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<h1>Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Asia and the Pacific, 2008</h1>
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<h1>Korea, South</h1>
<div class="exchangeRate">Exchange rate: <abbr>US</abbr>$1.00 equals 1028.50&nbsp;won.</div>
<h2>Old Age, Disability, and Survivors</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First law:</span> 1973 (national welfare pension).</p>
<p><span class="h4">Current law:</span> 1986 (national pension), with amendments; and 2007 (basic old-age pension), with 2007 amendment.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> Social insurance and social assistance system.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Social insurance:</span> Employed and self-employed persons, including farmers and fisherman, between ages&nbsp;18 and&nbsp;59. (Employed and self-employed persons between ages&nbsp;60 and 64 may contribute voluntarily.)</p>
<p>Special systems for civil servants, private-school employees, military personnel, and employees of the special post office.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Basic old-age pension:</span> Citizens aged&nbsp;65 or older, including foreigners married to South Koreans.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<h4>Social insurance:</h4>
<p><span class="h5">Insured person:</span> 4.5% of monthly earnings before tax. Voluntarily insured persons contribute 9% of the previous year's median monthly income of all insured persons.</p>
<p>The minimum monthly earnings for contribution calculation purposes are 220,000&nbsp;won.</p>
<p>The maximum monthly earnings for contribution calculation purposes are 3,600,000&nbsp;won.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Self-employed person:</span> Self-employed persons contribute 9% of monthly earnings before tax.</p>
<p>The minimum monthly earnings for contribution calculation purposes are 220,000&nbsp;won.</p>
<p>The maximum monthly earnings for contribution calculation purposes are 3,600,000&nbsp;won.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Employer:</span> 4.5% of the monthly payroll before tax.</p>
<p>The minimum monthly earnings for contribution calculation purposes are 220,000&nbsp;won.</p>
<p>The maximum monthly earnings for contribution calculation purposes are 3,600,000&nbsp;won.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Government:</span> Part of the cost of administration; an amount equal to 50% of the monthly contributions for farmers and fishermen with average monthly earnings ranging from 220,000&nbsp;won to 620,000&nbsp;won; an amount equal to 100% of monthly contributions for 12&nbsp;to 50&nbsp;months for mothers with more than two children and for 6&nbsp;months for insured persons with military service; a flat-rate contribution of 27,900&nbsp;won per person for farmers and fishermen with average monthly earnings greater than 620,000&nbsp;won.</p>
<h4>Basic old-age pension:</h4>
<p><span class="h5">Insured person:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Self-employed person:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Employer:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Government:</span> The total cost.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Old-age pension (social insurance):</span> Age&nbsp;60 or older (to be raised gradually to age&nbsp;65 by 2033) with at least 20&nbsp;years of coverage. If younger than age&nbsp;65, taxable monthly income or earnings from gainful activity must not exceed 1,676,837&nbsp;won.</p>
<p>Reduced old-age pension: Aged&nbsp;60 or older with between 10 and 19&nbsp;years of coverage and monthly income or earnings from gainful activity not exceeding 1,676,837&nbsp;won. There is no retirement test if aged&nbsp;65 or older.</p>
<p>Active old-age pension: Age&nbsp;60 or older with at least 10&nbsp;years of coverage and in gainful activity with monthly taxable income exceeding 1,676,837&nbsp;won.</p>
<p>Early pension: From age&nbsp;55 with at least 10&nbsp;years of coverage and taxable monthly income or earnings from gainful activity not exceeding 1,676,837&nbsp;won.</p>
<p>Dependent's supplement: Paid for eligible dependents, including the spouse, children younger than age&nbsp;18 or disabled (assessed with a first- or second-degree disability), and parents (including the spouse's parents) aged&nbsp;60 or older or disabled (assessed with a first- or second-degree disability).</p>
<p><span class="h4">Old-age lump-sum refund (social insurance):</span> Paid if the insured is aged&nbsp;60, ceases gainful activity, and has less than 10&nbsp;years of coverage; at any age if the insured emigrates from Korea permanently or loses Korean nationality; under bilateral agreement to insured foreigners who leave Korea.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Split pension (social insurance):</span> Age&nbsp;60 and divorced. Must have been married to an insured spouse for at least five years during his or her covered employment and must not be remarried.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Basic old-age pension (social assistance):</span> Age&nbsp;65 with an income below a maximum set by presidential order.</p>
