The Ministry of Employment and Labor will operate an 'Intensive Reporting Period for Employment Insurance Fraud for the Second Half of 2026' from the 9th until December 31. The move aims to eradicate fraudulent receipt of employment insurance benefits and subsidies, including unemployment benefits and parental leave benefits. Those who voluntarily report fraud may be exempted from additional collections depending on certain requirements, and whistleblowers can receive reporting rewards of up to 50 million won. A special inspection will also be conducted into suspected cases of repeated receipt of unemployment benefits and proxy unemployment certifications made while staying abroad.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced the plan on the 8th. This intensive reporting period covers all employment insurance programs, including unemployment benefits, maternity protection benefits such as parental leave benefits, employment subsidies, and vocational competency development programs. The purpose is to encourage voluntary reporting by fraud recipients and activate public tips to strengthen the prevention and detection of fraudulent receipt.

■ Voluntary reporting exempts additional collections... Conspiracy cases excluded

A voluntary report is recognized if it is made before an investigation into the fraudulent act begins and the relevant facts are faithfully disclosed during the investigation process. For unemployment benefits and maternity protection benefits, additional collections are exempted if voluntary reporting requirements are met. For employment stability and vocational competency development programs, in addition to exemption from additional collections, the payment restriction period may be reduced by up to one-third, taking into account the degree, motive, and consequences of the fraudulent act.

However, voluntary reporting does not exempt all liability. Fraudulently received benefits or subsidies must be returned, and exemption from additional collections applies according to separate requirements. In particular, fraudulent receipt involving conspiracy between employers and workers is excluded from voluntary reporting benefits, and benefits may also be limited for those with a history of fraud penalties within the past three years.

■ Up to 50 million won reward for reporting fraud

Reporting rewards are paid to those who report fraudulent receipt. Rewards are calculated at 20-30% of the fraud amount, based on records of detection and restitution orders. The reporting reward for unemployment benefit fraud is up to 5 million won, and up to 50 million won when an employer is involved in conspiracy. Rewards for maternity protection benefits such as parental leave benefits are up to 5 million won, and reports related to employment stability and vocational competency development programs carry rewards of up to 30 million won.

Reports can be made both online and offline. Voluntary reports or suspected fraud cases can be submitted through Employment 24, the Ministry of Employment and Labor website, and the National Petition (Gungmin Sinmungo) system. Reports can also be made by visiting local employment and labor offices in person, or by mail, fax, or telephone.

■ Special inspection of repeated benefit receipt and proxy unemployment certification while abroad

Along with the intensive reporting period, the ministry will also conduct a 'Special Inspection of Unemployment Benefit Fraud for the Second Half of 2026.' The special inspection focuses on verifying whether false resignation reports were made during repeated receipt of unemployment benefits, and whether proxy unemployment certifications through third parties occurred while recipients were staying abroad. It will center on major cases pointed out during parliamentary audits and other proceedings.

There are two main targets of inspection: cases suspected of false resignation reports among those who received unemployment benefits three or more times at the same workplace, and cases suspected of proxy unemployment certification among those who departed abroad on unemployment certification days while receiving unemployment benefits.

However, receiving unemployment benefits multiple times or staying abroad alone does not determine fraud. The ministry plans to individually verify the actual circumstances of resignation, who applied for unemployment certification, and whether re-employment efforts were made to determine whether fraud occurred. The intent is to distinguish between situations where workers in unstable employment inevitably repeat unemployment and re-employment, and intentional abuse of the system. Repeated receipt of unemployment benefits itself does not constitute fraud if statutory requirements are met. Therefore, illegality cannot be determined by the number of repeated claims alone; whether benefits were received through false reporting or improper means is what matters.

■ Minister Kim Young-hoon: 'Protect vulnerable workers, respond strictly to system abuse'

Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon explained that repeated benefit receipt is partly inevitable due to the structural characteristics of the domestic labor market, where temporary positions account for a large share. He then stated that while protection for vulnerable workers facing employment instability will be strengthened, the ministry will respond strictly to acts of fraudulently receiving subsidies through abuse of the system.

Through this intensive reporting period and special inspection, the ministry plans to raise awareness of fraud and strengthen management and oversight for the proper execution of employment insurance finances. The intensive reporting period runs until December 31, and decisions on exemption from additional collections through voluntary reporting and payment of reporting rewards will be made according to relevant requirements and investigation results.

[Some AI assistance was used. The actual payment, restitution, and penalties for employment insurance benefits and subsidies may vary depending on relevant laws and individual review results.]