“I Have Not Been Paid in Two Months”: SA Woman in Korea Shares Horrible Experience Working Abroad

• A Cape Town woman living and working in Korea opened up about going months without pay
• She explained how she has been managing her rent, bills, and daily life without a steady income
• South Africans and expats flooded the comments with support, advice, and their own stories of struggling through tough seasons abroad
• Briefly News spoke to financial advisor Mohammed Areff on how people can budget and prepare financially for situations where they may suddenly lose their income or job

A Cape Town woman living in Korea gave her followers a raw and honest look at what life abroad can really look like when things go wrong. TikTok creator Suny posted the video on 11 March 2026 after many of her followers noticed she had been crying in previous videos. She explained that she had not been paid in two months by her employer and had not seen any real income since the year before. She told viewers she was not making the video for pity but wanted to share the reality of life as a foreigner abroad for anyone going through something similar.

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In the video, Sunay broke down exactly how she has been surviving. She signed up for a gym the previous year and paid upfront for four months. That gym has since become more than just a place to exercise. She showers there, uses their shampoo and conditioner and even takes their water home. For food, she lives on rice noodles, tuna, eggs and bread.

When it comes to bills she cannot pay, she explained that in Korea, unpaid bills simply roll over to the following month with a small fine added. She plans to settle them once she gets paid. As for the skincare products her followers see her reviewing constantly, she confirmed every single one is sponsored, which is how she keeps herself going. She ended the video on a hopeful note, saying she had started a new job and expected to have income again within a month.

Speaking to Briefly News writer Nerissa Naidoo, financial advisor Mohammed Areff discussed how people can budget and prepare financially for situations where they may suddenly lose their income or job:

“The best way to prepare for unexpected job loss is to build an emergency fund that can cover at least three to six months of basic expenses. People should focus on saving regularly, reducing unnecessary debt, and making sure their essential costs like rent, food, and utilities can still be managed if their income suddenly stops.”

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When asked how paying for certain subscriptions annually, sometimes at a discounted price, can help people financially over time, Mohammed Areff shared:

“Paying annually for subscriptions can sometimes be a smart financial decision because many companies offer a discount compared to paying month by month. Although the upfront payment is larger, it often reduces the total cost over the year. From a financial planning point of view, this works well if the service is something you know you will use consistently and if the payment fits comfortably within your budget.”

Watch the TikTok clip below:

Netizens relate to Korea work experience

People from back home and fellow expats showed up in the comments with love, shared experiences and advice for TikToker @sunaynay1:

@Candace | Life in Korea advised:

"Definitely file a labour complaint report for unpaid wages through the MOEL website: www.moel.go.kr. Better to do on a desktop."

@Thanusha Melvyn van Wyk said:

"My darling, we are so sorry to hear that you've been given a raw deal. You are very brave. Sterkte Amor."

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@Rosey wrote:

"Here to comment so you can get that bag. Lots of love from home 🇿🇦 You got this, babe. Saranghae."

@Maya's diaries suggested:

"Girl, if you have a contract, you can sue 😭 Also, for food help, go on Facebook. It's called free things and giveaways. People really help there 🫶"

@Being that woman added:

"I changed jobs because of it."

@Yurishka Venter said:

"Sterkte girl 🥰🙏 Praying for your situation and absolutely love your mindset. Keep going, things are about to get better."

@mastrata wrote:

"Eish askies. We all go through such seasons, but hopefully, it ends soon. Thank you for sharing."

@Rhonda8996 added:

"God will come through for you dear 🥰"

More on SA people working abroad

• Briefly News recently reported on a South African teacher in Korea who shared culture shocks from working there.
• A South African mom living in Korea opened up about raising her child alone while working full-time abroad.
• A South African nurse working in the US shared work culture differences that caught her completely off guard.

Source: Briefly News