, advice)
- 1577-0071 Foreign Workforce Support Centre
Questions people ask
Is there a cost? Filing itself is not a heavy financial burden. You can proceed without a representative, and 132 can help.
I don't speak Korean. You can request an interpreter — say so when filing. Local migrant organisations can accompany you too.
It's been a long time since I was dismissed. Past the deadline, a remedy application becomes difficult. Check with 1350 right now.
The company wants to settle. Settlements do arise during mediation. Always put the terms in writing and take advice before signing.
Take care
The deadline for unfair dismissal applications is very short. "Let's wait and see" destroys the right. Phone 1350 the day you receive a dismissal notice and confirm the deadline. Asking for the reason for dismissal in writing also matters.
Related
unfair-dismissal · discrimination-report · wage-claim-labor-office · labor-attorney-help · compensation-lawsuit
Source
National Labour Relations Commission www.nlrc.go.kr / As of 2026-08