South Korea: Foreigners Must Enroll in State Health Insurance Plan 

Foreigners living in South Korea for longer than six months must enroll (Korean and English) in the public health insurance plan, effective 16 Jul 2019. Individuals who have equivalent coverage under a foreign health insurance plan can apply for an exemption, renewable annually. A temporary waiver from the premium payment applies until 21 March 2020 for foreign students studying in South Korea.

The amount of premium is calculated on the person’s income and property assets, and households have the option to enroll as a unit. The average monthly premium currently is KRW 113,050. Foreigners who don’t pay their premiums are personally liable to pay their medical costs and won’t have their residency permits renewed.

Related Resources

• Announcement (Korean) (Ministry of Health and Welfare, July 2019)