Official instructions to find and claim unrefunded amounts held by South Korea's National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and National Pension Service (NPS). Updated 2026.
This guide references the April 2026 official notices from South Korea's National Health Insurance Service and National Pension Service. Refund calculations, statute of limitations, and procedures may vary by individual circumstances and future legislative changes. This service bears no legal or administrative responsibility. For accurate amounts and eligibility, contact NHIS (1577-1000) or NPS (1355) in South Korea.
The largest category of Korean NHIS refunds is the out-of-pocket cap excess refund — when your annual medical costs exceed the cap (2025: KRW 870,000 to 8,080,000 depending on income bracket), the excess is refunded. 2025 medical cost refunds are disbursed from August 2026. NPS refunds typically arise from double payments, retroactive coverage loss, or data errors.
Finalized each August based on the prior year's medical costs, then disbursed over the following months. 2025 excess refunds are paid August-December 2026 with written notices.
Yes. Starting 2026, overdue NHIS premiums are deducted from refunds FIRST. The remaining balance is refunded — which could be zero in severe cases.
'Lump-sum return' (반환일시금) is principal + interest paid when you don't qualify for pension (less than 10 years of contribution). 'Unclaimed refund' is surplus from double/incorrect payments. Both have 5-year statute of limitations.
Korean NHIS and NPS NEVER ask you to use ATMs, enter OTPs, or transfer money by phone/text. All refund applications are done by the individual via official site/app/branch. Payments go only to your registered bank account.
Step-by-step 2026 guide to finding and claiming NHIS and NPS refunds in South Korea. Covers out-of-pocket cap refunds, new overdue deduction policy, 3/5-year statute of limitations, and fraud prevention.