Lee Gae-ho “More Voluntary Subscribers Withdraw from National Pension”

Over 80,000 Subscribers Last Year... 44.6% Drop in Two Years

Lee Gae-ho 의원

Concerns have been raised that the voluntary enrollment system, which was initiated to assist people in the blind spots of the National Pension Service, is not functioning effectively and needs improvement. Voluntary enrollment was introduced to protect rural residents aged 18 to under 60 who are unable to join the National Pension through their workplace or region.

According to data submitted by the National Pension Service to Lee Gae-ho, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Damyang, Hampyeong, Yeonggwang, and Jangseong), the number of voluntary enrollees, which reached 150,788 in 2020, decreased significantly to 83,536 last year, a drop of 67,252 (44.6%).

Since 2022, not only has the number of enrollees declined, but the number of withdrawals has also exceeded the number of new enrollees. In 2022, there were 115,197 new enrollees, but 146,342 withdrawals, exceeding new enrollments by 31,145. Last year, while the number of enrollees was 83,536, withdrawals reached 124,422. Even this year, as of June, the numbers of enrollees and withdrawals remain similar.

Rep. Lee stated, “The decrease in voluntary enrollees is due to the structure where the longer one is enrolled in the National Pension, the lower the basic pension benefit becomes. It appears that many are withdrawing with the intention of receiving the basic pension rather than paying into the pension.” He emphasized, “Considering that the average monthly income of voluntary enrollees is around 1.2 million won, it is necessary to accurately analyze the reasons for the decline and prepare policy alternatives.”