South Korea labor commission case delays

South Korea’s National Labor Relations Commission is experiencing significant delays in processing cases related to unfair dismissal and unfair labor practices. Data indicates a sharp rise in the proportion of cases taking longer than 90 days to process, increasing from approximately 11% in 2022 to 28% by September 2026.

The average processing time has extended significantly, with some reports noting an increase from 150 days to 217 days. In specific regional commissions, such as the Central Labor Relations Commission, the situation is particularly acute; one report noted that 83.3% of its 1,682 cases handled this year took more than 151 days.

Regional disparities exist in the handling of these cases. The Seoul and Gyeonggi areas account for 85.4% of all long-term cases in local commissions, whereas the Jeonnam Regional Labor Relations Commission has maintained a stable average processing time of 43 days. In response to the surge in cases, which rose over 34% compared to the previous year, there are calls for increased investigative personnel and improved processing systems to prevent livelihood instability for workers.