Korea's 4 Major Social Insurances: Enrollment Conditions by Job Type & Employment Form

What Are Korea's 4 Major Social Insurances?

The four major social insurances (4대보험) refer collectively to the National Pension (국민연금), Health Insurance (건강보험), Employment Insurance (고용보험), and Industrial Accident Insurance (산재보험). These are social insurance programs jointly funded by workers and employers, designed to protect workers from risks such as illness, old age, unemployment, and workplace accidents. Enrollment conditions differ for each insurance, so it is important to check carefully based on your employment type.

Note for foreign workers: Your employment contract may specify terms that differ from the statutory minimums described below. Always verify your actual enrollment status with your employer or the relevant public agency.

Enrollment Conditions at a Glance

1. National Pension (국민연금)

Under Article 8 of the National Pension Act (국민연금법 제8조), workers aged 18 or older and under 60 are automatically enrolled as workplace subscribers. The following are excluded:

• Daily workers employed for less than 1 month
• Short-hour workers working fewer than 60 hours per month (15 hours per week) — however, if employment continues for 3 months or more, they are covered
• Workers already enrolled in another public pension (e.g., Government Employees Pension, Military Pension)

As of 2026, the premium rate is 9.5% (employee 4.75%, employer 4.75%). The upper limit of the standard monthly income (기준소득월액) is KRW 6,590,000 and the lower limit is KRW 410,000 (applicable July 2026 – June 2027).

2. Health Insurance (건강보험)

Under Article 6 of the National Health Insurance Act (국민건강보험법 제6조), all workers at a workplace are automatically enrolled as workplace subscribers. As with the National Pension, short-hour workers working fewer than 60 hours per month (15 hours per week) are excluded — however, if employment continues for 1 month or more, they are covered.

The 2026 premium rate is 7.19% (employee 3.595%, employer 3.595%). Long-Term Care Insurance (장기요양보험) premiums are charged as an additional percentage of the health insurance premium (approximately 0.9448% of income).

3. Employment Insurance (고용보험)

Under Article 10 of the Employment Insurance Act (고용보험법 제10조), all workplaces that employ workers are covered. The following are excluded:

• Workers newly hired at age 65 or older (excluded from unemployment benefits; however, employment stability and vocational skills development programs still apply)
• Short-hour workers working fewer than 60 hours per month (15 hours per week) — however, if employment continues for 3 months or more, they are covered
• Certain foreign workers depending on their visa status

The 2026 premium rate for the unemployment benefit portion is 1.8% (employee 0.9%, employer 0.9%).

4. Industrial Accident Insurance (산재보험)

Under Article 6 of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act (산업재해보상보험법 제6조), all businesses or workplaces that employ workers are automatically covered. In principle, coverage applies even if a worker works for just one day, regardless of working hours, contract type, or nationality. Premiums are paid entirely by the employer.

Summary by Employment Type

What Happens If an Employer Violates the Enrollment Obligation?

If an employer fails to file for enrollment in the 4 major social insurances without justifiable reason, they may be subject to a fine (과태료). Workers can report directly to the National Health Insurance Service (국민건강보험공단), the National Pension Service (국민연금공단), or the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service (근로복지공단), or file a complaint with the Ministry of Employment and Labor (고용노동부). Notably, even if an employer has not enrolled in Industrial Accident Insurance, a worker who suffers an accident is still entitled to industrial accident insurance benefits — and the employer bears the resulting costs.

Calculate Your Take-Home Pay and Insurance Premiums in Advance

Because the 4 major social insurance premiums are automatically deducted from your salary, your actual take-home pay may be less than expected. You can use the salary take-home pay calculator at workbear.kr to check your National Pension, Health Insurance, and Employment Insurance deductions all at once. If you need help reviewing a contract or drafting a complaint, try the AI features available at workbear.kr.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific cases, consult a certified labor attorney (노무사) or lawyer.