Korean Dictionary
How to say "Health Insurance" in Korean
“Health Insurance” in Korean is 건강보험 (pronounced "geongang boheom").
건강보험
geongang boheom
Usage & Context
건강보험 is the national health insurance system that covers virtually all Korean citizens and long-term residents. The National Health Insurance Service (국민건강보험공단) administers the system and keeps out-of-pocket costs relatively low. Foreigners living in Korea for more than six months are required to enroll in 건강보험.
Example Sentence
건강보험 덕분에 의료비 부담이 크지 않아요.
Thanks to health insurance the medical cost burden is not too great.
How to use 건강보험 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Health Insurance” is 건강보험, romanized as geongang boheom.
Usage tip
When describing symptoms, combine the word with where it hurts, when it started, and how severe it is.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 건강보험.
Pronunciation Guide
건 (geon) sounds like 'gun'. 강 (gang) is like 'gahng', similar to 'gang' but with a softer 'g'. 보 (bo) is like 'boh' in 'boat'. 험 (heom) is like 'hum' but with a slightly more open 'o' sound. Put it together: 'gun-gahng boh-heom'.
More Example Sentences
Expressing relief about medical costs.
건강보험 덕분에 병원비 부담이 훨씬 줄었어요.
Thanks to health insurance, the burden of hospital bills has significantly decreased.
Explaining eligibility for health insurance to a newcomer.
외국인도 일정 기간 거주하면 건강보험에 가입할 수 있어요.
Foreigners can also enroll in health insurance if they reside for a certain period.
Discussing payroll deductions.
건강보험료가 매달 월급에서 자동으로 공제돼요.
Health insurance premiums are automatically deducted from my salary every month.
Cultural Context
건강보험 is a cornerstone of the Korean welfare system, providing universal healthcare coverage. It's a source of national pride, keeping medical costs relatively low and accessible for most citizens and long-term residents. The National Health Insurance Service (국민건강보험공단) is a well-known public institution. Discussions about healthcare costs often revolve around what is covered by 건강보험 and what is '비급여' (bigyeop-yeo - non-covered). For foreigners, understanding the enrollment process is crucial for long-term stay.
Editorial note
We review entries like 건강보험 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
건강보험 가입
Health insurance enrollment
건강보험 적용
Health insurance coverage/application
건강보험 혜택
Health insurance benefits
Related Expressions
국민건강보험
gungmin geongang boheom
National Health Insurance (full name)
의료보험
euryo boheom
Medical insurance (general term)
실비보험
silbi boheom
Private indemnity insurance
보험료
boheomnyo
Insurance premium
More Health & Medical Words
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