<p>In 2008, the maximum was 400,000 won a month for a single person; 640,000 won for a couple.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Disability pension (social insurance):</span> Must be assessed with a first-degree (total loss of work capacity and requiring constant attendance), second-degree (severe loss of work capacity), or third-degree disability (less severe loss of work capacity) as the result of a disease or injury that began while insured. The insured must have paid 66% of scheduled contributions on time (except when the unpaid coverage period is less than 6&nbsp;months).</p>
<p>The National Pension Corporation assesses the degree of disability.</p>
<p>At the request of the beneficiary, the National Pension Corporation may reassess the degree of disability and adjust the benefit amount.</p>
<p>Dependent's supplement: Paid for eligible dependents, including the spouse, children younger than age&nbsp;18 or disabled (assessed with a first- or second-degree disability), and parents (including the spouse's parents) aged&nbsp;60 or older or disabled (assessed with a first- or second-degree disability).</p>
<p><span class="h4">Lump-sum disability benefit (social insurance):</span> Paid for a fourth-degree disability (partial loss of work capacity). The insured must have paid 66% of scheduled contributions on time (except when the unpaid coverage period is less than 6&nbsp;months).</p>
<p><span class="h4">Survivor pension (social insurance):</span> Paid for the death of an insured person (the deceased must have paid 66% of scheduled contributions on time, except when the unpaid coverage period is less than 6&nbsp;months), an old-age pensioner, or a disability pensioner with a first- or second-degree disability.</p>
<p>Eligible survivors include a widow, a widower aged&nbsp;60 or older (at any age with a first- or second-degree disability), parents and grandparents (including the spouse's parents or grandparents) aged&nbsp;60 or older or disabled and assessed with a first- or second-degree disability, and children and grandchildren younger than age&nbsp;18 (any age if assessed with a first- or second-degree disability). The pension is paid to eligible survivors in the following order of priority: spouse, children, parents, grandchildren, and grandparents.</p>
<p>Dependent's supplement: Paid for eligible dependents, including children younger than age&nbsp;18 or disabled (assessed with a first- or second-degree disability) and parents (including the spouse's parents) aged&nbsp;60 or older or disabled (assessed with a first- or second-degree disability).</p>
<p><span class="h4">Survivor lump-sum refund (social insurance):</span> Paid on the death of an insured or formerly insured person if the qualifying conditions for the survivor pension are not satisfied.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Lump-sum death benefit (social insurance):</span> Paid to dependent survivors (direct blood-relatives including cousins) in the absence of eligible survivors for the survivor pension or lump-sum refund.</p>
<h3>Old-Age Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Old-age pension (social insurance):</span> With at least 20&nbsp;years of coverage, the basic monthly pension amount (<abbr class="spell">BPA</abbr>) is equal to 1.5&nbsp;times the sum of the average indexed national monthly wage in the 3&nbsp;years immediately before the year in which the pension is first paid and the insured's average monthly wage over the insured's total contribution period.</p>
<p>Pension increment: An increment is paid for each year of coverage exceeding 20&nbsp;years.</p>
<p>Reduced old-age pension: The pension ranges from 50% to 95% of the monthly <abbr class="spell">BPA</abbr> if the insured has at least 10&nbsp;years but less than 20&nbsp;years of coverage.</p>
<p>Active old-age pension: The pension is based on the insured's <abbr class="spell">BPA</abbr>, adjusted according to the total number of years of coverage and the insured's age.</p>
<p>Early pension: The pension is based on the insured's <abbr class="spell">BPA</abbr>, adjusted according to the total number of years of coverage and the insured's age when the pension is first paid.</p>
<p>Dependent's supplement: 205,220&nbsp;won a year for a spouse and 136,800&nbsp;won a year per child or parent is paid to all pensioners, except those receiving the active old-age pension.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually according to changes in the consumer price index for the previous year.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Old-age lump-sum refund (social insurance):</span> Equal to the insured's total contributions (including any employer contributions) plus interest calculated at the basic bank rate on the date of the refund.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Split pension (social insurance):</span> The pension is equal to up to 50% of the insured ex-spouse's pension, according to the length of marriage.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Basic Senior Pension (social assistance):</span> The monthly benefit is equal to 5% of the average monthly income of National Pension Service participants (rising gradually to 10% by 2028).</p>
