Korean Unemployment Benefit Calculator
Enter your average wage, employment insurance period, and age to instantly calculate daily benefit and total estimated payout — using the 2019 revised benefit-days table and 2025 cap/floor.
Average wage input method
Total wages (last 3 months) ÷ total calendar days in that period
E.g. 2 years 6 months → 2.5
Estimated benefit
Benefit days 180days · Daily benefit 66,048KRW
- Daily benefit
- 66,048 KRW
- Benefit days
- 180 days
- Total estimated benefit
- 11,888,640 KRW
Estimate based on Employment Insurance Act Art. 46·50. Actual eligibility, amount, and benefit days are determined by the local employment center. Separation reason, job-seeking activity requirements apply separately. Based on 2025 minimum wage and daily cap — subject to annual revision.
What this tool does
The Korean Unemployment Benefit (Guikgubup) Calculator estimates your expected payout based on Employment Insurance Act Articles 46 and 50. Enter your average daily wage before separation, employment insurance subscription period, and age (50+ or disability status) to instantly see the daily benefit amount, benefit days, and total estimated payout. The 2019 revision expanded benefit days across all brackets. For separations on or after 2026-01-01, the daily cap is 68,100 KRW (first increase in seven years) and the floor is 66,048 KRW (2026 minimum wage 10,320 × 80% × 8 hours); 2025 separations use 66,000 / 64,192 KRW. The calculator applies both limits automatically and reflects the preferential schedule for workers aged 50+ or with disabilities. Note: actual eligibility and final amounts are determined by your local Employment Center (Goyong Center) — separation reason, job-seeking activity, and other conditions must also be met.
Who uses this
- Estimate unemployment benefit before resigning to plan living expenses during job search
- Compare how benefit days change across different insurance subscription periods
- Verify that the minimum wage floor applies when your average wage is low
- Convert monthly salary to daily average wage automatically using the monthly input mode
- Understand the extra benefit days available for workers aged 50+ or with disabilities
How to use
- 1Select the input mode: 'Daily average wage' (total wages over last 3 months ÷ total calendar days), or 'Monthly average salary' (auto-divided by 30).
- 2Enter your average wage. Include base pay, allowances, and the pro-rated portion of any bonuses earned in the 3-month period.
- 3Enter your employment insurance subscription period in years. For 2 years 6 months, enter 2.5.
- 4Check the box if you are 50 years or older, or have a registered disability — this unlocks the preferential benefit-days column.
- 5Read the daily benefit, benefit days, and total estimated payout in the result panel.
Calculation formula (Employment Insurance Act Art. 46·50)
Daily benefit (raw) = Daily average wage × 60% Daily cap = 68,100 KRW (separation on/after 2026-01-01; 66,000 KRW for 2025 separations) Daily floor = Min. hourly wage (10,320 KRW) × 0.8 × work hours (8h) = 66,048 KRW (2026) Daily benefit = clamp(raw, floor, cap) = min(68,100, max(66,048, raw)) Total payout = Daily benefit × Benefit days Benefit days table (revised 2019-10-01): < 1 year → Under 50: 120 days / 50+: 120 days 1 year – < 3 years → 150 days / 180 days 3 years – < 5 years → 180 days / 210 days 5 years – < 10 years → 210 days / 240 days 10+ years → 240 days / 270 days
Calculation examples
Example 1 — Regular worker (3 years insured, under 50)
Daily average wage 120,000 KRW × 60% = 72,000 KRW → exceeds cap (68,100) → daily benefit 68,100 KRW. Benefit days: 180. Total = 68,100 × 180 = 12,258,000 KRW (approx. 12.3M KRW).
Example 2 — Low-wage worker (2 years insured, under 50)
Monthly salary 2,400,000 KRW → daily avg 80,000 KRW. 80,000 × 60% = 48,000 KRW → below floor (66,048 KRW) → daily benefit 66,048 KRW. Benefit days: 150. Total = 66,048 × 150 = 9,907,200 KRW (approx. 9.9M KRW).
Example 3 — Long-tenure senior worker (12 years insured, age 55)
Daily avg 113,500 KRW × 60% = 68,100 KRW → equals cap. 50+, 10+ years → 270 benefit days. Total = 68,100 × 270 = 18,387,000 KRW (approx. 18.4M KRW).
Frequently asked questions
What are the eligibility requirements for unemployment benefit?
① At least 180 insured days in the 18 months before separation, ② involuntary separation (layoff, contract expiry, etc. — voluntary resignation is generally excluded), ③ willing and able to work but unemployed, ④ actively seeking re-employment. This calculator estimates amounts only; it does not determine eligibility.
How is the average daily wage calculated?
Total wages in the 3 months before separation (base pay + allowances + pro-rated bonuses) divided by the total calendar days in that period (approx. 90–92 days). The Employment Center uses payroll records or withholding tax certificates for the official calculation.
Can I receive benefits if I resign voluntarily?
Generally no, but exceptions exist for valid reasons: unpaid wages, workplace harassment, impossible commute due to company relocation, or serious health deterioration. You must apply at the local Employment Center and have your reason assessed.
What happens if I find a job before the benefit days run out?
You may qualify for the Early Re-employment Allowance (Jogi Jaechwieop Sudang) if you re-employ with significant benefit days remaining. The earlier you find work, the larger the one-time bonus, which incentivizes active job-seeking.
Why are the cap (68,100) and floor (66,048) so close together?
The 2019 amendment raised the floor to 80% of the minimum wage, significantly narrowing the range. In 2026 the floor (66,048) would have overtaken the old cap (66,000), so the cap was raised to 68,100 — the first increase in seven years. Most recipients effectively receive either the cap or the floor; only daily wages between roughly 110,080–113,500 KRW fall in between.
Does a longer insurance period always mean more benefit days?
Yes. The benefit-days table has five brackets from under 1 year (120 days) up to 10+ years (240 days, or 270 for age 50+). Workers aged 50 or older or with disabilities get an additional 30 days in every bracket compared to the under-50 column.
Cautions
- •This calculator provides estimates only. Actual eligibility, amounts, and benefit days are determined by your local Korean Employment Center (Goyong Center).
- •Voluntary resignation is generally ineligible. Job-seeking activity, waiting period, and other conditions must be met separately.
- •The daily cap (68,100 KRW) and floor (66,048 KRW) apply to separations on or after 2026-01-01; 2025 separations use 66,000 / 64,192 KRW. The applicable year is determined by your separation date.
- •The monthly-to-daily conversion uses ÷30 for simplicity; the official calculation uses the exact calendar days in the 3-month period.
Last reviewed: 2025-06-24