Daegum Issues Directive for "Strict Action Against Employers Delaying Wages" Ahead of Seol Holiday

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office has instructed local prosecutors' offices to take strict action against employers who withhold wages ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

On the 16th, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated, "Ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, to ensure that workers who have not received their wages on time can quickly recover their losses, we have instructed local prosecutors' offices today to actively cooperate with relevant agencies such as the local labor offices and to strictly respond by conducting arrest investigations against habitual and malicious wage-withholding employers."

Seoul Seocho-dong Supreme Prosecutors' Office building. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

Additionally, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office added, "Unlike general workers, seafarers have unique work locations and work types, making it difficult to report wage withholding damages and promptly receive withheld wages. We have also instructed thorough measures to prevent wage withholding damages by applying the Seafarers Act."

Since March 2022, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office has been implementing the 'Prosecutorial Work Improvement Plan for the Recovery of Workers' Wage Withholding Damages' to ensure the swift recovery of damages for workers affected by wage withholding.

In particular, ahead of the Chuseok holiday last year, on September 5 and 14, and December 22, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office issued instructions three times to ▲ strictly respond to wage withholding crimes ▲ expand formal prosecutions (public trials) to resolve wage withholding issues.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated, "Going forward, the prosecution will continue to strictly punish habitual and malicious wage withholding offenders and do its best to ensure the swift recovery of damages for workers whose livelihoods are threatened by wage withholding."

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