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Retiring in South Korea

Residency routes, healthcare and pension tax · KRW

Routes to residency

Healthcare

Foreign residents on a long-stay visa (6 months or longer) are required to join Korea's National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) based on residency/visa duration, not citizenship. Enrollment is automatic upon Alien Registration Card (ARC) issuance under Article 109 of the National Health Insurance Act, and employed foreigners on work visas are enrolled immediately through their employer as employee-insured members.

For foreigners not enrolled through employment, mandatory NHIS enrollment is triggered once residency in Korea reaches six months (or earlier if on certain long-stay visas with ARC issuance); there is no additional separate waiting period once registered.

Private health insurance is a condition of residency in South Korea.

Private supplemental insurance is not generally a separate legal visa condition once enrolled in NHIS, but some visa categories (e.g., certain long-stay or non-ARC visas) may require proof of private health coverage; sources describe NHIS premiums (e.g., ~7.19% of salary for employees, split with employer in 2026) as the primary mandatory cost rather than private insurance.

US Medicare: US Medicare does not cover healthcare services received outside the United States, with only very narrow exceptions (e.g., certain emergency situations near the US border); it does not cover care received in South Korea.

Pension income tax

South Korea taxes foreign pension income of its residents.

Korea taxes residents on worldwide income, including foreign pensions, at progressive rates (6%-45%) plus a 10% local income surtax. However, a foreign national resident in Korea for 5 years or less (in aggregate, within the preceding 10 years) is taxed only on Korea-source income and on foreign-source income remitted into or paid within Korea; after exceeding this 5-year threshold, worldwide taxation, including untransferred foreign pension income, applies.

There is a US income tax treaty with South Korea.

A US-Korea income tax treaty has been in force since 1979. For US citizens, the treaty's saving clause preserves the IRS's right to tax US citizens on worldwide income (including pensions) as if the treaty did not exist, so US citizens remain subject to US tax on pension income regardless of Korean residence; the Foreign Tax Credit (Form 1116) is typically used to avoid double taxation on Korean-source income, and some US-sourced pension/401(k) withholding issues for Korean residents can be addressed by treaty provisions.

Sources: Korea National Health Insurance (NHIS) Guide for Foreign Residents (2026) · Korea Health Insurance for Foreigners Complete Guide 2026 · Korean Health Insurance (NHIS) & 4 Social Insurances Guide 2026 · Taxation of international executives: South Korea (KPMG, July 2024) · US-Korea tax treaty: rates, benefits & rules (2026) · Korea Resident US Pension 401(k) Withholding Avoided by Tax Treaty · What to Know About Medicare Coverage Outside the US

Checked Oct 2026

Customs & etiquette

• Bowing and greeting elders/superiors — A slight bow (with or without a handshake) is the standard greeting, especially with elders, seniors, or business contacts. When shaking hands, it's common to support your right forearm with your left hand as a sign of respect.
• Using two hands (or supported hand) for giving/receiving — When giving or receiving objects such as money, business cards, gifts, or drinks—especially with someone older or of higher status—use both hands or support the giving hand with the other arm as a mark of respect.
• Pouring and drinking with elders/seniors — At meals involving alcohol, it's customary to pour drinks for others rather than yourself, and to turn slightly away from an elder or superior when taking a sip as a gesture of deference. Wait for the eldest or most senior person to begin eating or drinking first.
• Shoe removal indoors — Shoes are typically removed before entering homes, many restaurants with floor seating, temples, and some traditional guesthouses. Look for a shoe rack or raised floor level as a cue, and wear presentable socks.
• Chopstick and utensil manners — Korean meals are typically eaten with a spoon and metal chopsticks placed flat on the table or a rest between uses, not stuck upright into rice. Communal side dishes (banchan) are shared, and it is polite to use serving utensils when available.
• Gift-giving customs — Bringing a small gift when visiting someone's home or meeting a business counterpart is appreciated. Gifts are usually given and received with both hands, and it's polite not to open a gift immediately in front of the giver unless invited to.

Religion

Protestant 17% · Buddhist 16% · Catholic 6% · none 60%

Other countries in East Asia & Pacific

Australia · Cambodia · Indonesia · Japan · Malaysia · New Zealand · Philippines · Singapore · Thailand · Vietnam

Reference information compiled from the sources cited above and reviewed by hand. Immigration, healthcare and tax rules change and are applied at the authorities' discretion — confirm with the consulate, an immigration adviser or a tax adviser before making plans. Nothing here is tax or immigration advice.

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