Worked in two countries? Check Korea's pension agreements

Korea has signed social security agreements (사회보장협정) with other countries since 1999. The National Pension Service (NPS) describes two kinds. Every agreement is different, so check your own country.

Contribution-only agreements (보험료 면제 협정)
These stop you paying pension in both countries at the same time, usually for a worker posted to Korea for a limited time. They generally do not cover benefits or refunds. In force with: Iran, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Japan, Italy, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, China, Switzerland, Chile.

Totalisation agreements (가입기간 합산 협정)
These let your insured periods in both countries be added together to qualify for a pension, and normally include the double-payment exemption too (New Zealand's does not). In force with 31 countries plus Québec: Canada, the United States, Germany, Hungary, France, Australia, Czech Republic, Ireland, Belgium, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Austria, Denmark, India, Spain, Turkey, Sweden, Brazil, Finland, Québec, Peru, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Croatia, Uruguay, New Zealand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Norway, Argentina. For Vietnam only the exemption part is in force so far.

Morocco signed in June 2024; not yet in force.

Refunds are a separate question. Some agreements pay the lump-sum refund to their nationals when they leave Korea, and some do not (Ireland, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, Finland, New Zealand, Norway and Vietnam do not). See our refund post.

It depends on your nationality, where you paid, and the text of your country's agreement.

Next step: if you paid pension in two countries, find your country on the NPS agreement pages and ask NPS on 1355 about a certificate of coverage.

Sources: NPS, types of agreement; NPS, agreements in force. Checked 11 October 2026.