Why did your National Pension deduction change in 2026?

If your payslip shows a bigger National Pension (국민연금) line this year, two things changed. Here they are, from the National Pension Service (NPS).

The rate went up in January
From 1998 to 2025 the rate was 9% of your standard monthly income. From 2026 it rises by 0.5 percentage points every year for 8 years, reaching 13% in 2033. For 2026 the rate is 9.5%: 4.75% from you and 4.75% from your employer. Regional (self-employed) members pay the full 9.5% themselves.

The NPS example: a standard monthly income of 1,060,000 won means 100,700 won a month, of which 50,350 won is yours and 50,350 won your employer's.

The income band moved in July
Contributions are calculated on your standard monthly income (기준소득월액), kept inside a band that changes every July.

• July 2025 to June 2026: 400,000 to 6,370,000 won.
• July 2026 to June 2027: 410,000 to 6,590,000 won.

If you earn more than the top of the band, you pay on the top figure only. So a high earner saw a second change in July.

Next year
The rule says another 0.5 points in 2027. The NPS page prints the rule, not a 2027 figure, so we do not print one either.

It depends on your member type and your income.

Next step: compare your payslip with 4.75% of your standard monthly income. If it does not match, ask your employer or NPS on 1355.

Sources: NPS, contributions (English); NPS, pension contributions (Korean). Checked 11 October 2026.