The 2026 Basic Pension is available to people aged 65 or older whose recognized income is at or below the selection threshold. The threshold is ₩2.47 million per month for senior households without a spouse and ₩3.952 million per month for senior households with a spouse.
The standard pension amount is ₩349,700 per month. However, this amount is not fixed identically for every recipient. If both spouses receive the Basic Pension, each calculated amount may be reduced by 20%. Partial reductions may also apply when income or assets are relatively high, or when the recipient's National Pension benefit is high.
Looking only at the 2026 figures: the threshold is ₩2.47 million for single-person households and ₩3.952 million for couple households, while the standard pension amount is ₩349,700.
Deemed-Application System Effective July 30
Starting July 30, 2026, people who requested eligibility-history management within the past five years and were confirmed as likely eligible may be deemed to have applied for the Basic Pension without submitting a separate application. Under this process, the authorities review the latest income and asset information, investigate eligibility for payment, and then make a decision.
This system may apply to eligible people who requested eligibility-history management. It should not be understood as applying automatically to every person whose Basic Pension application was denied or to people who never requested eligibility-history management.
According to policy guidance from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, approximately 67,000 people are expected to benefit. As of March 2026, approximately 38,000 non-applicants had been confirmed as potentially eligible. A payment decision for people covered by the deemed-application system may take 30–60 days after receipt of the application, with notification and payment expected in August or September 2026 depending on the individual case.
How to Apply for the Basic Pension
You can apply for the Basic Pension through the following channels:
- Visit a eup, myeon, or dong community service center or administrative welfare center anywhere in Korea.
- Visit a National Pension Service branch office.
- Use the Bokjiro website or mobile app.
Whether someone is covered by the deemed-application system and the actual payment amount may vary depending on whether they registered for eligibility-history management and on the results of the income and asset investigation.
Cause of the Search-Volume Increase Not Confirmed
The possibility has been raised that the increase in searches for “basic old-age pension” may be related to the deemed-application system introduced on July 30, 2026. However, the direct cause of the increase on August 27, 2026, was not identified through two independent sources. Therefore, it is difficult to conclude that the increase was caused by a specific policy announcement.
Sources
- [Korea Policy Briefing: Introduction of the deemed-application system for Basic Pension eligibility-history management](https://www.korea.kr/multi/visualNewsView.do?newsId=148969138&pWise=main&pWiseMain=R6) (checked August 28, 2026)
- [Korea Policy Briefing: Making the Basic Pension easier to receive and helping people avoid missing out](https://www.korea.kr/news/policyNewsView.do?newsId=148965218) (checked August 28, 2026)
- [Korea Law Information Center: Partial amendment decree of the Basic Pension Act Enforcement Decree](https://www.law.go.kr/lsInfoP.do?lsiSeq=286645&viewCls=lsRvsDocInfoR) (checked August 28, 2026)
- [Korea Law Information Center: Public notice on the Basic Pension selection threshold and standard pension amount](https://www.law.go.kr/LSW/admRulLsInfoP.do?admRulId=56797&efYd=0) (checked August 28, 2026)
- [National Pension Service: Basic Pension](https://www.nps.or.kr/pbcpgdnc/mainbiz/getOHAG0059M0.do) (checked August 28, 2026)
- [Bokjiro: Basic Pension](https://www.bokjiro.go.kr/ssis-tbu/twataa/wlfareInfo/moveTWAT52011M.do?wlfareInfoId=WLF00001164) (checked August 28, 2026)
Official Basic Pension Video
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This official promotional video from the Ministry of Health and Welfare TV illustrates the Basic Pension's role in supporting everyday living.