70,000 Artists to Receive Unemployment Benefits... Employment Insurance Covers Monthly Income Over 500,000 Won

Ministry of Employment Announces Legislative Notice for 'Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Employment Insurance Act'
Unemployment Benefits Employment Insurance Premiums Shared Equally by Employers and Employees
Job-Seeking Allowance Provided Even When Wages Decrease by 20% Due to Job Change

Asia Economy DB=Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The average monthly income of artists covered by employment insurance has been set at over 500,000 won. To receive job-seeking benefits (unemployment benefits), unemployed artists must have paid insurance premiums for at least 9 months within the past 2 years. Unlike general workers, artists who have changed jobs due to a decrease in wages of 20% or more can also receive job-seeking benefits.

On the 18th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced the legislative notice of the revised enforcement ordinances of the 'Employment Insurance Act' and the 'Act on Collection of Employment Insurance and Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Premiums,' which include detailed implementation plans for artists' employment insurance.

This revision stipulates matters delegated by the amended law and necessary details for its enforcement related to the artists' employment insurance system, which will take effect on December 10. It was prepared through the resolution of the Employment Insurance Committee based on opinions collected from labor, management, experts, and the Employment Insurance System Improvement Task Force.

The target for employment insurance enrollment is artists who have signed contracts related to cultural and artistic services. In addition to those certified for artistic activities under the 'Artist Welfare Act,' emerging artists and artists with career interruptions are also included.

However, artists with an average monthly income below 500,000 won will be excluded from employment insurance coverage. Artists who have signed multiple small contracts can apply for income aggregation, and if the aggregated amount is 500,000 won or more, employment insurance will apply.

Unemployment insurance premiums are shared equally between artists and employers, each paying 0.8% based on the wage amount.

Artists enrolled in employment insurance can receive job-seeking benefits for 120 to 270 days. However, to receive these benefits, unemployed artists must have paid insurance premiums for at least 9 months within the 24 months prior to the date of job separation. This requirement is stricter than that for general workers, who must have paid for at least 6 months within the 18 months prior to separation.

Considering the characteristics of artists, job-seeking benefits are also available if they change jobs due to income reduction and seek other employment. The criteria for recognizing job separation due to income reduction are: ▲a decrease of 20% or more in wages during the three months prior to the month of separation compared to the same period the previous year, or ▲having five or more months within the past year where monthly wages decreased by 20% or more compared to the previous year's average monthly wage.

The amount of job-seeking benefits is 60% of the basic daily benefit amount calculated based on the total wages for one year before retirement, with a daily maximum of 66,000 won.

Artists enrolled in employment insurance are also entitled to 90 days of maternity benefits. They can receive 100% of their average monthly wage for one year prior to the childbirth date. The conditions include ▲being insured for at least 3 months before the childbirth date and ▲not providing labor during the prescribed period.

The estimated number of beneficiaries of artists' employment insurance is about 70,000. Lee Jeong-han, Director of Employment Service Policy at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, stated at a briefing the day before, "According to a survey on artists conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, there are about 170,000 artists in total," adding, "We estimate that about 70,000 people will be eligible under the coverage criteria."

Gwon Ki-seop, Director of Employment Policy at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, said, "We will ensure that artists exposed to unemployment risks due to COVID-19 and other factors can benefit from employment insurance," and added, "During the legislative notice period, we will cooperate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to collect and review stakeholders' opinions." He also stated, "We plan to support employment insurance premiums for low-income artists, establish a roadmap for universal employment insurance by the end of this year, and continue to expand the coverage."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.