This Korea pension lump-sum refund calculator for foreigners estimates how much National Pension Service (NPS) money you can get back when you permanently leave Korea. The refund is your own accumulated National Pension contributions plus statutory interest — and for treaty-eligible foreigners it is paid out in a single lump sum (ban-hwan il-shi-geum). Enter your standard monthly income, the number of months you contributed, and your employment type, and the tool returns your total own contributions, accrued interest, and the estimated lump-sum refund in both KRW and USD. It is the exact "how much pension refund will I get leaving Korea" number departing expats search for and rarely find in plain English.
Use the national pension refund calculator for Korea foreigners below, then read the eligibility rules, the 2026 contribution rates, and a fully worked example so you understand every won behind the figure.
The calculator multiplies your standard monthly income by your contribution rate and by the number of months you paid in to get your total own contributions, then adds simple interest. As an employee in 2026 you contribute 4.75% of standard monthly income (your employer pays a separate matching 4.75% that is not refunded to you), so only your half builds your refund. A self-employed or regional member pays the full 9.5% themselves, so their entire contribution is refundable. Interest is applied across the holding period — because contributions accumulate gradually, the tool applies the rate to the average balance over the period, which closely tracks how the NPS credits statutory interest.
This is the single most important rule, and the one most "national pension refund Korea foreigner" searches miss. Under the National Pension Act, a departing foreigner can claim a lump-sum refund only if one of these is true:
Citizens of countries such as the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Hungary, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Turkey are generally able to receive a lump-sum refund (the exact basis — agreement vs. reciprocity — varies). By contrast, nationals of several countries (for example China and some EU members where the agreement only "totalizes" periods rather than refunding) typically cannot withdraw the lump sum and instead keep their record for a future pension. Always confirm your specific nationality with the NPS before assuming a refund.
Knowing the rate is essential to any NPS lump sum refund calculator, because your refund is built from your own share only.
| Member type | Total rate | Your own share (refundable) | Employer share (not refundable) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employee (workplace) | 9.5% | 4.75% | 4.75% |
| Self-employed / regional | 9.5% | 9.5% | — |
The contribution rate increased from 9% to 9.5% on 1 January 2026, the first step of a phased rise scheduled through 2033. Contributions are also capped: the standard monthly income ceiling in 2026 is KRW 6,370,000, so if you earn more than that, your contribution (and therefore the refundable amount) is calculated on the ceiling, not your full salary. There is also a floor for very low incomes.
Suppose you are an employee whose standard monthly income is 3,000,000 KRW and you contributed for 36 months (3 years), with interest assumed at 3% per year:
Notice the employer's separate 5,130,000 KRW of matching contributions is not in your refund — a common and disappointing surprise. A self-employed member with the same income and period would have contributed the full 9.5%, doubling the refundable base.
The lump-sum refund (ban-hwan il-shi-geum) is a one-time payment of your accumulated contributions plus interest, paid when you can no longer be a member — most commonly because you have permanently left Korea. It is different from a monthly old-age pension, which requires at least 10 years (120 months) of contributions and is paid from age 65. Many foreigners leave before reaching 10 years, so the lump-sum refund is the realistic outcome for them — provided they are treaty-eligible.
The process is straightforward once you know it:
If you plan to return to Korea and resume work, you may instead choose to keep your contribution record so your months count toward a future pension or are totalized under an agreement.
For residents of countries with a social-security or tax agreement with Korea, the lump-sum refund is generally exempt from Korean income tax. However, your home country may treat the refund as taxable income in the year you receive it. The treatment depends on the specific agreement, so confirm with both the NPS and your home tax authority before you spend it.
Your refund is built on your standard monthly income (the figure the NPS records for you), not necessarily your exact gross salary each month. The NPS sets your standard monthly income within bands and updates it periodically. Because of the 2026 ceiling of 6,370,000 KRW, high earners accumulate refundable contributions only up to that cap. If your salary changed over the years, your real refund reflects each period's recorded standard income — the calculator uses a single average figure for simplicity, so for a precise number, the NPS uses your full history.
This national pension lump sum foreigner 2026 tool is a planning estimate. The NPS applies its own statutory interest rate (which has historically been close to a few percent and is revised over time) to each monthly contribution from the month it was paid, not a single blended rate on an average balance. It also uses your exact standard-monthly-income history and any periods of exemption or arrears. Treat the calculator's output as a close ballpark for budgeting your move home, then request the official figure from the NPS for the exact amount.
If you are leaving Korea for good and your contributions are modest, the lump-sum refund puts cash in your pocket now. But if you have many years in (or plan to return, or your country has a totalization agreement that adds your Korean months to your home pension), keeping the record can be worth far more in lifetime pension value than a one-time refund. The lump sum is final — once taken, those months no longer count toward any future Korean or totalized pension. Weigh the immediate cash against the long-term entitlement before you decide.
The Korea pension lump-sum refund calculator for foreigners estimates your National Pension lump-sum refund by adding up your own National Pension contributions over the months you paid in, then adding simple interest at roughly 3% per year applied across the contribution period. It shows your total own contributions, accrued interest, and the estimated refund in both KRW and USD.
A foreigner can generally claim a lump-sum refund (ban-hwan il-shi-geum) only if their home country has a social-security agreement with Korea, or grants Koreans the same lump-sum treatment on a reciprocity basis. Citizens of countries like the United States, Canada, Germany, France and several others are eligible. Nationals of countries with no agreement and no reciprocity usually cannot withdraw the lump sum on departure.
Your refund is your own accumulated National Pension contributions plus interest. As an employee you contribute 4.75% of your standard monthly income in 2026 (your employer pays a separate matching 4.75% that is NOT refunded to you). The calculator on this page estimates the figure; for an exact amount the NPS computes statutory interest on each monthly contribution.
No. For employees, only your own 4.75% share plus interest is refunded. The employer's separate matching contribution is not returned to you in the lump-sum refund. Self-employed (regional) members pay the full 9.5% themselves, so their refund reflects the whole amount.
For residents of countries that have a social-security or tax agreement with Korea, the lump-sum refund is generally exempt from Korean income tax. Your home country may still tax it. Always confirm the treatment under the specific agreement and with your own tax authority.
You generally apply for the lump-sum refund when you permanently leave Korea and lose eligibility to remain in the scheme. There is a statutory claim window, so do not wait indefinitely. You can often have it remitted to your overseas bank account or claimed at the airport before departure.
From January 2026 the National Pension contribution rate rose to 9.5% of standard monthly income. Employees split it 4.75% employee and 4.75% employer; self-employed regional members pay the full 9.5%. Only the member's own share plus interest is refundable as a lump sum.
No. It is a planning estimate. The National Pension Service applies its own statutory interest rate to each monthly contribution and accounts for your exact contribution history and standard monthly income, so the official figure may differ from this estimate.