Foreign Nationals in Korea: How to Get Your National Pension Lump-Sum Refund (반환일시금) When Leaving

1. ·Article 17 (Subscription Period Calculation): Your subscription period — which determines your refund base — is counted in months. It generally runs from the month after you acquired subscriber status to the month containing the day before you lost status. Months in which you did NOT pay contributions are excluded from the subscription period.
2. ·Article 17 (Special inclusion cases): If you acquired subscriber status on the first day of a month, that month is counted. Voluntary continuing subscribers and subscribers who voluntarily request inclusion also have special counting rules.
3. ·Article 116 (Special Exception on Statute of Limitations): Even where a general statute of limitations applies (Article 115), those whose right to a lump-sum refund arose under specific provisions of Article 77(1)(3) may still claim the refund if they subsequently meet the conditions of Article 77(1)(1) or (2). The Article 115(1) limitations period then applies to that right.
4. ·Article 24 (NPS Establishment): The National Pension Service (공단) is established by delegation of the Minister of Health and Welfare to administer the National Pension program — it is the correct body to contact for your refund claim.
5. ·Important limitation: The candidate articles provided do not specify the exact monetary calculation formula, the precise refund amount, or the exact length of the statute of limitations. These details must be confirmed directly with the NPS.

1. ·You have lost your National Pension subscriber status (e.g., departed Korea, visa/stay permit expired or cancelled, or other qualifying event under the National Pension Act)
2. ·You have actually paid contributions for at least some months (unpaid months do not count toward the subscription period per Article 17)
3. ·You have not yet reached the age entitling you to a regular pension benefit (otherwise a different benefit type may apply)
4. ·You are claiming within the applicable statute of limitations (Article 116 / Article 115 of the National Pension Act — exact period must be confirmed with NPS)
5. ·Your country has a social security totalization agreement with Korea, or you qualify under the Act's provisions for foreigners — verify eligibility with the NPS

1. 1STEP 1 — Confirm your subscription period: Log in to the NPS website (www.nps.or.kr) or visit a local NPS branch to check how many months of contributions you have on record and whether any months are excluded due to non-payment (Article 17).
2. 2STEP 2 — Confirm eligibility: Check whether your nationality/country has a social security totalization agreement with Korea, as this may affect your right to a refund. Ask the NPS International Center if unsure.
3. 3STEP 3 — Gather required documents (see Documents section below).
4. 4STEP 4 — Submit the lump-sum refund application (반환일시금 지급청구서) at an NPS branch in person, or apply online via the NPS website or Government24 (정부24). If you have already left Korea, check whether your country's Korean embassy can assist or whether a proxy application is possible.
5. 5STEP 5 — Provide your overseas bank account details (if receiving payment abroad) or a Korean bank account. The NPS will review and process your claim.
6. 6STEP 6 — Note tax implications: The refund may be subject to withholding tax in Korea and/or income tax in your home country. Consult a tax professional if the amount is significant.

National Pension Service (NPS / 국민연금공단) — any local branch in Korea, or the NPS website (www.nps.or.kr). Foreign residents may also use the NPS International Center.

1. ·Waiting too long after losing subscriber status: A statute of limitations applies (Article 116 referencing Article 115). Do not assume you have unlimited time — contact NPS promptly.
2. ·Assuming all months are counted: Months in which you did NOT pay contributions are excluded from your subscription period under Article 17, which reduces the refund base. Check your payment history carefully.
3. ·Not checking totalization agreement status: If your country has a social security agreement with Korea, the rules on refunds may differ. Applying without checking this first may lead to incorrect processing.
4. ·Providing incorrect bank account details for overseas transfer: This can delay or fail payment. Double-check SWIFT codes and account numbers.
5. ·Applying before you have actually lost subscriber status: You generally must first lose your NPS subscriber status before the refund entitlement arises.
6. ·Confusing this with a tax refund: The pension lump-sum refund (반환일시금) is a return of pension contributions, not an income tax refund. These are separate processes.