From 2027, people who turn 18 can have their first month of national pension contributions paid by the state. Article 100-5 of the National Pension Act, added on 26 May 2026, says that if someone aged 18 to under 27 applies, the state pays one month’s contribution, once, for the month of application. Someone who has already paid contributions instead gets one month added to their membership. It takes effect on 1 January 2027 and applies to people who turn 18 after that date. This sets out Article 100-5 and the addendum (Act No. 21689).
1. Aged 18 to under 27: one-off support for the contribution in the month you apply.
2. Already paid before? One month is added to membership instead.
3. From 1 January 2027, for people who turn 18 after that — fully state-funded.
What it supports — Article 100-5
| Paragraph | What the Act says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Main | If someone 18 to under 27 applies, the state pays the contribution for that month, once | Procedure by Ministry ordinance |
| (1) Proviso | Where they’ve already paid contributions, etc., one month is added instead | Grounds by Ministry ordinance |
| (2) | During support they’re treated as a voluntary member at the minimum standard monthly income | — |
| (3) | The added month is also treated as at the minimum | — |
| (4) | Funded entirely by the state | — |
Which benefits it counts towards — Article 100-5(5)
| Benefit | What the Act says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Old-age pension | Counts in the basic pension amount | — |
| Disability pension | Doesn’t count | — |
| Survivor pension | Doesn’t count in the basic amount, but counts for the Article 74 membership periods | Article 74 not set out here |
| Lump-sum refund | Doesn’t count | — |
From when, and for whom — Addendum (Act No. 21689, 26 May 2026)
| Item | What the addendum says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Effective | 1 January 2027 | — |
| Applies to | People who turn 18 after it takes effect | We read this as excluding people already 18 before then |
The Ministry may publicise the scheme to high schools, universities and military units (paragraph 6). Why one month matters, alongside other ways to add membership, is in ways to raise your pension; joining voluntarily is in voluntary membership.
Checklist
- ☐ Do you turn 18 on or after 1 January 2027?
- ☐ Apply between 18 and under 27
- ☐ Once only, for the month you apply
- ☐ Paid before? One month is added instead
- ☐ Check the procedure in the ordinance and NPS guidance
Questions that remain
I’m 20 now. Can I get it?
The addendum applies it to people who turn 18 after 1 January 2027; if you turned 18 before then, it reads as not covering you (our reading). Check with the NPS.
How much is one month?
It’s treated as at the minimum standard monthly income, so the minimum times the contribution rate. We didn’t check the 2027 minimum this time.
Sources
- Korean law database (law.go.kr) — National Pension Act Art. 100-5; Addendum (Act No. 21689, 26 May 2026) — source (current text showing effective date 1 January 2027; checked 19 October 2026; checked 19 October 2026). Age range, one-off support, one added month, minimum-income treatment, state funding, 4 benefit rules, publicity, effective date and application.
- Not read. The Ministry ordinance (procedure and proviso grounds), the 2027 minimum standard monthly income, Article 74.
- What we added. The “worth noting” column and the Korean everyday gloss.
Where else to check
- National Pension Service — how to apply once it starts in 2027.
Written on 19 October 2026. The content is from the source; the glosses are ours.
