Seoul:The fiscal balance of South Korea's national health insurance for foreigners recorded a surplus exceeding 1 trillion won (US$753 million) for the first time last year. However, the account specifically for Chinese nationals turned to a deficit, according to recent data.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the fiscal balance for foreign nationals reached 1.0128 trillion won in surplus last year, an increase from 943.9 billion won the previous year. This information was derived from data submitted by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) to Rep. Jeon Jin-sook of the ruling party.

Foreign nationals paid a total of 2.54 trillion won in insurance premiums, while medical expenses covered by the NHIS amounted to 1.52 trillion won. This marked the first time the health insurance fiscal balance for foreigners posted a surplus exceeding 1 trillion won, continuing a consecutive surplus streak since 2017.

Conversely, the fiscal balance for Chinese nationals recorded a deficit of 40.9 billion won last year, reversing from a surplus of 5.5 billion won the previous year. In 2025, insurance premiums collected from Chinese nationals totaled 956.4 billion won, whereas payouts for medical treatment reached 997.3 billion won.

The data further revealed that the account for Chinese nationals had posted a deficit for seven consecutive years before briefly swinging to a surplus in 2024. By country, Vietnam recorded the largest surplus of 160.1 billion won last year, followed by Nepal with 126.2 billion won and Indonesia with 91.8 billion won.

In an effort to address financial leaks in the foreign health insurance system, the South Korean government has been implementing stricter measures. Since July 2019, foreigners residing in South Korea for six months or longer have been required to subscribe to the national health insurance system. Moreover, since April 2024, foreign nationals and overseas Koreans must reside in South Korea for at least six months to be registered as dependents of employee-based policyholders.

The deficit in the Chinese account may lead opposition lawmakers to advocate for the introduction of "reciprocity" in the foreign national health insurance system. They propose that South Korea should align foreign nationals' insurance eligibility and coverage benefits with the health insurance benefits provided to South Korean nationals by their respective home countries.