I'm a foreigner living in Korea and I'm having issues with my employer, landlord, and a few government offices?

Farah Khan ·

I'm a foreigner living in Korea and I'm having issues with my employer, landlord, and a few government offices. Are there any complaint hotlines or support services specifically for foreigners? I don't speak Korean well enough to navigate the regular complaint channels.

1 Answer

Sarah Kim ·

I have been in a similar situation and there are actually quite a few support channels for foreigners. The most important number is 1345, which is the Immigration Contact Center available in about 20 languages including English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai. They can help with employer disputes, visa issues, and connect you to the right government office.

For labor issues specifically, call the Foreign Workers Consultation Center at 1644-0644. They provide free legal consultation in multiple languages and can guide you through filing complaints with the Labor Board. For landlord disputes, the Korea Legal Aid Corporation (대한법률구조공단) at 132 offers free legal advice to foreigners. The Seoul Global Center at 02-2075-4180 is excellent for general help with government paperwork, translation assistance, and connecting you to the right resources. They also have in-person counseling in multiple languages. For discrimination complaints, the National Human Rights Commission at 1331 accepts complaints from foreigners. Keep notes of every interaction, save all messages and documents, and do not be afraid to use these services because that is exactly what they are there for.