Local subscriber (NHI)
Korean: 지역가입자
A registered foreign resident covered by National Health Insurance individually, not through a job.
A registered foreign resident who is not a workplace subscriber becomes a local subscriber once they meet the residence period (or an expected-continuous-residence reason) set by Ministry of Health and Welfare ordinance and hold a qualifying registration or stay status (National Health Insurance Act, Art. 109(3)).
Foreign local subscribers covered by Art. 109(9) pay each month’s premium by the 25th of the previous month (Art. 109(8)). If arrears last for the period set by Presidential Decree, benefits stop until the premiums are paid in full (Art. 109(10)).
Legal basis
National Health Insurance Act (국민건강보험법), Art. 109(3), (8), (10)
Explanations follow the current Korean statutes on the National Law Information Center (law.go.kr). Laws change, so check the original text before relying on it. This is general information, not legal advice. All terms