The National Basic Living Security System is Korea’s core social safety net. It provides essential benefits — including living expenses, healthcare, housing, and education — to people in financial hardship, with the goal of guaranteeing a minimum standard of living and supporting self-sufficiency. Some foreigners can access this system if they meet the required conditions.
When Foreigners Can Apply
Under Article 5-2 of the National Basic Living Security Act and Article 4 of its Enforcement Decree (Special Provisions for Foreigners), a foreigner must have completed foreigner registration and must fall into at least one of the categories below. For categories (A) and (B), the applicant must also be sharing their livelihood or residence with a Korean national.
| Category | Conditions |
|---|---|
| (A) Foreigner currently married to a Korean national | (1) The applicant or their Korean spouse is pregnant, OR (2) the applicant is raising a minor child with Korean nationality, OR (3) the applicant is sharing a livelihood and residence with the Korean-national lineal ascendants of their spouse (e.g., parents-in-law) |
| (B) Foreigner divorced from or widowed by a Korean national | Currently raising a minor child with Korean nationality |
| (C) Foreigner pregnant with the child of a deceased Korean spouse | — |
| (D) Person recognized as a refugee by the Minister of Justice | Must have received a refugee recognition certificate under Article 32 of the Refugee Act |
| (E) Afghan special contributors | Persons recognized by the Minister of Justice under Article 14-2 of the Act on the Treatment of Foreigners in Korea. Also includes direct lineal descendants (first degree) born after the special contributor’s arrival in Korea |
Types of Benefits and Eligibility Thresholds
To be selected as a recipient, your household’s recognized income amount must fall at or below the threshold for each benefit. The 2026 figures are as follows.
2026 Benefit Selection Thresholds (as a percentage of the Standard Median Income)
| Benefit | Threshold | 1-person household | 4-person household |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living Benefit | At or below 32% of Standard Median Income | 820,556 KRW | 2,078,316 KRW |
| Medical Benefit | At or below 40% of Standard Median Income | 1,025,695 KRW | 2,597,895 KRW |
| Housing Benefit | At or below 48% of Standard Median Income | 1,230,834 KRW | 3,117,474 KRW |
| Education Benefit | At or below 50% of Standard Median Income | 1,282,119 KRW | 3,247,369 KRW |
These figures and thresholds are updated every year. Before applying, please confirm the latest information with the Immigration Contact Center (1345) or your local community service center (읍·면·동 주민센터).
What Each Benefit Covers
- Living Benefit: Monthly cash payment to cover daily necessities such as food, clothing, and fuel. The amount is calculated as: the Living Benefit standard amount minus the household’s recognized income amount.
- Medical Benefit: Significantly reduces out-of-pocket costs at hospitals and pharmacies. Recipients are classified as Type 1 (lower copayment) or Type 2 based on their capacity for work.
- Housing Benefit: For renting households, covers rent (monthly rent or deposit-based lease costs). For owner-occupiers, covers home repair costs. This benefit is administered by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT). For details, contact the LH Housing Benefit Call Center (1600-0777).
- Education Benefit: For households with children in primary, middle, or high school — covers education activity support fees, tuition, and enrollment fees. Administered by the Ministry of Education (MOE).
- Childbirth Benefit (해산급여): A one-time payment of 700,000 KRW per birth, for recipients of the Living Benefit, Medical Benefit, or Housing Benefit.
- Funeral Benefit (장제급여): A one-time payment of 800,000 KRW to the person who actually arranges the funeral when a benefit recipient passes away.
How to Apply
Where to Apply
You can apply year-round at the community service center (읍·면·동 주민센터) that covers either your registered address or your actual place of residence.
Documents You Will Need
| Category | Documents |
|---|---|
| Required | Social Security Benefit application (or change) form; consent form for provision of financial information |
| Submit if applicable | Certificate of foreigner registration; refugee recognition certificate (for refugees); documents proving family relationships; lease agreement (for tenants); income and asset verification documents; copy of bank account passbook |
- Documents that government agencies can verify directly — such as resident registration records and family relationship certificates — do not need to be brought in person.
- Your application will not be rejected simply because your documents are incomplete. You can submit your application first and provide any missing documents afterward.
