Mandatorily Insured Persons

(1) Workplace-based Insured Persons

A Workplace-based Insured Person refers to an employer and employee aged between 18 and under 60 who is employed in a workplace covered under the National Pension Scheme. Any employer and employee aged between 18 and under 60 employed in a workplace with more than one employee or a foreign agency located in Korea with more than one Korean employee is entitled to becoming a Workplace-based Insured Person. Accordingly, if an Individually Insured Person is employed in a workplace, he/she will automatically become a Workplace-based Insured Person and lose their insured status as an Individually Insured Person.

(2) Individually Insured Persons

A Korean who is not a Workplace-based Insured Person and who is aged between 18 and under 60 residing in Korea shall become an Individually Insured Person.

※ Exemption from the Coverage as Individually Insured Persons

• A beneficiary of retirement pension from other public pensions such as retirement pension (Lump-sum) and disability pension
• A beneficiary who receives livelihood benefits or medical benefits under the National Basic Living Security Act
• A non-income spouse of a Workplace-based Insured Person, etc.
• A person aged under 27 who has never made contributions and who is not engaged in income-generating activities
• A person who whereabouts is unknown for at least one year

Voluntarily Insured Persons

(1) Voluntarily Insured Persons

A person aged under 60 who is not entitled to a Workplace-based Insured Person or Individually Insured Person may become a Voluntarily Insured Person by submitting an application.

(2) Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Persons

A person currently or formerly insured by the National Pension Scheme, who reaches age 60, may become a Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person by submitting an application if he/she desires to meet the insured period requirement for entitlement or obtain more pension by extending the insured period.

Exclusion from National Pension Scheme Coverage

Government officials, military personnel, private school teachers, special post office employees (they are covered under separate pension plans) and National Pension beneficiaries aged between 55 and 59, such as early or Old-age Pensioners, respectively, are excluded from the coverage.