Labor & Residency Problems in Korea: Where to Get Help — A Complete Guide to Official Support Hotlines for Foreigners

If your paycheck didn't come through, call 1350. For visa or foreigner-registration problems, call 1345. For 24-hour daily-life and crisis counseling, call 1577-1366.

Korea has government and public phone hotlines where foreigners can get counseling on labor and residency issues in their own language — and for free. Many of them support 10 to 20 languages including English, Vietnamese, and Chinese, so even in situations that are hard to explain in Korean, you can get counseling with an interpreter on the line.

The real challenge is knowing "which issue goes where." Labor matters like unpaid wages and dismissal are handled by different agencies than visa and residency matters, and there's a separate hotline that connects you to free legal aid. Below, we've broken it down by number — which one to dial for which situation, what languages are supported, and how the consultation process works.

Which Hotline to Contact by Situation — At a Glance

All four numbers can be dialed directly without an area code (for example, just 1345).

① Residency, Visa, Foreigner Registration — Immigration Contact Center 1345

If your issue relates to immigration and residency — visa extensions, changes of residency status, foreigner registration (ARC), domestic-residence reports, and so on — this is the first place to think of. It's the Immigration Contact Center (1345), operated by the Korea Immigration Service under the Ministry of Justice.

• Supported languages: Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Mongolian, Indonesian, French, Bengali, Urdu, Russian, Nepali, Khmer, Burmese, German, Spanish, Filipino (Tagalog), Arabic, Sinhala, and more — 20 languages
• Hours: Weekdays 09:00–22:00. Note that after 18:00 in the evening, only Korean, English, and Chinese may be available.
• How to use it: Dial 1345 → follow the automated (ARS) menu to press the number for your language, then press * to connect to a counselor.
• Online: On HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr) you can book a visit, submit applications, and check the status of your case.

Visa and residency status rules differ completely from person to person (F-2, E-9, D-2, F-4 domestic residence, and so on). Following internet posts or a friend's experience as-is can easily backfire. Be sure to check with 1345 or HiKorea based on your own residency status.

② Unpaid Wages, Unfair Dismissal — Ministry of Employment and Labor 1350

If you haven't been paid, if your employer didn't provide a written employment contract, or if you feel you've been unfairly dismissed, the Ministry of Employment and Labor Customer Center (1350) is the specialized hotline for labor issues.

Issues it mainly handles

• Unpaid wages (unpaid salary, severance pay, or allowances)
• Failure to provide a written employment contract
• Situations that feel like unfair dismissal
• Violations of labor laws such as verbal abuse, physical assault, or unfair labor practices

The counseling and reporting (complaint) flow

1. Call 1350, explain your situation, and get initial guidance (you can be connected to counseling for foreigners as well).
2. If needed, file a complaint with the local Employment and Labor Office with jurisdiction. You can submit it online through the Ministry of Employment and Labor's Labor Portal (labor.moel.go.kr) or in person.
3. Once the complaint is filed, a labor inspector is assigned to investigate the facts and advise on how it will be handled.
4. Gathering your evidence in advance — the employment contract, attendance records, pay slips, deposit records (bank transaction history), and so on — will speed things up.

You can also get free counseling on unpaid wages, unfair dismissal, and similar issues at the Foreign Workers' Support Centers / Foreign Workforce Counseling Centers run by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea. Local foreign-worker support organizations in Seoul, Daegu, and other regions can also help you with reporting procedures (complaints and criminal reports).

③ Multicultural Families, Migrant Women, Daily-Life Crises — Danuri Call Center 1577-1366

For marriage immigrants, multicultural families, and migrant women facing challenges with settling in, difficulties at home, or urgent and crisis situations, there's the Danuri Call Center (1577-1366) under the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

• Operates 24/7, 365 days a year, with counseling in 13 languages (Vietnamese, Chinese, Filipino, Mongolian, Russian, Thai, Cambodian, Japanese, Uzbek, Lao, Nepali, English, Korean)
• Provides comprehensive daily-life information, interpretation, and emergency support and counseling
• In-person counseling and use of an emergency shelter are available at regional centers in Seoul (Mapo), Suwon, Daejeon, Gwangju, Busan, Gumi, Jeonju, and elsewhere
• Online counseling is also available through the Danuri Portal (www.liveinkorea.kr)

④ Free Legal Counseling and Legal Aid — Korea Legal Aid Corporation 132

If a dispute might escalate to a legal stage such as a lawsuit or a payment order, you can get legal counseling from the Korea Legal Aid Corporation (132). If your income is below a certain threshold, foreign workers can also be eligible for free legal aid, so start by asking 132 whether you qualify.

What's Worth Preparing Before Your Consultation

• Your residency details: your foreigner registration number (if you have one), residency status (visa type), and date of entry
• For a labor case: the employment contract, pay slips, records of what was and wasn't paid, work-schedule records, and the workplace's and employer's contact information
• Your preferred consultation language: it helps to jot it down in advance so you can quickly select the language on the ARS menu
• The date and amount involved: the more precisely you state the timing and amount, the more accurate the guidance

What About Getting Around and Paying? — Practical Tips While Handling Administrative Errands

Visits to immigration offices, the Employment and Labor Office, and the Legal Aid Corporation usually have to be made in person on weekdays. Receiving your registration card (ARC) can often take more than a month, and during that time you'll frequently need to travel to and from government offices by subway, KTX, or express bus without a Korean bank account or a Korean phone number.

To avoid getting stuck on transport and payments during this period, it's a good idea to set up in advance a service that's designed so that no separate identity verification is required as part of the standard process.

Need transit and payments while you wait for your residence card? Check out LACHA.

Built to work without a Korean phone number or bank account, with overseas payment methods like Alipay, WeChat Pay, and Apple Pay. Taxi hailing plus KTX, express bus, and airport railroad (AREX) booking — all in one app.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. I can't speak Korean at all — can I still get counseling? A. Yes, you can. The Immigration Contact Center (1345) offers counseling in 20 languages, and the Danuri Call Center (1577-1366) in 13 languages. The Ministry of Employment and Labor's 1350 can also connect you to counseling for foreigners. Just select your language on the ARS menu and go from there.

Q2. Can I ask about visa/residency issues and labor issues at the same place? A. No. Residency and visa matters are handled by 1345 (HiKorea), while labor matters like unpaid wages and unfair dismissal are handled by 1350 (Ministry of Employment and Labor). If you're unsure which applies, a good approach is to ask 1345 first and get pointed in the right direction.

Q3. Does it cost anything to report unpaid wages? A. Filing a complaint with the local Employment and Labor Office itself is free of charge. If the case proceeds to legal action and your income is below a certain threshold, you may be eligible for free legal aid from the Korea Legal Aid Corporation (132). Ask 132 to find out whether you qualify.

Q4. What are the counseling hours? A. 1345 is open on weekdays 09:00–22:00 (evenings are mainly Korean, English, and Chinese), and the Danuri Call Center (1577-1366) is open 24/7, 365 days a year. The Ministry of Employment and Labor's 1350 operates during weekday business hours; you can confirm the exact times when you call.

Q5. Can I file online as well? A. Yes, you can. For residency and civil-application matters, use HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr); for labor complaints, the Ministry of Employment and Labor's Labor Portal (labor.moel.go.kr); and for multicultural counseling, the Danuri Portal (liveinkorea.kr) — all offer online applications and counseling.