Processing Time and Notification
You will receive written notification of the outcome within 30 days of your application date. In cases requiring additional investigation (for example, into persons with a legal support obligation), this may be extended to 60 days; if so, the reason will be specified.
Filing an Objection
If you disagree with the outcome, you may file an objection — in writing or verbally — through the relevant benefit authority, addressed to the relevant provincial or city governor, within 90 days of receiving the notification.
How the Recognized Income Amount Is Calculated (Key Summary)
$$\text{Recognized Income Amount} = \text{Evaluated Income} + \text{Asset-Converted Income}$$
- Evaluated Income = Actual income - household-specific expense deductions - earned income deductions
- Asset-Converted Income = (Value of each asset type - basic asset deduction - debts) x income conversion rate
The basic asset deduction (the portion of your assets excluded from the calculation) varies by region. These figures may change, so please verify before applying:
| Region | Basic Asset Deduction |
|---|---|
| Seoul | 99,000,000 KRW |
| Gyeonggi Province | 80,000,000 KRW |
| Metropolitan cities, Sejong, Changwon | 77,000,000 KRW |
| All other regions | 53,000,000 KRW |
The Support Obligation Criterion (부양의무자 기준)
- Living Benefit, Housing Benefit, Education Benefit: The support obligation criterion does not apply. Meeting the recognized income amount threshold is sufficient.
- Medical Benefit: The support obligation criterion applies. However, exceptions are recognized in cases such as: the person with a support obligation does not exist, has no ability to provide support, or has effectively severed family ties. Additionally, from October 2026, the support contribution rate for persons with Medical Benefit support obligations is scheduled to be reduced.
If contact with a person who has a support obligation has been lost because of abuse, violence, neglect, or similar reasons, please let your caseworker know. In such cases, the investigation of the support obligation person may be waived, or benefits may be granted through a review by the local living security committee. Please feel free to speak openly about your situation.
Common Points of Confusion
Can foreigners become conditional recipients (조건부수급자)?
Recipients who are assessed as having the capacity to work are required to participate in self-sufficiency programs (job-support activities) as a condition of receiving the Living Benefit. If you do not participate, some or all of your Living Benefit may be suspended.
What happens if I spend a long time outside Korea?
If, counting back 180 days from the start of an investigation, your total time spent outside Korea exceeds 60 days, you will be removed from the benefit household. If you are planning an extended trip abroad, please notify your community service center in advance.
Obligation to report changes after being selected
You must report the following changes to your local community service center immediately:
- Change of address; change in household members (birth, death, marriage, etc.)
- Change in income or assets
- Change in the number of days spent outside Korea
If you fail to report changes, or if you receive benefits based on false information, the benefits may be reclaimed and you may face criminal penalties (imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10,000,000 KRW).
Related Support Programs
Seizure-protected account (행복지킴이통장 / “Happiness Guardian” account)
If you are concerned that your benefits might be seized due to debt, you can open a Happiness Guardian account at a commercial bank or post office. This account is legally protected from seizure. After opening the account, request an account change at your community service center.
Low-income financial support
If you have a low credit score or low income and are having difficulty accessing loans, the Inclusive Finance Support Center (1397) can provide consultations on government-backed financial products for low-income households, such as Haetsal-ron and Miso Finance loans. You can ask your community service center caseworker to connect you through the next-generation social security information system.
Free legal support
If you have a low income or are a benefit recipient, Korea Legal Aid Corporation (KLAC) (132, www.klac.or.kr) provides free legal consultation and litigation representation. Foreigners are also eligible to use this service.
Fee reduction benefits
Once selected as a benefit recipient, you may be entitled to a range of reductions including: electricity bill discounts, city gas fee reductions, TV license fee waivers, mobile phone bill reductions, and support through the Munhwa Nuri Card (a culture and leisure spending card for low-income households). When you apply, ask your caseworker to also process applications for these reduction services at the same time.
Contact and Inquiries
| Organization | Contact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Health and Welfare Counseling Center | 129 | Living Benefit and Medical Benefit inquiries |
| Immigration Contact Center (1345) | 1345 | Multilingual support available |
| Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Call Center | 1599-0001 | Housing Benefit inquiries |
| LH Housing Benefit Call Center | 1600-0777 | Housing Benefit inquiries |