<p>In 2008, the benefit was 84,000 won a month for a single person; 134,000 won a month for a couple.</p>
<h3>Permanent Disability Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Disability pension (social insurance):</span> The pension is calculated according to the insured's basic monthly pension amount (<abbr class="spell">BPA</abbr>) and assessed degree of disability.</p>
<p>The <abbr class="spell">BPA</abbr> is equal to 1.5&nbsp;times the sum of the average indexed national monthly wage in the 3&nbsp;years immediately before the year in which the pension is first paid and the insured's average monthly wage over the insured's total contribution period. An increment is paid for years of coverage exceeding 20&nbsp;years.</p>
<p>Total disability: 100% of the insured's <abbr class="spell">BPA</abbr> is paid for a first-degree disability (total loss of work capacity and requiring constant attendance).</p>
<p>Moderate disability: 80% of the insured's <abbr class="spell">BPA</abbr> is paid for an assessed second-degree disability (severe loss of work capacity); 60% for an assessed third-degree disability (less severe loss of work capacity).</p>
<p>Dependent's supplement: 205,220&nbsp;won a year for a spouse and 136,800&nbsp;won a year per child or parent is paid to disabled insured persons with an assessed first-, second-, or third-degree disability.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually according to changes in the consumer price index for the previous year.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Lump-sum disability benefit (social insurance):</span> 225% of the <abbr class="spell">BPA</abbr> is paid to insured persons with a fourth-degree disability (partial loss in work capacity).</p>
<h3>Survivor Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Survivor pension (social insurance):</span> If the deceased had at least 20&nbsp;years of contributions, the pension is equal to 60% of the deceased's <abbr class="spell">BPA</abbr>; between 10 and 19&nbsp;years of contributions, 50%; less than 10&nbsp;years of contributions, 40%.</p>
<p>The <abbr class="spell">BPA</abbr> is equal to 1.5&nbsp;times the sum of the average indexed national monthly wage in the 3&nbsp;years immediately before the year in which the pension is first paid and the insured's average monthly wage over the insured's total contribution period. An increment is paid for years of coverage exceeding 20&nbsp;years.</p>
<p>Dependent's supplement: 136,800&nbsp;won a year is paid per child or parent.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually according to changes in the consumer price index for the previous year.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Survivor lump-sum refund (social insurance):</span> Equal to the deceased's total contributions (including employer contributions) plus interest calculated at the basic bank rate on the date of the refund.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Lump-sum death benefit (social insurance):</span> Equal to the deceased's total contributions (including employer contributions) plus interest based on the average annual bank interest rate.</p>
<p>The maximum lump-sum death benefit is four times the deceased's last covered monthly wage, or the average covered monthly wage for the entire insured period, whichever is higher.</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p>Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Family Affairs (<a href="http://mw.go.kr">http://www.mw.go.kr</a>) provides general supervision.</p>
<p>National Pension Service (<a href="https://www.nps.or.kr">http://www.nps.or.kr</a>) administers the program, collects contributions, and pays benefits.</p>
<h2>Sickness and Maternity</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First laws:</span> 1963 (voluntary medical insurance for employees); and 1976 (compulsory national medical insurance), implemented in 1977.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Current laws:</span> 1999 (national health insurance), implemented in 2000, with 2005 amendment; 2002 (financial stability of national health insurance), with 2004 amendment; and 2007 (long-term care insurance), implemented in 2008.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> Social insurance system. Medical benefits only.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p>All Korean citizens and employees (foreigners residing in Korea may contribute on a voluntary basis), except for those with low income and covered by the medical aid program.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Insured person:</span> 2.54% (medical benefits) and 0.09% (long-term care) of monthly earnings before tax.</p>
