Where can a foreign worker ask for help if they are treated unfairly?

First contact the Foreigner Comprehensive Information Center (외국인종합안내센터) 1345 (press 1 to report a human rights violation) or the Employment Permit System Counseling Center (고용허가제 상담센터) 1577-0071. You can get help if you face violence, unpaid wages, or unfair treatment.

Where to contact

• 1345 Foreigner Comprehensive Information Center — Since May 27, 2026, 1345 has a dedicated number (press 1) for reporting human rights violations. Use it to report violence, verbal abuse, and human rights violations.
• Facebook 'Migrant Rights' — On the Facebook page 'Migrant Rights', you can report harm by text, photo, or video. This is useful when your workplace is noisy or it is hard to make a call.
• Foreign Worker Counseling Center (외국인근로자 상담센터) 1577-0071 — The Employment Permit System general counseling line is 1577-0071. It is open from 9:00 to 18:00. To visit in person, go to Emerald Building, 3rd floor, 16 Gojan 2-gil, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do.
• Local Immigration Office (관할 출입국·외국인청(사무소)) — Immigration offices across the country have an 'Officer for Investigating Immigrant Human Rights Violations'. After you report, they help with on-site investigation and remedies for your rights.

When you report, you are connected to related agencies such as the Immigrant Rights Protection Officer at the immigration office, community lawyers, and the regional labor office. They support remedies for your rights.

You can change your workplace

If you cannot keep working because of your employer's fault, you can apply to change your workplace without your employer's consent. Reasons that are not your fault are covered, such as business suspension, business closure, violation of working conditions, and unfair treatment. If you change workplaces for these reasons, it is not counted in your number of changes.

⚠️ Be sure to meet the deadlines

You must apply for the change within 1 month from the day your employment contract ended. You must get permission to change your workplace within 3 months from the day you applied. If you miss these deadlines, you may be told to leave Korea. For work injury, illness, pregnancy, and similar reasons, the time is counted from the day that reason ends.

If you have serious unpaid wages or violence, first keep evidence (photos, messages, pay slips, bank records). If your situation is complicated, use the K-VISA AI administrative agent consultation (visa service in the app). Check the exact steps once more with 1345 or 1577-0071.