Korea's 4 Major Social Insurances in 2026: Rates, Calculations & Enrollment Obligations for Foreign Workers

What Are Korea's 4 Major Social Insurances?

Korea's 4 major social insurances (4대보험) collectively refer to four social insurance programs: National Pension (국민연금), Health Insurance (건강보험), Employment Insurance (고용보험), and Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance (산재보험). Employees and employers share the premium burden to prepare against social risks such as illness, old age, unemployment, and workplace accidents. Any workplace employing one or more workers is in principle obligated to enroll in all four insurances.

2026 Rates for the 4 Major Social Insurances at a Glance

1. National Pension — Article 88 of the National Pension Act (국민연금법 제88조)

The total premium rate is 9.5%, split equally between the employee and employer at 4.75% each. The standard monthly income limits effective from July 2026 are an upper limit of 6,590,000 won and a lower limit of 410,000 won. Even if monthly income exceeds 6,590,000 won, the calculation is capped at that amount, so the maximum employee contribution is approximately 313,025 won per month.

2. Health Insurance — Article 73 of the National Health Insurance Act (국민건강보험법 제73조)

The health insurance premium rate is 7.19%, with the employee and employer each bearing 3.595%. In addition, a long-term care insurance (장기요양보험) premium is added as a proportion of the health insurance premium. The 2026 long-term care insurance rate is 0.9448% of income, also split equally between employee and employer.

3. Employment Insurance — Article 49 of the Employment Insurance Act (고용보험법 제49조)

The employment insurance premium rate for unemployment benefits purposes is 1.8%, with the employee and employer each bearing 0.9%. Employers additionally pay premiums for employment stability and vocational skills development programs at rates that vary by business size.

4. Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance — Article 13 of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act (산업재해보상보험법 제13조)

Industrial accident insurance premiums are borne entirely by the employer. Rates vary by industry according to the level of accident risk and are determined annually by Ministry of Employment and Labor notice.

Sample Calculation: 4 Major Insurance Premiums for a Worker Earning 3,000,000 Won/Month

Based on a gross monthly salary of 3,000,000 won, the employee's share is calculated as follows:

Actual deductions may differ depending on how monthly remuneration is calculated and the timing of year-end adjustments.

Note: These are statutory minimum rates. Your employment contract may specify different arrangements, but the employee's share cannot exceed the statutory rate.

Enrollment Obligations and Exceptions

Short-hour workers who work fewer than 15 hours per week may be excluded from National Pension and Health Insurance (Article 8 of the National Pension Act (국민연금법 제8조), Article 6 of the National Health Insurance Act (국민건강보험법 제6조)). However, Employment Insurance and Industrial Accident Insurance are mandatory regardless of working hours for any workplace with one or more employees (Article 10 of the Employment Insurance Act (고용보험법 제10조), Article 6 of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act (산업재해보상보험법 제6조)). If an employer refuses to enroll workers or falls behind on premium payments, administrative fines and late fees will be imposed.

Calculate Your Actual Take-Home Pay

If you want to know your actual monthly take-home pay including the 4 major insurance deductions, try the salary take-home pay calculator at Workbear (workbear.kr). Enter your gross annual salary or monthly salary and it will automatically calculate your 4 major insurance premiums and income tax so you can instantly see your net pay. It is a practical tool for salary negotiations or job-change planning.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Do part-time workers (arubaito) also have to enroll in the 4 major social insurances?

Workers who work 15 hours or more per week are in principle required to enroll in all four insurances. Short-hour workers who work fewer than 15 hours per week may be excluded from National Pension and Health Insurance, but Employment Insurance and Industrial Accident Insurance are mandatory for any workplace with one or more employees regardless of working hours Article 10 of the Employment Insurance Act 고용보험법 제10조 , Article 6 of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act 산업재해보상보험법 제6조 .

Are the 4 major social insurance premiums calculated based on gross (pre-tax) salary?

Yes, the 4 major social insurance premiums are calculated based on gross salary taxable monthly remuneration . However, National Pension has an upper limit 6,590,000 won in 2026 and a lower limit 410,000 won on the standard monthly income, so income outside this range is fixed at the respective cap or floor.

Can the employer pay the employee's share of the 4 major social insurance premiums on their behalf?

Legally, the employee's share is withheld from wages by the employer and remitted on the employee's behalf. It is possible for an employer to agree to cover the employee's share in full, but in that case the amount is treated as earned income for the employee and additional income tax may be levied.

What happens to my Health Insurance after I leave my job?

Once you lose your status as a workplace subscriber, you are converted to a local community subscriber, or you may register as a dependent of a family member if you meet the dependent eligibility requirements. Alternatively, you may use the 'voluntary continued enrollment' 임의계속가입 scheme to maintain your workplace subscriber status for up to 36 months after leaving your job Article 110 of the National Health Insurance Act 국민건강보험법 제110조 .