<p>The minimum monthly earnings for contribution calculation purposes are 280,000&nbsp;won.</p>
<p>The maximum monthly earnings for contribution calculation purposes are 5,080,000&nbsp;won.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Self-employed person:</span> Based on personal factors including property ownership, income, age, and gender.</p>
<p>There are no minimum or maximum earnings for contribution calculation purposes.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employer:</span> 2.54% (medical benefits) and 0.09% (long-term care) of monthly payroll; private schools contribute a different amount.</p>
<p>The minimum monthly earnings for contribution calculation purposes are 280,000&nbsp;won.</p>
<p>The maximum monthly earnings for contribution calculation purposes are 5,080,000&nbsp;won.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Government:</span> 2.54% of monthly earnings for government employees and 1.016% for private-school employees (medical benefits) and 20% of anticipated program costs (long-term care).</p>
<p>The minimum monthly earnings for contribution calculation purposes are 280,000&nbsp;won.</p>
<p>The maximum monthly earnings for contribution calculation purposes are 5,080,000&nbsp;won.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Cask sickness and maternity benefits:</span> No cash benefits are provided.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Medical benefits:</span> The insured must not have missed more than 3&nbsp;months of contributions since first becoming insured.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Long-term care:</span> Age&nbsp;65 or older and requiring constant care. Persons younger than age&nbsp;65 if assessed as requiring constant care due to a medical condition such as dementia, cardiovascular disease, or Alzheimer's disease.</p>
<h3>Sickness and Maternity Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Sickness benefit:</span> No cash benefits are provided.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Maternity benefit:</span> No cash benefits are provided.</p>
<h3>Workers' Medical Benefits</h3>
<p>Benefits include medical treatment, surgery, hospitalization, and medicines. Medical services are provided by doctors, clinics, hospitals, and pharmacists under contract to the National Health Insurance Corporation (<abbr class="spell">NHIC</abbr>).</p>
<p>Maternity care is provided, with no limit on the number of children. There are no cash maternity benefits.</p>
<p>Cost sharing: The insured pays 20% of hospitalization costs and between 30% and 50% of outpatient care, depending on the type of facility. The maximum paid by each patient is 2,000,000&nbsp;won every 6&nbsp;months.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Long-term care:</span> Benefits include in-home services to assist the insured in performing daily functions (including physical therapy, medical treatments, and medical equipment; long-term care in licensed nursing homes, retirement homes, licensed residential establishments, and other long-term care facilities; and cash benefits when the insured lives in a remote region.</p>
<h3>Dependents' Medical Benefits</h3>
<p>Benefits include medical treatment, surgery, hospitalization, and medicines. Medical services are provided by doctors, clinics, hospitals, and pharmacists under contract to the National Health Insurance Corporation (<abbr class="spell">NHIC</abbr>).</p>
<p>Maternity care is provided to the insured's dependents, with no limit on the number of children. There are no cash maternity benefits.</p>
<p>Cost sharing: The insured pays 20% of hospitalization costs and between 30% and 50% of outpatient care, depending on the type of facility. The maximum paid by each patient is 2,000,000&nbsp;won every 6&nbsp;months.</p>
<p>Dependents include the spouse, children up to age&nbsp;18 (or until the completion of university studies), parents and grandparents of the insured and of his or her spouse, and brothers and sisters who have no income or salary and who are mainly supported by the insured.</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p>Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Family Affairs (<a href="http://mw.go.kr">http://www.mw.go.kr</a>) provides general supervision.</p>
<p>National Health Insurance Corporation (http://www.nhic.or.kr; http://www.longtermcare.or.kr) administers the national health insurance and long-term care programs, levies and collects contributions, and pays medical service providers.</p>
<p>Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (http://www.hira.or.kr) examines and reviews medical claims and evaluates the quality of medical and long-term care services.</p>
