The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that it will run the '2026 Second-Half Intensive Reporting Period for Employment Insurance Fraud' from the 9th through December 31. Those who fraudulently received employment insurance benefits or subsidies may be exempted from additional surcharges if they voluntarily report before an investigation begins. Informants who report fraud cases can receive rewards of up to 50 million won. During this period, the government will also conduct special inspections of repeated receipt of unemployment benefits and unemployment recognition claims filed while staying abroad.

Reporting Covers All Employment Insurance Programs

The reporting targets cover all employment insurance-related programs, including unemployment benefits, maternity protection benefits such as parental leave benefits, employment stabilization subsidies, and vocational competency development programs.

Voluntary Reporting Before Investigation Required for Exemption

During this period, those who voluntarily report fraud will receive the benefit of exemption from additional surcharges. However, the report must be made before an investigation into the fraudulent act begins, and the relevant facts must also be disclosed faithfully during the investigation process.

Those who fraudulently received unemployment benefits or maternity protection benefits can be exempted from surcharges if they meet the requirements. For employment stabilization and vocational competency development programs, the payment restriction period can be reduced by up to one-third, in addition to surcharge exemption, depending on the circumstances and severity of the fraud.

Fraud committed in collusion with employers may be excluded from these benefits. Exemptions are also limited for those who have been penalized for fraud within the past three years.

Rewards for Tips Up to 50 Million Won

Rewards for reporting fraud will also be operated. Depending on the results of detection and collection orders, 20 to 30 percent of the fraudulently received amount will be paid. The reward for reporting unemployment benefit fraud is up to 5 million won, while cases involving collusion with employers can receive up to 50 million won. Maternity protection benefit cases are capped at 5 million won, and employment stabilization and vocational competency development program cases at up to 30 million won.

Online Reporting Available via Work24, Sinmungo, and Other Channels

Voluntary reports and tips can be submitted online through Work24, the Ministry of Employment and Labor website, and the National Petition (e-People) system. Reports can also be made by visiting a local employment and labor office in person or by mail, fax, or telephone.

Special Inspections of Repeated Benefit Receipt and Unemployment Recognition While Abroad

The Ministry of Employment and Labor will separately inspect suspected unemployment benefit fraud cases in conjunction with the intensive reporting period. Key inspection targets include cases where individuals who received unemployment benefits three or more times at the same workplace are suspected of making false separation reports, and cases where there is a possibility that someone who left the country while receiving unemployment benefits had another person apply for unemployment recognition on their behalf.

However, fraud is not confirmed merely by the fact that someone received unemployment benefits multiple times or stayed abroad. The government plans to determine violations by individually verifying the actual circumstances of resignation, whether job-seeking activities took place, and the unemployment recognition application process.

Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon explained that the temporary-job-centered employment structure contributes to repeated receipt of unemployment benefits. The ministry's position is to respond strictly to fraud that abuses the system while maintaining protection for workers in unstable employment.

[Some AI assistance was used in producing this article. Reporting targets, exemption requirements, and reward payments may vary by individual case, so readers should consult the Ministry of Employment and Labor's official guidance.]