The National Pension contributions withheld from your wages each month while you worked on an E-9 or H-2 status are money you can reclaim. When you return home, they are paid back as a lump-sum refund equal to the contributions plus interest, and the claim can be filed by proxy and sent to your home-country account even if you have already departed.
Who can claim it?
As a general rule, foreign nationals cannot receive a National Pension lump-sum refund. It requires either reciprocity (the worker's home country pays the same benefit to Korean nationals) or a bilateral social-security agreement.
There is an exception. Workers holding Non-professional Employment (E-9), Working Visit (H-2), or Training Employment (E-8) status receive the lump-sum refund on returning home regardless of nationality. Whether you are from Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal or elsewhere, if you worked on E-9 or H-2 you are eligible without any reciprocity test.
How much is refunded? (₩2.5M / 4 years 10 months example)
The refund equals the contributions paid plus interest. The National Pension contribution rate is 9% of the standard monthly income (4.5% employee + 4.5% employer). The table below estimates a worker earning ₩2.5 million per month over 4 years and 10 months — the maximum E-9 work period.
| Standard monthly income | about ₩2,500,000 |
| Contribution rate | 9% (employee + employer) |
| Monthly contribution | about ₩225,000 |
| Contribution period | 58 months (4 years 10 months) |
| Principal paid | about ₩13,050,000 |
| Estimated refund | about ₩13,500,000 after interest |
These figures are an estimate. The actual amount depends on your standard monthly income, the exact number of months enrolled, and the interest rate applied (based on the three-year fixed-deposit rate). The exact figure can be confirmed through the National Pension Service.
Can you still claim after leaving?
Yes. Before departure you can apply at Incheon Airport or your local branch. If you have already returned home, you can submit the claim to Korea and have it remitted to your overseas account.
There is a deadline. The claim must be filed within five years of the date the entitlement arises (your departure). After five years the right is extinguished by the statute of limitations.
If you have already left and cannot easily return to Korea, you may appoint a representative to file on your behalf.
Filing by proxy
Even after you have returned home, a representative acting under a power of attorney can file the lump-sum claim for you and have it remitted to your overseas account. E-9 and H-2 holders are eligible regardless of nationality, and the representative prepares the claim form, power of attorney and overseas-remittance paperwork. The application must be made before five years from your departure date.
Frequently asked questions
This article is general information, not advice on an individual case. The refund amount and procedure depend on your enrollment record, standard income, interest rate and timing, so confirm the exact amount and eligibility through the National Pension Service and a consultation.