[Work & Life] Leaving Korea? 3 Payments EPS Workers Should Claim (2026)

knova1 — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 02:41:48 +0000

KOREA LIFE & WORK

Leaving Korea? 3 Payments You Should Claim ✈️

Departure Guarantee Insurance · Pension Refund · Return Cost Insurance

✅ Updated October 2026

When your EPS contract ends, you may receive three separate payments: the departure guarantee insurance (your severance), the national pension lump-sum refund, and the return cost insurance. Many workers go home without claiming everything — and the money becomes “dormant.” In this guide, Teacher Nova explains what each payment is and how to claim it.

🇵🇭 Bago umuwi, siguraduhing makuha mo ang lahat ng pera mo — hindi ito awtomatiko lahat!

⚡ Quick summary
1️⃣ Departure guarantee insurance — your severance pay, paid by your employer’s insurance
2️⃣ National pension refund — the pension you paid from your salary
3️⃣ Return cost insurance — the insurance you paid for your trip home
⏰ Unclaimed money moves to a dormant account after 3 years — claim early!

1. Departure Guarantee Insurance (출국만기보험)

For E-9 workers, the departure guarantee insurance takes the place of normal severance pay. Your employer pays the premium every month — about 8.3% of your regular monthly wage — to Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance.

Who can receive it: workers who worked 1 year or more at the same company
When: after your employment ends and you leave Korea — you can apply before departure and receive it at the airport counter or by bank transfer
Important: it is not automatic. You must apply yourself.

💡 Did you work a lot of overtime?

The insurance is saved from your regular wage, but legal severance pay uses your average wage, which includes overtime. If the insurance amount is less than your legal severance pay, your employer must pay the difference.

Kung marami kang overtime, maaaring mas malaki ang dapat mong severance. Ang kulang ay dapat bayaran ng employer.

2. National Pension Lump-Sum Refund (국민연금 반환일시금)

Every month, 4.75% of your salary goes to the National Pension (2026 rate). E-9 workers can get a lump-sum refund when they leave Korea.

What you get back: the amount you paid + interest (your employer’s share is not refunded)
Where to apply: a National Pension Service (NPS) branch before you leave, the NPS desk at Incheon Airport, or by mail after you return home
Note: a small Korean tax is deducted from the refund

Ang ibinayad mo sa National Pension ay pwedeng ma-refund paglabas mo ng Korea — pero ang share mo lang.

3. Return Cost Insurance (귀국비용보험)

This is insurance you pay (from your salary) early in your contract to cover your trip home. You can claim it when you leave Korea — there is no minimum work period.

Country	Amount
Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, China	400,000 KRW
Sri Lanka	600,000 KRW
Most other EPS countries	500,000 KRW

※ The claim process changed in December 2024. Check the current procedure and your country’s amount before you leave (call 1350).

4. Your checklist before leaving Korea ✅

☐ Apply for departure guarantee insurance (at least a week before your flight is safest)
☐ Ask your employer about any severance difference (if you worked a lot of overtime)
☐ Apply for your national pension refund
☐ Check your return cost insurance claim
☐ Keep your passport, ARC, bank account, and work records ready
☐ Keep a Korean bank account open until all payments arrive — or register an overseas account

I-check ang lahat bago umuwi. Kung may tanong, tumawag sa 1350 (may tulong sa iba’t ibang wika).

🌏 Already went home without claiming?

You can still claim from your home country. After 3 years, unclaimed insurance moves to HRD Korea as dormant insurance — it can take longer, but you can still ask the EPS Center in your country for help. This applies to workers from every EPS country.

※ This guide is general information (updated October 2026). Rules and procedures can change. Before you leave, confirm with the Ministry of Employment and Labor (1350), the National Pension Service, or the insurance company.

📚 More guides for EPS workers

Salary, sending money home, and free Korean lessons.

💰 Calculate your salary
💸 Send money home
📚 Free Korean lessons

출국만기보험 – Nova's EPS-TOPIK Korean BLOG

[Work & Life] Leaving Korea? 3 Payments EPS Workers Should Claim (2026)

1. Departure Guarantee Insurance (출국만기보험)

2. National Pension Lump-Sum Refund (국민연금 반환일시금)

3. Return Cost Insurance (귀국비용보험)

4. Your checklist before leaving Korea ✅