Insurance in Korea for Foreigners: NHI, Car Insurance and Private Cover

The starting point: National Health Insurance

The most important cover for a foreign resident is the National Health Insurance (NHI), the public scheme that covers most medical costs at hospitals, clinics and pharmacies. For salaried workers it is enrolled automatically through the employer, with the premium split between worker and employer, and it applies to foreign workers on the same basis as Korean workers.

Our National Health Insurance guide covers the details — what is covered, how premiums are set, and how self-employed residents enrol. That is the baseline; private insurance is additional cover on top of it, not a replacement.

Car insurance: mandatory

Anyone driving in Korea must have automotive insurance covering liability for injury and property damage. It is compulsory, enforced with the vehicle, and premiums are calculated per driver — your driving history, age and the vehicle all factor in. Foreign residents can buy it from the same insurers as Korean drivers, but terms and the documents accepted can differ by insurer.

Two practical points: check that your licence and visa documents are accepted, and compare a couple of quotes rather than accepting the first — premium differences between insurers are real.

Private health and supplementary cover

Because NHI covers a large but not complete share of medical costs, many residents add private health insurance to cover the gap — for example co-payments, dental and some outpatient costs. Private health insurers accept foreign residents on varied terms, and the paperwork, premiums and what is excluded differ by insurer and by visa type.

If you are considering private health cover, read the policy wording (or have it explained in a language you understand) before signing — foreign residents sometimes discover that a policy has waiting periods or exclusions that were not explained at the point of sale. The Financial Supervisory Service can help with complaints about financial products, including insurance.

Travel insurance

For short visits, travel insurance from your home country or a Korean provider covers the gap where NHI does not apply at all — a visitor is not an NHI member, so medical costs abroad can be high. Travel insurance bought before departure (including annual multi-trip policies) is the standard protection for the arrival period before NHI enrolment begins.

For residents, travel insurance is still worth a separate policy for trips outside Korea, since NHI generally does not cover treatment received abroad.

Practical notes

• NHI first — make sure your NHI enrolment is active through your employer (or by self-enrolment) before paying for private cover that partly duplicates it.
• Ask in a language you understand — with insurance, the exclusions matter more than the headline. Have the policy explained and keep a copy of the terms.
• Compare providers — for car and private insurance, quotes differ meaningfully between insurers, so compare before buying.
• Complaints — if an insurer treats you unfairly, the Financial Supervisory Service’s consumer channel handles complaints about financial products.

Note — insurance products, premiums, eligibility and terms change and differ by insurer and visa. Confirm the current details with the insurer and the Financial Supervisory Service before relying on this guide.