The four EPS insurances — who pays, and when you get paid

The four insurances at a glance

Foreign workers under the Employment Permit System (Non-professional Employment E-9, Working Visit H-2 and similar) and their employers must enroll in the four insurances below under the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers. They are separate from the general social insurances (industrial accident, health, national pension, employment insurance).

How do I know I am enrolled? The insurer must explain the contract to you before signing and notify you afterwards, and the departure insurance must send you an annual statement of premiums paid and expected payout (Enforcement Decree Art. 21). If you never received one, call Samsung Fire's foreign worker desk at 1600-0266 and check after identity verification.

Departure guarantee insurance — your severance pay

• Basis: Act Art. 13; Enforcement Decree Art. 21
• Who: employers of foreign workers with 1 year or more left on their employment period (workplaces covered by the Retirement Benefit Act). Enrolling counts as setting up a severance pay scheme.
• How much: 8.3% of your monthly ordinary wage, paid monthly on top of wages (amount set by Ministry of Employment and Labor notice).
• When you get it: a worker who has worked continuously for 1 year or more can claim the accumulated amount as a lump sum on leaving Korea (not temporary trips), death, or change of status. Amounts for under 1 year of service go back to the employer.
• Gap versus severance pay: if the lump sum is less than statutory severance pay, the employer must pay the difference (Decree Art. 21(3)). Ask the insurer to confirm the lump sum so you can compare.
• Payment deadline: within 14 days of departure (or of the claim date for change of status, death, or claims filed after departure).
• Time limit: 3 years from the payout trigger. Unclaimed money is transferred to HRD Korea.

How to claim (Samsung Fire foreign worker desk)

1. Apply at least 7 days before your departure date — claim form, consent form, copies of passport and ARC. Fax 0505-161-1421 (from abroad 82-505-161-1421), or in person or via the app.
2. Choose how to receive it: at the airport (Incheon Airport currency exchange counters — KEB Hana, Woori, Kookmin; 07:30–01:59; arrive 4 hours before departure with the claim form, passport, ARC and ticket) or by transfer to a bank account in your home country (an account in your country of nationality only; include the SWIFT code).
3. Payment is made once your departure is confirmed. Before leaving, tell your local Job Center about your planned departure and make sure your employer has closed the employment record.

Employer penalties: a fine of up to KRW 5 million for not enrolling (Act Art. 30); an administrative fine of up to KRW 5 million for missing monthly premiums 3 or more times (Act Art. 32).

Return cost insurance — your ticket home

• Basis: Act Art. 15; Enforcement Decree Art. 22
• Who: the foreign worker. Enroll within 3 months of the contract taking effect.
• How much: set by country by ministerial notice — KRW 400,000–600,000, as a lump sum or up to 3 installments.
• When you get it: ① leaving Korea when your period of stay expires ② leaving early for personal reasons (not temporary trips) ③ a worker who left the workplace departs voluntarily or is deported. The insurer pays after confirming your departure with Immigration.
• Claiming: file it together with the departure insurance claim at the same insurer (Samsung Fire) and receive both at the airport or by home-country transfer in one go.
• Worker penalty: an administrative fine of up to KRW 5 million for not enrolling (Act Art. 32(1)(6)).

Wage guarantee insurance — when wages are not paid

• Basis: Act Art. 23(1); Enforcement Decree Art. 27
• Who: employers at workplaces not covered by the Wage Claim Guarantee Act or with fewer than 300 regular employees. Enroll within 15 days of the contract taking effect.
• How much: about KRW 16,000 per worker per year (EPS guide). The insurer must notify the worker of enrollment.
• Coverage: up to KRW 4 million of unpaid wages (guaranteeing at least the amount set by ministerial notice).
• How to claim: ① file an unpaid-wage complaint with the local Labor Office → ② obtain the Confirmation of Unpaid Wages and Employer → ③ claim from Seoul Guarantee Insurance (02-777-6689). Amounts above KRW 4 million go through the wage-claim guarantee scheme (substitute payment) or civil proceedings.
• Employer penalty: a fine of up to KRW 5 million for not enrolling (Act Art. 30).

Unpaid wages are grounds for changing workplace (Act Art. 25), and while a lawsuit is pending you can stay on Miscellaneous (G-1) status — see G-1 extension documents. Labor counseling: Ministry of Employment and Labor 1350, Foreign Workforce Counseling Center 1577-0071 (multilingual).

Accident insurance — injury or illness outside work

• Basis: Act Art. 23(2); Enforcement Decree Art. 28
• Who: the foreign worker. Enroll within 15 days of the contract taking effect.
• Coverage: death or permanent disability from non-work accidents or illness — the worker or the family claims (up to KRW 30 million per the EPS guide). Injuries at work are handled by industrial accident insurance instead.
• How much: a lump-sum premium that varies by sex, age and term. Confirm the exact amount with Samsung Fire's foreign worker desk (1600-0266).
• Claiming: claim form, medical (or death) certificate, copies of passport and ARC, and proof of family relationship for family claims. For hospital paperwork see the Seoul hospital guide.
• Worker penalty: a fine of up to KRW 5 million for not enrolling (Act Art. 30).

Worker checklist

1. Within 15 days of starting — confirm your accident insurance and receive the employer's enrollment notices for departure and wage guarantee insurance
2. Within 3 months — pay the return cost insurance and keep the receipt
3. Every year — check the departure insurance statement: is 8.3% arriving every month?
4. When changing workplace — your accumulated amount stays with you and the new employer keeps contributing. If you need 4+ weeks of treatment for illness or injury after the employment ends, you can pledge up to 50% of the balance as collateral
5. 1 month before departure — notify the Job Center, file the departure and return cost claims with the insurer (at least 7 days ahead), check the severance-pay difference
6. Within 3 years after departure — claim any unpaid amounts (time limit)

Who to call

• Samsung Fire foreign worker desk (departure, return cost, accident) ARS 1600-0266, from abroad 82-2-2261-8400, weekdays 09:00–18:00, fax 0505-161-1421
• Seoul Guarantee Insurance (wage guarantee) 02-777-6689
• Ministry of Employment and Labor 1350 · Foreign Workforce Counseling Center 1577-0071 (multilingual) · EPS eps.go.kr
• WeBring — we help fill in claim forms, interpret calls with insurers and Job Centers, and calculate the severance-pay difference. For private top-up cover see insurance for foreigners.