Health Insurance for Foreigners in Korea: Who Must Join
A registered foreign resident who works at a covered workplace becomes a workplace subscriber (직장가입자) of National Health Insurance (National Health Insurance Act, Art. 109(2)).
Other registered foreign residents become local subscribers (지역가입자) once they meet the residence period or reason set by Ministry of Health and Welfare ordinance and hold a qualifying status (Art. 109(3)).
Local subscribers covered by this rule pay each month's premium by the 25th of the previous month, and long arrears can suspend benefits until paid (Art. 109(8), (10)).
Who must join
Korea’s National Health Insurance (국민건강보험) covers foreign residents through a special rule in Article 109 of the National Health Insurance Act (「국민건강보험법」). The rule applies to foreigners and overseas Koreans staying in Korea (국내체류 외국인등) who have done one of the following (Art. 109(2)):
| Registration | Korean term |
|---|---|
| Alien registration under the Immigration Act, Art. 31 | 외국인등록 |
| Domestic residence report under the Overseas Koreans Act, Art. 6 | 국내거소신고 |
| Resident registration as an overseas Korean national | 주민등록 |
Workplace or local subscriber?
| Type | Who | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Workplace subscriber (직장가입자) | An employee, public official or school staff member at a covered workplace, not in an excluded category | Art. 109(2) |
| Local subscriber (지역가입자) | Anyone else who meets both a residence period (or an expected-continuous-residence reason) set by ministry ordinance and a qualifying registration or status | Art. 109(3) |
| Dependent (피부양자) | A family member of a workplace subscriber who applies to the National Health Insurance Service and meets the dependent criteria | Art. 109(4) |
The exact residence period and the list of qualifying stay statuses are set in the Ministry of Health and Welfare ordinance, not the Act itself, so check them with the National Health Insurance Service (국민건강보험공단) for your visa type.
Dependents: spouse and children under 19
To become a dependent, a family member normally has to meet the same residence-period test as local subscribers. The Act makes an exception for the workplace subscriber’s spouse and children under 19 (including the spouse’s children): they do not need to meet the residence-period test (Art. 109(4)3).
When you cannot join, or can opt out
| Situation | Result | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Your stay in Korea violates the law, in cases set by Presidential Decree | You cannot be a subscriber or dependent | Art. 109(5)1 |
| You have medical coverage equivalent to Korean care benefits under foreign law, foreign insurance or your employment contract | You or your employer may apply to be excluded | Art. 109(5)2 |
Paying premiums
| Rule | Detail | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Deadline | Foreign local subscribers covered by Art. 109(9) pay each month’s premium by the 25th of the previous month | Art. 109(8) |
| Joining mid-month | If you join on or after the 2nd and lose coverage that same month for a reason set by the Ministry, that month’s premium is still charged | Art. 109(7) |
| Arrears | If arrears last for the period set by Presidential Decree, benefits stop from the day of arrears until the premiums are paid in full | Art. 109(10) |
Common questions
Q. I just arrived. Am I covered from day one?
A. If you are employed at a covered workplace and registered, you become a workplace subscriber (Art. 109(2)). If not, local-subscriber coverage starts only once you meet the residence period or reason set by ministry ordinance (Art. 109(3)). Confirm the date with the National Health Insurance Service.
Q. My company gives me private international insurance. Do I still have to join?
A. Not automatically. If that coverage is equivalent to Korean care benefits, you or your employer can apply for exclusion (Art. 109(5)2). Without an approved application, the normal rules apply.
Q. Can my spouse be my dependent right after arriving?
A. The residence-period requirement for dependents does not apply to a spouse or to children under 19 (Art. 109(4)3). The other dependent criteria still apply, and you must apply to the National Health Insurance Service.
Official source (Korean): https://www.law.go.kr/법령/국민건강보험법
This guide explains Korean law in general terms and is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the official text before you act. · Found an error? Tell us