Over 950,000 South Korean citizens have not paid their health insurance premiums for over a year now according to the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and the National Assembly of South Korea.
According to news reports as on 30 April 2025 the number of those who have not paid their premiums for more than a year now was 949,151. About 4,000 persons have arrears exceeding KRW50m. The total arrears amount to KRW2.88tn.
A bill introduced in the National Assembly in May this year proposes to restrict the overseas travel of these high delinquent taxpayers. The bill introduced by a member of the Health and Welfare Committee of the People Power Party would allow the Minister of Justice to seek travel bans for those whose health insurance premiums, overdue payments, and total debts exceed KRW50m, starting from one year after the payment deadline.
There are, however, concerns raised that this could infringe on the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of residence and transfer. Since a travel ban corresponds to a restriction of fundamental rights, there are opinions that the conditions and procedures must be strictly examined. Additionally, there are voices calling for a review of whether a travel ban is an appropriate measure, considering that health insurance premiums are not tax debts, but rather a creditor-debtor relationship between the National Health Insurance Service and its subscribers and users.