Goyang Employment and Labor Office Intensifies Wage Arrears Settlement Guidance Ahead of Lunar New Year

The Ministry of Employment and Labor's Goyang Office (Director Kim Young-kyou) has designated January 9 to 26 as a "concentrated wage arrears settlement guidance period" ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday and is mobilizing all labor inspection capacity to conduct intensive guidance on wage arrears settlement.

During this period, labor inspectors from the Goyang Employment and Labor Office will enter emergency operations (weekdays 09:00~21:00, weekends 09:00~18:00) to receive and process wage arrears consultations and reports (including anonymous submissions).

In particular, workplaces vulnerable to wage arrears—such as those with unpaid four major insurance premiums and establishments with frequent reported cases—will be placed under intensive management. For malicious wage arrears cases involving asset concealment, collective wage arrears, or flight of employers, the office will coordinate with prosecutors to pursue strict legal action, with criminal investigations as the principle.

As of the end of December 2016, the outstanding wage arrears in the Goyang and Paju area amounted to 34.774 billion won. Of this, 13.339 billion won was settled through the Goyang Employment and Labor Office's guidance and resolution. For the remaining 18.315 billion won in unsettled arrears, employers were subject to legal proceedings. Regarding 3.119 billion won in wage arrears currently under investigation, the office plans to concentrate administrative efforts on employer guidance to ensure settlement before the Lunar New Year.

Additionally, the office has decided to actively support workers facing hardship due to unpaid wages ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, as well as assist employers experiencing temporary management difficulties due to wage arrears.

The office will support workers with unpaid wages to receive temporary relief payments first and provide livelihood loans. Meanwhile, the office plans to actively support employers facing temporary business difficulties by facilitating loans for wage arrears repayment.

Director Kim Young-kyou of the Goyang Employment and Labor Office stated, "We will strengthen preventive activities against wage arrears and support for affected workers, while implementing strict law enforcement against employers in arrears, doing our utmost to protect workers' rights so they can enjoy a prosperous Lunar New Year celebration."