Before you file
Prepare your own notice before you file.
Sometimes a short, factual notice asking for payment by a date helps before you go to the Labor Office. Use the prompt or the template below to write your own — in your words.
This is not a Korea Post 내용증명 and not a required legal step. It has no guaranteed legal force. It is your own document — you write it, review it, and send it. The Labor Office decides what is owed.
Remove passport, ARC, bank-account, and other people's personal details before pasting anything into an AI tool. Use initials or “[redacted]”.
New to this? Here is what a notice letter is
Many workers have never sent something like this, and that is completely fine. A notice letter is just a short, polite message you write yourself to your employer. You state the facts — what you worked and what was not paid — and ask to be paid by a date you choose. You send it before going to the Labor Office. It is optional: you can also skip it and file directly.
Why it can help
- It puts your request in writing, with a clear date.
- Some employers resolve the problem once they see your facts are organized.
- It gives you a written record you can keep and show later.
How to send it
Send it the way you already contact your employer — KakaoTalk, text message, or email. If you want proof of what you sent and when, you can also send it as a 내용증명 (naeyong-jeungmyeong, content-certified mail) at a Korea Post office for a small fee. The letter is the same either way; sending it as 내용증명 only records the delivery and does not change your legal rights.
You do not need perfect Korean or legal words. Plain, factual language is enough. Keep a copy of whatever you send.
Notice-writing prompt
You are helping a foreign worker in Korea write their OWN short, factual notice to an employer BEFORE filing anything with the Labor Office.
Fill-in template
To: [employer or person in charge]
How to use it
- 01
Copy the prompt into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini — or start from the fill-in template.
- 02
Replace every [bracket] with your own facts. Keep it factual; remove personal ID numbers.
- 03
Read it yourself, decide whether to send it, and choose how to send it. This is your own notice.
Not sure how long you have? Check estimated deadlines first →