‘코 잘 푸는 법’, 이그노벨상 받아…일본, 20년 연속 수상자 배출

From this year, South Korea's minimum wage workers receiving unemployment benefits will see a monthly cut of about 200,000 won, but their benefits will last up to an extra half a month on average. This adjustment aims to prevent the "income reversal" phenomenon where unemployment benefits exceed the minimum wage, and to bolster job-seeking support. The Employment and Labor Ministry convened the Employment Insurance Committee to decide on these changes.

The calculation method for unemployment benefits is changing for the first time in 30 years. Currently, a full week, including holidays, is counted, but it will be reduced to six days. This change eliminates the higher-than-minimum-wage effect for workers who earn 5 days a week plus a public holiday allowance. As a result, the monthly unemployment benefit payments will decrease for those receiving them, but the total amount will remain the same.

For instance, a worker receiving benefits for 150 days (about 5 months) would see a reduction of up to 23,000 won if they reach the monthly cap of 340,000 won.

However, the duration of payments will increase slightly from 5 months to about 5.8 months, keeping the total payout unchanged. Workers able to receive benefits for up to 270 days will see their payment period extended by about a month. As of last year, approximately 172,000 workers received unemployment benefits. The government plans to implement these changes in 2024 after revising the related laws.

The government also intends to adjust the unemployment benefit ceiling, moving from a fixed amount (6,800 won per day) to 103% of the minimum wage's lower threshold (80% of the minimum wage). Since the national minimum wage increased in 2004, the higher threshold has not kept pace, leading to an imbalance. This change will help ensure that the lower threshold keeps up with inflation.