2025 vs 2026 rates
| Item | 2025 (employee share) | 2026 (employee share) |
|---|---|---|
| National pension | 9% (4.5%) | 9.5% (4.75%) |
| Health insurance | 7.09% (3.545%) | 7.19% (3.595%) |
| Long-term care | 12.95% of health premium | 13.14% of health premium (0.9448% of pay) |
| Employment insurance (unemployment) | 1.8% (0.9%) | 1.8% (0.9%) |
| Pension insured income | Cap 6.37M, floor 400,000 KRW (Jul 2025 to Jun 2026) | Cap 6.59M, floor 410,000 KRW (from Jul 2026) |
Your employer pays the same amount again. Foreign employees are generally enrolled in workplace health insurance like Korean employees; pension and employment insurance coverage can depend on nationality and visa type.
Monthly take-home by salary
No dependents, 200,000 KRW non-taxable meal allowance, same income tax method (annual estimate / 12), with 2025 rates and with 2026 rates (pension cap from July).
| Annual salary (KRW) | Take-home, 2025 rates | Take-home, 2026 rates | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30M | 2,239,972 | 2,233,194 | about 6,800 |
| 40M | 2,895,259 | 2,886,736 | about 8,500 |
| 50M | 3,532,004 | 3,521,212 | about 10,800 |
| 60M | 4,162,531 | 4,149,473 | about 13,100 |
| 80M | 5,355,863 | 5,330,044 | about 25,800 |
| 100M | 6,513,628 | 6,482,444 | about 31,200 |
The gap widens from 80M because the pension cap also rose. The app still uses a 6.17M KRW cap (the July 2024 to June 2025 value), so above that level its pension line is lower than reality.
Foreign workers: the pension lump-sum refund
Whether you can get your national pension contributions back when you leave Korea depends on where you are from and your visa:
- E-8, E-9 and H-2 visa holders qualify regardless of nationality.
- Nationals of countries with a social security agreement with Korea that includes the refund, or countries that give Koreans a refund (reciprocity), can qualify, sometimes after a minimum insured period.
- Some agreements instead exempt you from Korean pension or let periods count toward your home pension. Others give no refund at all, and then the contributions only come back as a Korean pension later.
- The claim lapses if not made within five years of becoming entitled. Payment at the airport on departure is possible in some cases.
The country list changes as agreements are signed, so check your nationality with the NPS (1355, foreign-language service) before you leave.
The pension rate keeps rising
Under the 2025 pension reform, the rate rises by 0.5 percentage points every year from 2026 until it reaches 13% in 2033, so the employee share grows by 0.25 points a year.
Adjusting the app’s 2025 result
Calculate as usual
Enter your salary, dependents and non-taxable amount. The deduction list shows the rates the app uses, such as Pension (4.5%) and Health (3.545%).
Subtract the 2026 difference
Subtract the “Difference” from the table row closest to your salary. If your nationality is exempt from Korean pension, add the pension line back instead.
FAQ
When did the new rates start?
The 2026 premium rates applied from January 2026. The pension cap and floor change every July.
Can I get health insurance premiums back when I leave?
No. Health insurance is coverage you used while insured, not savings. Only the national pension has a lump-sum refund, and only for those who qualify.
Sources: NPS, foreigners and the lump-sum refund · Korea.kr, national pension changes (Korean) · NHIS, 2026 health and long-term care changes (Korean) · KOSCA, 2026 social insurance rates (Korean) · Segye Ilbo, pension income cap 6.59M KRW from July 2026 (Korean)
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