How to request exemption from Korean public health insurance

Anyone who resides in South Korea for more than 6 months is automatically registered to Korean health insurance (and it is not free). It is possible to be exempted from this under certain conditions.

Attention! If you don’t request exemption, you will have to pay for this insurance. In 2024, the monthly cost is around 150,000 KRW. Exemption is not mandatory, so you can absolutely keep it in addition to your own private insurance (which is mandatory for the WHV application). Keep reading to learn more about exemption.

Conditions for exemption

You can qualify for this exemption if you have a private health insurance whose coverage is equivalent to that of Korean public health insurance. According to experiences of past and current working holiday makers in Korea, the NHIS (National Health Insurance Service) requires you to have insurance with a coverage amount of 1 billion KRW, and that covers pregnancy.

If these conditions are not met, the NHIS will reject your request for exemption (exceptions apply for qualifying nationals of France, Japan, and the US; requirements explained later).

As a Korea WHV holder, you should already have private health insurance, since it was required for the application. However, double check whether your insurance policy meets the requirements for exemption as defined by the NHIS.

When and how to apply for exemption

The NHIS writes the following in its Guidance for foreigners:

“Date of Loss of Eligibility: when submitting the “Employee Health Insurance Withdrawal Application” form within 14 days of the date when acquisition of eligibility was reported, the date of acquisition of eligibility becomes the date of loss of eligibility”

It seems possible to seek exemption in the 14 days after you are added to Korean public health insurance (which would occur 6 months following your initial entry into Korea). In most cases, working holiday makers choose to seek exemption even before being added to public health insurance, to avoid missing any deadlines and being forced to pay the monthly fees. We advise that you start a bit early as well.

As the 6 month milestone approaches, the NHIS will send you a letter informing you of upcoming registration to public health insurance. We advise that you do not wait until you receive this letter to start your exemption request, as it is possible that the letter may be delayed or lost.

To request exemption, go to the NHIS centre of your place of residence. No appointment is needed. Bring the following documents based on your nationality (see source):

• American: Residence Card + Uniform card or Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance card
• French: Residence Card
• Japanese: Residence Card + Japanese health insurance card
• All other nationalities: Residence Card + private insurance meeting NHIS standards, and its Korean translation*

*According to accounts from working holiday makers in Korea, a translation by the Papago app (for example) is sufficient.

Where do go if you live in Seoul

The NHIS centre in Seoul is located at 3F, 97 Saemal-ro, Guro-dong. Get to the Sindorim metro station (lines 2 and 1), leave the station by taking exit 3, go up the stairs, and emerge on the right side. You will see a pedestrian walkway and a mall before you. Cross the pedestrian walkway but don’t enter the mall. Instead, go to the right and you should see a path with a panel above it that says Samsung Card, and then on the sidewalk to the left, there is a building that is attached to the mall, with a small sign in front of the entrance indicating that the National Health Insurance office is located there.

Enter the building and take the elevators to the left of the reception. Go up to level 3F. Don’t try to take the stairs, as that does not give access to 3F.

Once you are there, someone will show you where to go as a foreign resident. In the waiting room, take a ticket from the machine to your right and await your turn. The numbers are displayed on a TV screen.

When your name is called, you can proceed into the room. You’ll be greeted at the counter by someone who speaks English. Present your documents. The representative will give you an Application for Exclusion for Health Insurance for Overseas Korean and Foreigner. Fill out this form.

• If you are American, French, or Japanese, check the box Health coverage guaranteed by foreign law.
• If you are of any other nationality, check Health coverage guaranteed by foreign insurance.

Write the date, your full name, and sign. After this, they’ll give you another piece of paper to sign and voila, it’s all done.

If you live in another city in the Seoul capital region

There are other NHIS centres in the Seoul region. You can go to one of them for your exemption application.

• NHIS Incheon-Gyeonggi Center for Foreign Residents(Ansan)
  For persons whose address is in Ansan, Siheung and Gunpo
  Adresse : 4th floor, Kyobo Building, 366, Hwarang-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do
• NHIS Incheon-Gyeonggi Center for Foreign Residents(Suwon)
  For persons whose address is in Suwon, Yongin, Hwaseong, Osan, Seongnam
  Adresse :1st floor, Cheonggung Building, 119, Hyowon-ro, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do
• NHIS Incheon-Gyeonggi Center for Foreign Residents(Incheon)
  For persons whose address is in Incheon, Bucheon, Gimpo, Gwangmyeong
  Adresse :7th floor, Bupyeongdaero Post Office, 88 Bupyeong-daero, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon-si
• NHIS Incheon-Gyeonggi Center for Foreign Residents(Uijeongbu)
  For persons whose address is in Uijeongbu, Namyangju, Gapyeong, Pocheon, Dongducheon, Yeoncheon, Yangju, Guri, Goyang, Paju
  Adresse :9th Floor, Central Tower, 80, Simin-ro, Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi-do

Find more details about the NHIS centres on this website.

If you live in another region in Korea

The NHIS does not mention other centres in the rest of the country. If you are aware of any, please consider sharing it in the comments below.

According to some working holiday makers in Korea, it is also possible to apply for exemption remotely via phone (service available in English). You can contact the NHIS to ask for instructions.

Contact the NHIS

What happens if I don’t apply for exemption?

A few months after the start of your working holiday, you will receive a letter (at the address that you provided when applying for your Residence Card) saying that you owe an outstanding balance to Korea for health coverage.

In this case, a past participant shared with us that she had gone to the Korean insurance bureau in Sindorim. Inquiries by email are not accepted. It is possible that you will need to pay a few months’ insurance.

How to cancel Korean public health insurance at the end of your WHV (if you didn’t obtain exemption)

If you didn’t apply for exemption during your WHV, remember to surrender your Residence Card at the end of your WHV. Otherwise you will still be registered and billed for Korean public insurance.