National Pension employee contributions use a reported monthly income base subject to a minimum and maximum, updated each July.
What the base is
The standard monthly income base is the amount used to calculate contributions, not necessarily the take-home amount on the current payslip. Employee contribution = standard monthly income base × employee rate.
Limits and July adjustment
For July 2026 through June 2027, the guide uses a minimum base of KRW 410,000 and maximum base of KRW 6,590,000. The rate and base period should be checked together.
Examples
A reported income below the lower bound uses the lower bound for this calculation; an amount above the upper bound uses the upper bound. Contributions may therefore stay the same even when current-month pay changes.
Common confusion
The employer and employee each pay their applicable shares. Annual changes to the rate or base may show up in a different month from a salary change.