A foreign employee at a Korean company is, in principle, required to join the national pension scheme (with exceptions depending on visa status). However, if Korea has a social security agreement with your home country, short-term assigned workers may be exempt from enrollment or have coverage periods in both countries counted together — check with the National Pension Service on whether an agreement exists.
Health insurance is joined either as an employee subscriber (if employed) or a local subscriber (self-employed, etc.). Foreign local subscribers are not assessed by income and assets like Korean nationals — instead, they are charged based on the average premium paid by Korean local subscribers (around KRW 158,630/month as of 2026).
National pension checkpoints
How the local-subscriber health premium is calculated
Since a foreign local subscriber's domestic income and assets are often hard to verify precisely, the system applies the average premium paid by Korean local subscribers rather than an individualized calculation. Even with very low income, it's difficult to have the premium adjusted below that average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Topics
What Gets Deducted From Your Monthly Pay (4 Major Insurances, Etc.)
Every line item deducted from your monthly paycheck — income tax and the four major social insurances — with current 2026 rates.
Finding Your Tax Office and Checking Business Registration Status
How to find your jurisdictional tax office and check a business registration number's status (or your own) on Hometax.