<h2>Work Injury</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First law:</span> 1953.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Current law:</span> 1963 (industrial accident compensation insurance), implemented in 1964, with 1970, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2004, and 2005 amendments.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> Social insurance system.</p>
<p>Note: The 1953 law still applies to employees if the duration of their incapacity due to a work-related injury or an occupational disease is less than 3&nbsp;days.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p>Employees of establishments with at least one employee.</p>
<p>Voluntary coverage for agriculture, forestry, hunting, and fishery businesses with fewer than five employees; certain small business employers with fewer than 50 employees; persons working on small-scale construction projects (when net construction costs are below 20,000,000&nbsp;won); electricians; telecommunications workers; fire service personnel; certain self-employed persons; and household workers.</p>
<p>Special systems for civil servants, military personnel, private-school employees, and seamen.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Insured person:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Self-employed person:</span> Between 0.7% and 48.9% of declared earnings or payroll is contributed on a voluntary basis.</p>
<p>There are no minimum or maximum earnings for contribution calculation purposes. The contribution rate is reviewed annually.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employer:</span> Between 0.7% and 48.9% of annual payroll (for compulsorily and voluntarily insured employers), according to the assessed degree of risk.</p>
<p>There are no minimum or maximum earnings for contribution calculation purposes. The contribution rate is reviewed annually.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Government:</span> None.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Work injury benefits:</span> There is no minimum qualifying period.</p>
<h3>Temporary Disability Benefits</h3>
<p>70% of the insured's average daily wage in the 3&nbsp;months before the onset of disability is paid if the insured is unable to work and receiving medical treatment.</p>
<p>After 24&nbsp;months and if still receiving medical treatment, persons assessed with a first-degree (total loss of work capacity and requiring constant attendance), second-degree (severe loss of work capacity), or third-degree disability (less severe loss of work capacity) receive the injury and disease compensation pension (ranging from 70.4% to 90.1% of the insured's average daily wage) for 257, 291, or 329&nbsp;treatment days according to the assessed degree of disability. The benefit is paid until recovery or the award of the permanent disability pension.</p>
<p>The minimum daily benefit is 24,800&nbsp;won.</p>
<p>The maximum daily benefit is 155,360&nbsp;won.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: The minimum and maximum benefits are adjusted annually according to wage changes.</p>
<h3>Permanent Disability Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Permanent disability benefit:</span> The benefit varies according to the assessed degree of disability, in order of decreasing severity from grades one to seven. The annual pension is equal to the insured's average daily wage in the 3&nbsp;months before the onset of disability multiplied by between 138&nbsp;and&nbsp;329, according to the assessed degree of disability. Insured persons with an assessed disability of four to seven (medium severity) may choose between the pension or a lump sum equal to the insured's average daily wage multiplied by 616, 737, 869, or 1,012, according to the assessed degree of disability.</p>
<p>The minimum daily benefit is 45,700&nbsp;won.</p>
<p>The maximum daily benefit is 155,360&nbsp;won.</p>
<p>Partial disability: A lump sum is paid for an assessed degree of disability from grades eight to fourteen (lower severity). The benefit is equal to the insured's average daily wage in the 3&nbsp;months before the date of injury multiplied by between 55 and 495, according to the assessed degree of disability.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Nursing benefit:</span> Paid for nursing services for insured persons with a residual chronic disability after receiving medical treatment. The benefit varies between 24,940&nbsp;won and 37,420&nbsp;won a day, according to assessed needs.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: The minimum and maximum benefits are adjusted annually according to changes in wages.</p>
<h3>Workers' Medical Benefits</h3>
<p>Medical benefits include medical treatment, surgery, hospitalization, medicines, nursing, dental care, rehabilitation appliances, and transportation.</p>
<h3>Survivor Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Survivor pension:</span> 52% of annual earnings (calculated as the insured's average daily wage in the 3&nbsp;months before the date of death multiplied by 365) is paid for a single person; the pension is increased by 5% for each additional survivor up to 67% for a family of four or more. The pension is paid monthly.</p>
