Korea’s National Pension is compulsory only for employees and self-employed people with income. But people who are not covered because they have no income — homemakers, students, young people doing military service — can still join as voluntary members by applying. Membership starts on the day the application is accepted, and 6 months of unbroken arrears ends it. We read articles 6 and 9–12 of the National Pension Act and article 21 of its Decree as written.
1. Anyone 18 to under 60 who is not a compulsory member. If you are neither a workplace nor a regional member, you may apply (art. 10(1)).
2. Typically spouses without income and students or service members under 27. Article 9 excludes them from regional membership, so voluntary membership is how they can join.
3. You decide when to start and stop. Membership begins when the application is accepted, and you may apply to withdraw. It ends on 6 months of continuous arrears or at 60 (art. 12(3), Decree art. 21).
Who may join voluntarily — art. 10
Article 10(1) A person aged 18 or over and under 60, other than any of the following, may become a voluntary member by applying to the National Pension Service …: 1. workplace members; 2. regional members.
(2) A voluntary member may withdraw by applying to the National Pension Service …
Who is left out of regional membership — art. 9
Anyone aged 18 to under 60 who is not a workplace member is automatically a regional member. Article 9 carves out the groups below, who make up most voluntary members.
| Excluded | Condition | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Spouses without income | Spouses with no separate income of public-sector pension members, National Pension members (workplace, regional, voluntary continued), or old-age and retirement pension recipients | Art. 9 item 1 |
| Students and service members | Aged 18 to under 27 with no income because of study or military service (not if they have ever paid contributions) | Art. 9 item 3 |
| Retirement pension recipients | Unless they applied to link schemes | Art. 9 item 2 |
| Livelihood and medical aid recipients | Under the National Basic Living Security Act | Art. 9 item 4 |
Civil servants, military personnel, private-school teachers and others covered by their own pension schemes are excluded from the National Pension altogether (art. 6 proviso), so they read as unable to join voluntarily (our reading). A student aged 18–26 who has ever paid contributions is not excluded from regional membership.
When it starts and ends — arts. 11 and 12
| Event | Timing | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Joining | The day the application is accepted | Art. 11(3) |
| Death · loss of nationality or emigration · withdrawal accepted · turning 60 | Ends the next day | Art. 12(3) items 1–4 |
| 6 months or more of continuous arrears | Ends the next day (unless unavoidable reasons such as natural disasters are proven) | Art. 12(3) item 5, Decree art. 21 |
| Becoming a workplace or regional member · becoming excluded | Ends that same day | Art. 12(3) items 6–7 |
Taking a job ends voluntary membership the day workplace membership begins, so coverage carries on. At 60 voluntary membership ends, but if you are short of years you can apply for voluntary continued membership to 65 (art. 13) — unless you take the refund at 60, which closes that path (National Pension lump-sum refund).
Why join — our summary
- The old-age pension needs 10 years of membership. Voluntary membership during years without income counts toward them.
- When each spouse builds their own record, each receives a pension in old age.
- Periods paid as a voluntary member also count toward the contribution tests for disability and survivors’ benefits — see disability pension.
Contribution levels, the cap and catch-up payments are covered in ways to increase your National Pension. This article covers eligibility and when membership starts and ends.
Checklist
- ☐ Aged 18 to under 60, and not currently a workplace or regional member
- ☐ Not covered by a public-sector pension yourself
- ☐ Apply to the National Pension Service — membership starts when accepted
- ☐ Use direct debit to avoid 6 months of unbroken arrears
- ☐ At 60, decide on voluntary continued membership
Questions that remain
Can a university student join?
Students aged 18 to under 27 with no income are excluded from regional membership (art. 9 item 3), so they can apply as voluntary members.
What if I want to stop?
Article 10(2) lets you apply to withdraw; membership ends the day after it is accepted (art. 12(3) item 3).
Sources
- National Pension Act [in force 17 Jun 2026] [Act No. 21203] — original text (checked 1 October 2026). Article 6 (coverage, public-sector exclusion), article 9 (regional members, exclusions 1–4), article 10 (voluntary membership, withdrawal), article 11(3) (date accepted), article 12(3) (loss, items 1–7) and article 13 (voluntary continued membership, 65).
- Enforcement Decree of the Act [in force 1 Jan 2026] [Presidential Decree No. 35602] — original text. Article 21 (6 months of arrears).
Where to check further
- Applying — a National Pension Service branch or call centre.
- How the pension works — National Pension basics.
Written on 1 October 2026. Articles are from the National Law Information Center; the tables are ours.
