National pension lump-sum refund on departure

The lump-sum refund returns your pension contributions when you leave Korea. Not every nationality is eligible.

Who can receive it

• Foreign residents who paid national pension contributions
• Those whose country recognises the lump-sum refund, or where a social security agreement provides for it
• It differs by country — always check your own nationality with 1355

Steps

1. Contact 1355 once your departure is set — as early as possible.
2. Check your contribution record and eligibility.
3. Submit the application at a branch, by post or online.
4. Register the receiving account — Korean or an overseas transfer account.
5. Payment often comes after departure, once your exit is confirmed.
6. Confirm the payment.

What you need

• Passport and Alien Registration Card
• Proof of planned departure, such as a ticket
• A bank account in your name (Korean or overseas)
• The application form

Where to go

• 1355 National Pension Service · www.nps.or.kr
• Your nearest NPS branch
• 1345 Immigration Contact Center

Questions people ask

Is my country eligible? It varies by nationality. Call 1355 and ask whether your nationality qualifies for the lump-sum refund.

I already left Korea. Applying after departure is possible in some cases. Prepare your passport and account details and contact the service.

I closed my account. Check whether an overseas account can be used. If not, you may need to open one again.

Does health insurance work the same way? No, it is separate. Contact 1577-1000 about that.

Take care

Sort it out before you leave. Assembling documents after departure is far harder. Do not delegate to a broker — contact 1355 yourself.

Related

national-pension-foreigners · nhis-refund-departure · severance-departure · return-cost-insurance

Source

National Pension Service www.nps.or.kr / As of 2026-08