South Korea
South Korea Basic Pension (기초연금)
The South Korea Basic Pension (기초연금, Gicho Yeon-geum) is a means-tested social pension program that provides monthly cash payments to Korean citizens and long-term residents aged 65 and above who fall within the bottom 70 percent of the income distribution, addressing one of the highest elderly poverty rates among OECD nations and providing essential income support to approximately 6 million senior citizens as a complement to the contributory National Pension system.
South Korea National Basic Livelihood Security System (국민기초생활보장제도)
South Korea National Basic Livelihood Security System (국민기초생활보장제도) is a comprehensive social assistance program administered by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부) that guarantees minimum living standards for low-income households by providing four categories of means-tested benefits — livelihood, medical, housing, and education — to individuals and families whose recognized income falls below specific percentages of the national median income. Enacted in 1999 and reformed in 2015 to adopt a customized benefit system (맞춤형 급여체계), the program serves approximately 2.4 million beneficiaries and represents the cornerstone of South Korea's social safety net.
South Korea National Health Insurance
South Korea's mandatory universal health insurance program covering all residents with comprehensive medical, dental, and pharmaceutical benefits through a single-payer system administered by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS).