4 Major Insurances
Working in Korea enrolls you in the 4 major insurances (National Pension, Health, Employment, and Industrial Accident). They protect you when you’re sick, injured, or lose your job. Industrial-accident premiums are fully employer-paid; the rest are usually shared between employer and worker and deducted from your pay. Foreigners are subject to mandatory enrollment when conditions are met (National Pension can vary by reciprocity with your home country), and you can check deductions on your pay slip.
How to proceed
- 1National Pension — for retirement (depending on reciprocity with your country, you may get a lump-sum refund on leaving)
- 2Health Insurance — lowers your hospital and medicine costs
- 3Employment Insurance — unemployment benefits, etc. (eligibility applies and can differ by visa)
- 4Industrial Accident Insurance — treatment/compensation for work injuries (fully employer-paid; applies even on day one)
- 5Check the 4-insurance deductions and amounts on your pay slip each month
Tips
- ⚠️ Premium rates and pension refund-eligible countries change yearly and by country — don’t assume; verify with official sources and each agency.
- A pension lump-sum refund has steps before/after departure — ask the National Pension Service ☎1355 in advance.
- If your employer doesn’t enroll you, or deducts but doesn’t report, you can be disadvantaged — check with ☎1350 or each agency.
- If deductions on your slip look excessive, don’t conclude alone — consult (items/rates change yearly).
Key contacts
- 4 Social Insurances portal 4insure.or.kr
- National Pension Service ☎1355 (lump-sum refund, etc.)
- National Health Insurance Service ☎1577-1000
- Ministry of Employment and Labor counseling ☎1350
Related guides
This is general information and has no legal force. Labor and residence rules depend on your situation and policy — always verify with experts (Ministry of Employment and Labor ☎1350, a labor attorney) and official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-09