"Unable to Pay National Pension Premiums"... Support to Be Expanded for Those Unable to Contribute

3.35 Million People in Arrears or Exempt from Pension Premiums
Government to Ease Enrollment Criteria and Expand Coverage for Vulnerable Groups

As of October 25, 2025, it has been found that 3.35 million people are either unable to pay their insurance premiums due to unemployment or loss of income, or are legally excluded from mandatory enrollment. As a result, it is estimated that about one-third of the population aged 18 to 59 may not be able to receive old-age income security through the National Pension system.

According to data submitted by Assemblywoman Kim Sunmin of the Innovation Party for the Motherland, a member of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, from the National Pension Service, as of the end of June this year, 2.76 million people among those required to enroll in the National Pension were classified as exceptions to premium payment. The number of long-term defaulters who have not paid premiums for more than 13 months was tallied at 590,000. The sum of these two groups, referred to as the "narrow definition blind spot," totals approximately 3.352 million people.

When including 6.63 million people who are legally excluded from enrollment, such as basic livelihood security recipients and full-time homemakers, the pension blind spot expands to 9.98 million people. This accounts for 33.6% of the 29.69 million people in the mandatory pension enrollment age group (18 to 59 years old).

To address this blind spot, the government plans to significantly expand premium support for low-income earners starting next year. Until now, support was only available for those who resumed payment after a loss of income, but from January 1 next year, local subscribers with a monthly income of 800,000 won or less will be eligible for premium support even when enrolling for the first time. This measure aims to lower the barrier to pension enrollment for young people with unstable incomes and small business owners.

Institutional improvements have also been made for vulnerable employment groups. Since July, the pension enrollment criteria for construction day laborers have changed from "by worksite" to "by workplace," allowing those who move between multiple worksites within the same workplace to be recognized as workplace subscribers.

The system for recognizing enrollment periods for childbirth and military service will also be strengthened. From next year, the childbirth credit will apply from the first child, rather than from the second child, and the cap on the recognized enrollment period based on the number of children will be abolished. For military service credit, the actual period of service will be counted as the enrollment period, up to a maximum of 12 months. The government plans to strengthen incentives to maintain pension enrollment by expanding compensation for social contributions such as childbirth and military service.