Reconcile the same pay basis and record the period, item and payment date. Do not directly subtract net bank deposits from gross contractual wages.
Collect evidence of entitlement and payment
During employment, all or part of wages may remain unpaid on the regular payday. Prepare contracts and changes, payslips, attendance and work evidence, bank transfers and employer payment explanations. Final-settlement deadlines and any extension agreement need separate checking after employment ends.
| Record | What it establishes |
|---|---|
| Agreement | Employer, wage items and promised amounts |
| Attendance | Work performed and disputed allowance hours |
| Payslip | Gross pay, deductions and adjustments |
| Transfers | Period, date and partial payments |
| Employer response | Explanation, promised date and acknowledged balance |
Worked example: compare like-for-like net amounts
Assume each month has KRW 3m gross pay and KRW 300,000 verified lawful deductions, with no cash, other-account or separate payment. This is a reconciliation example, not a determination of the legal claim.
| Period | Expected net | Received | Comparison gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| First month | KRW 2.7m | KRW 2m | KRW 700,000 |
| Next month | KRW 2.7m | KRW 2.2m | KRW 500,000 |
Example · Update the balance when a partial payment arrives
- Expected net 5.4m − received 4.2m = KRW 1.2m.
- If another KRW 200,000 is paid for the first month, that month’s gap becomes KRW 500,000 and the combined gap becomes KRW 1m.
- Keep the gross claim and net comparison distinct. Deduction validity and additional allowances need separate checking.
Organize records without losing context
- Separate the month and wage item and record the agreed payday.
- Name evidence so each payslip connects with the corresponding transfer; retain originals.
- Preserve the context of payment promises and changes rather than isolated message fragments.
- Separate agreed amounts from disputed hours or entitlements. Mark unknowns.
- Provide necessary personal details only through the appropriate official process. Do not collect unrelated colleague, customer or confidential company records.
Anonymous tips and individual complaints serve different purposes
The labor portal directs workers seeking individual wage-arrears relief to its complaint procedure. An anonymous tip helps assess inspection needs; it is not the same as pursuing payment of your own missing wages. Read the official process, contact the local labor office if needed and retain records of follow-up evidence and attendance requests.
A concise explanation
“The two payslips show expected net pay of KRW 5.4m, but identified payments total KRW 4.2m. I have a monthly itemized table, agreement, payslips and transfer records. Please confirm payment of the KRW 1.2m gap and the calculation bases.” Interest, legal claim amounts and relief eligibility need separate assessment. Reference information, not legal advice.