1,729 pre-applications filed as of Tuesday; 98.7% submitted online
Pre-applications for a government subsidy covering young people's first national pension premium — set to launch next year — have been concentrated in Gyeonggi Province and Seoul, with the three Gangnam-area districts accounting for a disproportionately large share of Seoul applicants.
The National Pension Service announced Wednesday that pre-applications for the "Youth First National Pension Premium Support" program surpassed 1,000 within three days of opening.
As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, a total of 1,729 applications had been received, of which 1,706 — or 98.7 percent — were submitted online through the agency's website or mobile app.
Of the total, 656 applications (37.9 percent) were filed directly by young people themselves, while 1,073 (62.1 percent) were submitted by parents on behalf of their children.
Online submissions accounted for the vast majority in both categories, with 653 of the self-filed applications and 1,053 of the parent-filed applications completed through digital channels.
By region, Gyeonggi Province led with 543 applications, followed by Seoul with 294, reflecting a relatively high concentration of applicants in the greater metropolitan area.
Within Seoul, 71 applications came from Gangnam, Seocho and Songpa-gu — the three Gangnam-area districts — representing 24 percent of all Seoul applications.
"Since this is a young person's first enrollment in the national pension, the application process itself should be easy and convenient," National Pension Service Chairman Kim Sung-joo said. "We will continue to strengthen outreach and guidance through social media channels, press coverage and on-site community promotion to ensure that all eligible individuals can apply."
The Youth First National Pension Premium Support program was designed to lower the barrier to enrollment for young people whose pension contributions are delayed due to mandatory military service, and to encourage retirement savings from age 18.
Starting in 2027, 18-year-olds with no prior national pension payment history — those born on or after Jan. 1, 2009 — will receive one month's premium in full, equivalent to about 42,000 won ($31), the minimum monthly contribution based on the standard income floor.
Young people who are already 18 but have prior payment history will instead receive one additional month of credited enrollment rather than a premium subsidy.
To receive the benefit, applicants aged 18 to 26 — either the young person or a parent — can apply by visiting a National Pension Service branch or through the agency's mobile app or website.
thlee@heraldcorp.com
