Korea's Four Social Insurances for Foreigners โ Which Apply to Your Visa
National pension, health insurance, employment insurance and industrial accident insurance for foreign workers in Korea in 2026: rates, who is covered by visa and nationality, and what you get back.
Korea has four major social insurances (4๋๋ณดํ, sadae boheom). Every employee is covered by at least two of them, but for foreigners the exact mix depends on visa and nationality. This guide explains each one for 2026.
The rates at a glance
| Insurance | Total | You pay | Employer pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| National pension | 9.5% | 4.75% | 4.75% |
| Health insurance | 7.19% | 3.595% | 3.595% |
| Long-term care | 13.14% of health | half | half |
| Employment insurance | 1.8% + extra | 0.9% | 0.9% + 0.25โ0.85% |
| Industrial accident | by industry | 0% | 100% |
Health insurance: everyone
Health insurance is mandatory for all employees from the first day of work, whatever the visa. Your dependents in Korea can be added to your plan. It gives you the same access to Korean healthcare as Korean citizens, with typical co-payments of 20โ60%. More in the health insurance guide.
National pension: depends on nationality
Employees aged 18โ59 are covered unless one of these applies:
- Your home country does not cover Koreans in its own pension system (the reciprocity rule).
- Your country has a social security agreement with Korea and you submit a certificate of coverage showing you still pay into your home system.
- You are on a visa that is excluded, such as student (D-2) or certain short-term visas.
Whether you can get your contributions back when you leave also depends on your nationality or visa. See the pension refund guide.
Employment insurance: often optional
- Mandatory: F-2, F-5 and F-6 residents.
- Partly mandatory: E-9 and H-2 workers. The employer-paid job security part is mandatory; unemployment benefits are opt-in.
- Opt-in: most other work visas, such as E-1 to E-7 and F-4. You and your employer can apply to join, and then 0.9% is deducted from your pay.
If you are not enrolled, you cannot claim unemployment benefits or parental leave pay. More in the employment insurance guide.
Industrial accident insurance: everyone, employer pays
Every worker is covered for injuries and illness caused by work, including undocumented workers. The employer pays the whole premium. If you are hurt at work, you can apply to the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service even if your employer refuses to help.
Check what you are enrolled in
Look at the deductions on your payslip, or ask your employer for a certificate of insurance enrollment (4๋๋ณดํ ๊ฐ์ ์ฆ๋ช ์). To see how much each insurance costs at your pay, use the social insurance calculator.
This guide reflects Korean laws and official notices as of 2026-10-08. Rules change, so confirm with the relevant agency before making important decisions.