South Korea Records Over $754 Million Surplus in Foreign Health Insurance Balance
South Korea’s national health insurance account concerning foreign nationals posted an all-time high surplus of more than $754.8m (KRW1.01t) over the past year, fueled by $1.90b paid in contributions from overseas individuals against $1.14b spent on healthcare expenses.
Figures from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) reveal that non-national residents contributed $1.90b (KRW2.54t) in dues, while healthcare payouts funded by the NHIS totaled $1.14b (KRW1.52t). This produced an aggregate net gain of $756.1m (KRW1.01t), rising from the $706.7m (KRW943.9b) recorded in the preceding year.
For the first time ever, the yearly positive balance generated by foreign policy beneficiaries has crossed the $747.5m (KRW1t) mark, keeping alive an unbroken surplus pattern running since 2017.
Chinese Nationals Move into Insurance Deficit
In contrast to the broader upward trend, the financial ledger for Chinese citizens slipped into a $30.6m (KRW40.9b) shortfall last year, shifting away from a $4.1m (KRW5.5b) positive margin registered a year prior.
Contributions gathered from Chinese participants amounted to $716.1m (KRW956.4b), whereas medical disbursements covered by the NHIS hit $746.7m (KRW997.3b). Historically, the ledger for Chinese users maintained a negative balance across seven consecutive years beginning in 2017 prior to briefly swinging back to a net gain in 2024.
Positive financial contributions were driven by other migrant communities. Vietnamese participants produced the top net gain at $119.9m (KRW160.1b), followed by individuals hailing from Nepal with $94.5m (KRW126.2b) and Indonesia contributing $68.7m (KRW91.8b).
Foreign Subscribers Generate 989.1 Billion Won Surplus
Official records published via the government portal by the National Health Insurance Service show that during 2025, dues levied on overseas members reached 2.51 trillion won, whereas total medical payouts stood at 1.52 trillion won. The difference amounted to 989.1 billion won.
Looking at 2025 data concerning payouts disbursed post-expiration of coverage, citizens from China and the United States ranked first and second respectively regarding total funds collected. Statistics indicate that 22,793 Chinese citizens collected 10.97 billion won in medical benefits after their active policy terms concluded, followed by 2,226 American individuals who secured 6.88 billion won.
South Korea has tightened residency requirements for foreign nationals seeking health insurance coverage. Back in December 2018, authorities lengthened the mandatory stay duration required for qualifying overseas residents to join the public healthcare system, pushing it from three months up to six months. Beginning in April 2024, the majority of foreign relatives applying for benefits as dependents under employment-based policies without making independent dues payments became obligated to reside in South Korea for a minimum of six months, though spouses and minors aged below 19 remain exempt from this waiting duration.
