Social Security System in Korea

The social security system of Korea is mainly composed of National Health Insurance (NHI) and public pension program like Korean teacher’s pension plan (KTP).

Please refer to National Health Insurance Service website for further information.

National Health Insurance (NHI)

The NHI program of Korea covers whole population as a compulsory social insurance system. The NHI is the only public insurance institution operated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. NHI agreements differ by 2 types depending on whether the applicant is employed or self-employed.

All foreign workers and overseas Koreans who work for a workplace in Korea shall automatically be the employee insured since 1 January, 2006. The same insurance benefits for Korean citizens are applied to the benefits for foreigners. However, non-tenure track scholars, who receive only lecture fees without a fixed monthly salary, are not eligible for NHI.

For employment insurance enrollment you have to submit an application and other documents to the employer, because the employer is required to submit all those documents to the NHI corporation. A foreigner registration is prerequisite to enrollment of the NHI, because your NHI qualification is managed by your foreigner registration number.

When the NHI enrollment procedure is completed, you can go to any hospital, because every hospital and pharmacy in Korea provides the NHI insurance service by law.

Persons who receive health care treatment pay certain portion of the costs as co-payments. That’s between 20%~60% of the total NHI applicable medical charges.

The contribution of employee insured is based on salary of the insured. And the current contribution rate of the employee insured is 6.99%. 50% of the insurance contribution is charged to the employer and the other 50% is charged to the employee. (deducted from the monthly check)

Also, you can put your family members as your dependents on your health insurance card. But only the family members who are registered to Korea Immigration Office and have no incomes of their own are eligible for the NHI program. Your monthly NHI contribution has nothing to do with how many people are insured by your health insurance, but how much your annual income is.
Please refer to National Health Insurance Service booklet for further information.

The NHIS Center for Foreign Residents (Seoul and Metropolitan Area)

The NHIS Center for Foreign Residents (Seoul and Metropolitan Area)

Center Name	Location	Center Information
Seoul Center	3rd floor, Sindorim Techno Mart(Upmu-dong), 97, Seamal-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul
Incheon Center	7th floor, Bupyeongdaero Post Office, 88 Bupyeong-daero, Bupeyong-gu, Incheon