<p>Eligible survivors include the dependent spouse, parents and grandparents older than age&nbsp;60, children and grandchildren younger than age&nbsp;18, and siblings older than age&nbsp;60 or younger than age&nbsp;18. The pension is paid to eligible survivors in the following order of priority: spouse, children, parents, grandchildren, grandparents, and brothers or sisters.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: The minimum and maximum benefits are adjusted annually according to changes in wages.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Lump-sum grant:</span> If there are no eligible survivors for the survivor pension, a lump sum equal to the insured's average daily wage in the 3&nbsp;months before the date of death multiplied by 1,300 is paid to nondependent survivors.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Funeral grant:</span> A lump sum equal to the insured's average daily wage in the 3&nbsp;months before the date of death multiplied by&nbsp;120 is paid to the person who paid for the funeral.</p>
<p>The minimum funeral grant is 7,525,147&nbsp;won.</p>
<p>The maximum funeral grant is 10,814,947&nbsp;won.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: The minimum and maximum benefits are adjusted annually according to changes in wages.</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p>Ministry of Labor (http://www.molab.go.kr) provides general supervision.</p>
<p>Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service (http://www.kcomwel.or.kr) collects contributions, pays benefits, and administers the program through its own medical care institutions.</p>
<h2>Unemployment</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First and current law:</span> 1993 (employment insurance), implemented in 1995, with 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, and 2005 amendments.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> Social insurance system.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p>All employees younger than age&nbsp;65.</p>
<p>Voluntary coverage for agriculture, forestry, hunting, and fishery businesses with fewer than five employees; small-scale construction projects (when net construction costs are below 20,000,000&nbsp;won); electricians; telecommunications workers; fire service personnel; self-employed persons; and household workers.</p>
<p>Exclusions: Persons working less than 60&nbsp;hours a month or less than 15&nbsp;hours a week, family labor, and self-employed persons.</p>
<p>Special systems for civil servants, private-school employees, military personnel, and employees of the special post office.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Insured person:</span> 0.45% of annual wages before tax.</p>
<p>There are no maximum earnings for contribution calculation purposes.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Self-employed person:</span> 0.25% of declared wages are contributed on a voluntary basis.</p>
<p>There are no maximum earnings for contribution calculation purposes.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employer:</span> Between 0.7% and 1.3% (depending on the type of business) of annual payroll.</p>
<p>There are no maximum earnings for contribution calculation purposes.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Government:</span> None.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Unemployment benefits:</span> Must have at least 6&nbsp;months of coverage during the last 18&nbsp;months, be registered at an employment security office, and be capable of and available for work. Unemployment must not be due to voluntary leaving, misconduct, a labor dispute, or the refusal of a suitable job offer.</p>
<p>Additional allowances are paid to unemployed persons to encourage retraining or job search. Allowances include the early reemployment allowance, vocational ability development allowance, and transportation and home moving allowance.</p>
<h3>Unemployment Benefits</h3>
<p>The benefit is equal to half of the insured's average daily earnings during the 3&nbsp;months immediately before unemployment. The benefit is paid after a 7-day waiting period for up to 90&nbsp;days to those with between 6 and 12&nbsp;months of coverage; for up to 240&nbsp;days with more than 10&nbsp;years of coverage or aged&nbsp;50 or older or disabled.</p>
<p>The minimum daily benefit is 90% of the minimum daily wage. (The minimum daily wage is 24,800&nbsp;won.)</p>
<p>The maximum daily benefit is 40,000&nbsp;won.</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p>Ministry of Labor (http://www.molab.go.kr) provides general supervision of the program.</p>
<p>Employment Security Offices, under the Ministry of Labor, pay unemployment benefits.</p>
<p>Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service (http://www.kcomwel.or.kr) collects contributions.</p>
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