U.S. and South Korea: Social Security Agreement

What it covers

In force: Apr 1, 2001

For the Republic of Korea, the agreement covers old-age, survivors and disability insurance for all workers age 18 to 59 under the National Pension Act, plus contributions for the industrial accident program. It does not cover civil servants, military personnel or private school teachers. Workers exempted from Korean coverage pay no Korean taxes for industrial accident insurance and generally cannot receive benefits from it.

How the U.S. counts South Korea credits

Applies to every U.S. agreement.

• SSA says that to have your South Korea credits counted for a U.S. benefit you must have at least 6 U.S. credits (generally one and one-half years of work).
• If you already have enough U.S. credits for a benefit, the U.S. cannot count the foreign credits.
• If you are short, you may qualify for a partial U.S. benefit based on both countries' credits.
• In 2026, one U.S. credit takes $1,890 of covered earnings, up to 4 credits a year (SSA's pamphlet prints an older 2022 amount).

Korea's side

The Korean system measures credits in months. To have your United States and Korean credits counted together for a Korean benefit, you must have at least 18 months of coverage credited under the Korean system.

Ages, payments and forms

• SSA's pamphlet shows a full Korean retirement benefit with at least 20 years of coverage at the Korean full retirement age (age 60 for people born before 1953, rising gradually to 65 for people born in 1968 or later), and a reduced benefit as early as age 60 with at least 10 years of coverage. Korea can also refund contributions as a lump sum in certain cases, such as less than 10 years of coverage at age 60.
• Korea pays at the end of the month, covering the preceding month. The U.S. pays monthly. Each country pays its own benefit.
• SSA's pamphlet says you can apply for Korean benefits at any U.S. Social Security office by completing Form KOR-USA 1, or mail the completed form to your local Social Security office.

Where to start

• You can apply in one country and ask that it count as a claim in the other. Each country processes the claim under its own laws, counts credits from the other country when appropriate, and tells you its decision.
• In the United States: visit or write any U.S. Social Security office, or call 1-800-772-1213 (8 a.m. to 7 p.m., business days; TTY 1-800-325-0778).
• If you live in Korea: contact any Korean social security office, or the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines (per SSA's pamphlet).

What this page cannot tell you

• Whether your own record will qualify. Only SSA and the other country can decide that.
• Current ages and amounts. SSA's pamphlets show a 2022 credit amount and some older age tables, so confirm numbers with SSA or the other country.
• Anything not stated on SSA's page for this country.