₩230,000 vs. ₩4,020,000: 5 Challenges the 'Two Realities' of Korea's Migrant Workers Pose for the Employment Permit System and SME Labor Policy

Why You Should Read This Now: Under the same label of 'Korean migrant worker,' one person's pay stub showing ₩4 million a month is setting social media ablaze, while another is beginning a legal battle after receiving only ₩230,000. This gap is the unvarnished reality of Korea's Employment Permit System.

TL;DR

• Thai national A received ₩4,027,045 in a single month at a Korean factory (46 hours of overtime, 31 consecutive working days)
• A migrant worker at an oyster farm in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, received only ₩230,000 despite a contract wage of ₩2,090,000
• Both cases involve foreign workers under the Employment Permit System (E-9 visa)
• Korea's 2026 foreign worker intake target: 80,000 — structural blind spots in oversight are exposed
• Migrant worker rights groups filed criminal complaints against 6 individuals including the employer and brokers

The Facts: What Happened

The ₩4 Million Pay Stub

Thai national A recently posted a Korean factory pay stub on social media. For August 2025, the total received was ₩4,027,045. The breakdown is as follows:

This was the result of working all 31 days plus 46 hours of overtime per week. Compared to Thailand's minimum hourly wage (approximately 46 baht), Korea's minimum wage (₩10,030/hour as of 2026) is roughly 4 times higher. The pay stub went viral on Thai social media, and Korean media picked it up as well.

The ₩230,000 Exploitation

On the other end of the spectrum is the reality in Goheung, South Jeolla Province. A foreign seasonal worker who entered the country on a contract wage of ₩2,090,000 per month received only ₩230,000 for their first paycheck. On top of a ₩310,000 deduction for lodging, the employer reportedly monitored workers via CCTV at all times and threatened deportation. A public interest law group and the Gwangju-Jeonnam Migrant Worker Support Organization held a press conference on March 4 and filed criminal complaints against 6 individuals — the employer and brokers.

Why It Went Viral Now

• The revival of Daum's real-time trending service (March 3) accelerated the spread of high-engagement content
• Against the backdrop of economic anxiety from the Iran War, the paradoxical headline 'foreigner earns ₩4 million a month in Korea' drove clicks
• The contrast between the exploitation story and the high-wage story caused both to rank highly in portal algorithms simultaneously
• Interest in foreign labor issues surged after the government confirmed an 80,000-person foreign worker intake for 2026 under the Employment Permit System

Context & Background: How the Employment Permit System Works

The Employment Permit System (E-9 visa) was introduced in 2004. Its purpose is to supply legal foreign workers to small and medium-sized enterprises that struggle to fill positions with domestic workers. However, restrictions on changing workplaces are cited as a structural weakness. Workers cannot change employers without the employer's consent, making them vulnerable to exploitation.

• 2026 intake target: 80,000 workers under the Employment Permit System (Ministry of Employment and Labor announcement)
• Equal minimum wage application: Korea legally guarantees foreign workers the same minimum wage as domestic workers (₩10,030/hour in 2026)
• The reality gap: The gap between legal protections and actual enforcement is what produced the 'Goheung incident'

Stakeholders: Who Is Involved

• Small and medium-sized manufacturers: Structurally dependent on foreign labor to address workforce shortages
• Migrant workers: Polarized between those enduring overwork for higher wages, and those trapped in exploitative situations with no escape route
• Ministry of Employment and Labor / Ministry of Justice: Responsible for managing the Employment Permit System, but facing a shortage of on-site inspectors
• Migrant worker support groups: Acting as a de facto safety net by uncovering and reporting exploitation cases
• Home country communities in Thailand and Southeast Asia: The perception that 'going to Korea = jackpot' is spreading, creating more opportunities for illegal brokers to intervene

5 Challenges: What Is Wrong With This System

1. Workplace Change Restrictions — A Breeding Ground for Exploitation

Under the Employment Permit System, workers must in principle remain at the same workplace for three years. While movement is permitted in cases of clearly attributable causes such as violence or unpaid wages, the process of proving such cases is complex.

2. Absolute Shortage of Inspection Personnel

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has approximately 1,500 labor inspectors nationwide. It is practically impossible to effectively oversee 80,000-plus foreign workers.

3. Broker Involvement and Fee Exploitation

As revealed in the Goheung case, the structure in which illegal brokers charge excessive fees from sending countries and connect workers to low-wage workplaces continues to persist.

4. Structural Incentives for Overwork

Behind the ₩4 million pay stub lies 31 consecutive days without a day off and 46+ hours of weekly overtime. This exceeds the overtime limit under the Korean Labor Standards Act (12 hours per week). Critics argue that looking the other way has become the norm rather than enforcement.

5. The Backfire of 'Success Story' Virality

As the ₩4 million pay stub spreads on Thai social media, more foreign nationals are likely to attempt entry through illegal brokers, ultimately increasing the risk of being incorporated into exploitative structures.

Outlook: How Long Will This Last

• The Goheung case is likely to lead to a prosecution investigation, and related legislation is expected to be re-ignited in the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee.
• Having committed to expanding the Employment Permit System intake in 2026, the government now has a political incentive to accompany that with stronger oversight and punishment measures.
• The '₩4 million viral' story is a short-term issue (1–3 days), but discussions on structural reform of the Employment Permit System are expected to continue for months or more.

Checklist: What Readers Should Know

References

• 'Earns ₩4 million a month in Korea' — 46 hours overtime, 31 days straight… Thai worker's pay stub goes viral — Money Today
• 'Monthly pay ₩230,000 with CCTV surveillance'… Three months of 'nightmare' for foreign workers at Goheung oyster farm — Hankyoreh
• 'Worked 12 hours, got ₩200,000 a month'… Alleged exploitation of foreign workers in Goheung — Edaily
• 2026 Employment Permit System: 80,000 foreign workers to be admitted — Korea Policy Briefing
• 'Fill the gap with foreigners at ₩2.2 million' vs. 'Even with higher wages, Koreans won't come' — Dong-A Ilbo

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