South Korea's National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) 2026 checkup eligibility for Korean residents: general exam (even-year births), infant, age-40/66 transition, and cancer screenings. Birth year → eligibility, cost, exam items, and how to find Korean screening clinics.
| Korean exam | Age & cycle | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| General health exam | 20+ (Korean self-employed/dependent/office biennial, non-office annual) | Fully paid by Korean NHIS (free) |
| Infant exam | 14 days – 71 months — 8 sessions | Fully paid by Korean NHIS |
| Transition exam | Age 40 & 66 (once each) | Fully paid by Korean NHIS |
| Stomach cancer | 40+ every 2 years | 10% copay |
| Colon cancer | 50+ annual fecal occult blood; colonoscopy on positive | 10% copay |
| Liver cancer | 40+ high-risk every 6 months | 10% copay |
| Breast cancer | 40+ women every 2 years | 10% copay |
| Cervical cancer | 20+ women every 2 years | Fully paid by Korean NHIS |
| Lung cancer | 54–74 with 30+ pack-year smoking, every 2 years | 10% copay |
| Annual window | Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2026 (Korean calendar year — no carryover, no backdating) |
| Busiest period | H2 (Sep–Dec) — reserve in H1 (Mar–Jun) to avoid Korean clinic backlog |
| Korean employer obligation | Korean employers must allow workers to take the exam with paid/adjusted hours (Occupational Safety & Health Act §129) |
| Korean NHIS call center | 1577-1000 |
| Korean Health & Welfare Hotline | 129 |
| Korean screening clinic | Use NHIS 'Find Clinic' tool |
This South Korea–only summary is based on Korea's National Health Insurance Act and Ministry of Health & Welfare notices as of April 2026. Actual Korean eligibility, cycle, and cost depend on individual NHIS records; verify via The건강보험 app or 건강iN. This is NOT medical or legal advice — if you notice symptoms, see a Korean healthcare provider. We accept no liability for errors or legislative changes.
South Korea's National Health Checkup, run by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) under the Korean National Health Insurance Act and Health Examination Basic Act, is a preventive screening program for Korean insured members, dependents, and medical-aid recipients. In 2026 (an even year), Korean residents born in an even year who are self-employed/dependent/office workers are the general-exam targets; non-office Korean workers are annual targets. Separate programs cover infants (14 days–71 months, 8 sessions), age-40/66 transition exams, and six cancer screenings (stomach, colon, liver, breast, cervical, lung) with their own age and cycle rules. Most costs are paid by the Korean NHIS, with a 10% copay on most cancer screenings (waived for Korean medical-aid recipients and NHI premium bottom 50%). Verify your Korean eligibility in The건강보험 app or 건강iN, then book at one of ~22,000 Korean-designated clinics.
2026 is an even year, so Korean self-employed, dependents, and office workers born in an even year are general-exam targets. Korean non-office workers are annual. Korean cancer screenings follow separate age/sex cycles.
Korean The건강보험 app or NHIS 건강iN (hi.nhis.or.kr) after login, or call the Korean NHIS hotline 1577-1000.
At any of ~22,000 Korean NHIS-designated clinics, searchable on the NHIS 'Find Clinic' page. Primary exams happen at 1st-line Korean clinics; abnormal results are referred to Korean secondary care.
No direct penalty on the Korean individual, but Korean employers who don't let workers take the exam may be fined under the Korean Occupational Safety & Health Act. Missing the Korean exam also means no preventive data accumulates in your NHIS record.
No. The NHIS-paid Korean checkup is tied to the scheduled target; non-targets can use private Korean checkups, workplace physicals, or Korean municipal screening services at their own cost.
Korean general exams are fully paid by NHIS. Most cancer screenings have a 10% Korean copay. Korean medical-aid recipients, near-poor, and NHI premium bottom 50% are exempt.
South Korea's 2026 National Health Checkup, administered by the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), targets Korean self-employed, dependents, and office workers born in an even year for the general exam, while Korean non-office workers qualify annually. Separate Korean programs include infant exams (14 days–71 months, 8 sessions), transition exams at age 40 and 66, and cancer screenings: stomach (40+ every 2 yr), colon (50+ annual fecal occult blood), liver (high-risk every 6 mo), breast (women 40+ every 2 yr), cervical (women 20+ every 2 yr), and lung (54–74 smokers ≥30 pack-years every 2 yr). Korean general and infant/transition exams are fully paid by NHIS; most Korean cancer screenings have a 10% copay, waived for Korean medical-aid recipients and NHI premium bottom 50%. Verify Korean eligibility via The건강보험 app or 건강iN (hi.nhis.or.kr); book at any of ~22,000 Korean NHIS-designated clinics. Results arrive by Korean mail/KakaoTalk/app in 2–4 weeks. Korean employer allowance is mandated under the Occupational Safety & Health Act. For help, call Korean NHIS 1577-1000.