This post covers South Korean rules and amounts (as of the check date above).
In 2026, South Korea’s job-seeker benefit (구직급여, commonly called unemployment benefit) is set between 66,048 won and 68,100 won a day for most people, whether their monthly pay is 2 million won or 6 million won. The system pays 60% of average wage, but the floor tied to the minimum wage and the cap set by decree sit almost side by side. So if your monthly pay over the three months before leaving is about 3.38 million won or less, you get the floor, and if it is about 3.48 million won or more, you get the cap. This post checks that structure with the Calcmoa unemployment benefit calculator’s function.
How is the daily job-seeker benefit decided?
The basic formula is simple. Divide total wages for the three months before leaving by the number of days in that period to get the daily average wage, then multiply by 60%. Then two limits apply.
- Floor: minimum wage hourly rate x 8 hours x 80%. With the 2026 rate of 10,320 won, this is 66,048 won.
- Cap: 68,100 won. An amendment to the Employment Insurance Act Enforcement Decree (promulgated 23 December 2025, effective 1 January 2026) raised it from 66,000 won, and under the supplementary provisions, people who left their jobs before it took effect remain under the old cap (the calculator reflects
68,100 won).
The gap between the floor and the cap is only 2,052 won. The floor is tied to the minimum wage and rises every year, while the cap stayed the same for a long time, so the two values have moved close together, and the range of monthly pay where the calculated value stays inside this narrow band is very small.
How much do you actually get by monthly pay?
These are results from the calculator’s function, assuming 92 days in the three months before leaving, employment insurance coverage of at least 1 year and under 3 years (under age 50, 150 days of benefit). Monthly pay is before tax. Amounts are in Korean won.
| Monthly wage before leaving | Daily average wage | 60% calculated value | Daily amount applied | Total (150 days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,000,000 | 65,217 | 39,130 | 66,048 (floor) | 9,907,200 |
| 3,000,000 | 97,826 | 58,695 | 66,048 (floor) | 9,907,200 |
| 4,000,000 | 130,434 | 78,260 | 68,100 (cap) | 10,215,000 |
| 5,000,000 | 163,043 | 97,826 | 68,100 (cap) | 10,215,000 |
| 6,000,000 | 195,652 | 117,391 | 68,100 (cap) | 10,215,000 |
For a worker earning 2 million won a month, the 60% value is 39,130 won, but the floor applies and they receive 66,048 won. A worker earning 6 million won a month has 117,391 won, but stops at 68,100 won. The daily difference between the two is 2,052 won, and over 150 days the total difference is 307,800 won.
Where does my pay fall, at the floor or the cap?
The daily average wage at which the 60% value reaches 66,048 won is 110,080 won, and for 68,100 won it is 113,500 won. Treating three months as 92 days and converting to monthly pay, these are about 3.375 million won and about 3.48 million won. Only people between those figures receive the calculated value as is. If the three months have 89 or 90 days, the boundaries shift down slightly, so enter your actual three-month wages and number of days in the Unemployment benefit calculator (Korean page) to find your exact position.
So what decides the total you receive?
If the daily amount is almost fixed, the number of benefit days decides the total. Even at the same floor of 66,048 won, if you were covered by employment insurance for under one year it is 120 days, or 7,925,760 won, and for one year or more but under three years it is 150 days, or 9,907,200 won. If you are 50 or older, or have a disability, 180 days apply in the same band. The length of coverage and the requirements around the reason for leaving affect the total more than raising your monthly pay does.
- To receive job-seeker benefit there are separate requirements, such as at least 180 days of insured period within the 18 months before leaving. Check eligibility first on Employment24 (고용24).
- Actual payments can vary depending on recognized job-search activity, income reporting and so on.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if the floor rises above the cap because of a minimum wage increase? In 2026 the floor (66,048 won) was about to exceed the previous cap (66,000 won), so the cap was adjusted to 68,100 won. The minimum wage and the cap change every year, so check the values for the time you leave your job.
Is job-seeker benefit taxed? Job-seeker benefit is non-taxable income, so no income tax is charged.
Can I receive both severance pay and unemployment benefit? They are separate systems, so if you meet the requirements you receive both. Calculate severance pay separately with the Severance pay calculator (Korean page).
To calculate for yourself using your pay for the three months before leaving and your length of service, use the Unemployment benefit calculator (Korean page).