Estimate jobseeker's allowance from wage, age and insured period
| Period | Under 50 | 50+/disabled |
|---|
Enter your daily average wage before leaving, your age and how long you were enrolled in employment insurance to get the daily benefit, number of benefit days and estimated total of Korean jobseeker's (unemployment) benefit. Defaults are for separations on or after 1 January 2026 (daily ceiling 68,100 KRW, minimum wage 10,320 KRW) and can be changed under 'change the ceiling and floor basis'. For gauging how many months of living costs it covers before you resign.
Daily benefit = daily average wage × 60%. If that exceeds the ceiling (68,100 KRW in 2026) it is cut to the ceiling; if it is below the floor (minimum wage × 80% × contracted hours per day, which for 8 hours in 2026 is 10,320 × 80% × 8 = 66,048 KRW) it is raised to the floor. Where the two clash, the floor wins. Total = daily benefit × benefit days. The result shows the estimated total, the daily benefit, the benefit days and whether the ceiling or floor applied, and highlights your insured-period row in the table. For example, on a 2,500,000 KRW monthly salary the daily average wage is about 2,500,000 × 3 ÷ 91 ≈ 82,418, and 60% is about 49,451, so the 66,048 floor applies; at age 35 with two years insured that is 66,048 × 150 days = 9,907,200 KRW. With a daily wage of 120,000, four years insured and age 40, 60% is 72,000, above the ceiling, so 68,100 × 180 days = 12,258,000 KRW.
Total pay in the three months before your leaving date divided by the calendar days in that period (89 to 92). On 3 million KRW a month that is roughly 3,000,000 × 3 ÷ 91 ≈ 98,900 KRW.
For separations on or after 1 January 2026 the daily ceiling is 68,100 KRW. The floor is the minimum wage of 10,320 KRW × 80% × contracted hours per day, or 66,048 KRW for 8 hours. They can change, so check Korea's Work24 site.
Voluntary resignation is normally excluded unless there was a valid reason (harassment, unpaid wages, an unreasonable relocation and similar). Involuntary separation (recommended resignation, layoff, contract end) qualifies with 180 or more insured paid days. The employment centre makes the final call.
No. Periods at earlier jobs count too if you did not claim benefit when leaving them. Your insurance history is shown on Work24.
You may qualify for an early re-employment allowance: if you start work with at least half your benefit days left and stay 12 months or more, a lump sum tied to the remaining days is paid. Rules can change, so ask the employment centre.
Yes. Minimum wage and ceiling changes, eligibility review and recognition of your job search all affect it. The employment centre's eligibility decision is final.
An estimate using the 2026 ceiling (68,100 KRW) and a floor based on the 2026 minimum wage (10,320 KRW) under Korean rules; not labor or legal advice. Rules can change, and eligibility and the real amount are decided via Work24 and your local employment centre.