National Health Insurance Corporation Customer Center Workers Secure Employment Guarantees After Strike

Workers at the National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC) customer center in South Korea have secured employment guarantees following a ten-day strike and a subsequent fast by a branch manager, according to recent reports. The dispute centered around the NHIC’s attempts to roll back working conditions related to a 2021 agreement to convert customer center workers into affiliated organization employees.

Background of the Dispute

In 2021, an agreement was reached to transition workers at the NHIC customer center into a more secure employment status as affiliated organization employees. Yet, implementation of this agreement has been delayed for six years. The NHIC then attempted to reverse progress by introducing measures such as non-recognition of continuous service, probationary appointments with evaluations, non-transfer of annual leave, exclusion of workers with migrant backgrounds, and an expansion of differential incentive payments.

Workers’ Response and Strike Action

In response to these proposed rollbacks, workers initiated a full-scale strike from February 2nd to February 10th, staging rallies and a sit-in protest in front of the Blue House. Branch Manager Kim Geum-young further escalated the protest by beginning a hunger strike on February 11th.

Resolution and Agreement

The NHIC ultimately conceded to several key demands. The corporation agreed to guarantee employment after a three-month probationary period, unless significant disqualifications arise. Workers will as well receive 15 days of annual leave, and those with migrant backgrounds will be included in the conversion to affiliated organization status. Kim Geum-young ended her fast following the agreement, and the protest group is scheduled to withdraw on March 4th.

Remaining Concerns and Future Action

Despite these gains, workers emphasize that the struggle is not over. A core issue remains unresolved: the incentive system that contributes to low wages. The NHIC has not yet committed to a timeline for the full “transformation of affiliated organizations.” Workers are calling for the NHIC to swiftly implement the agreed-upon conversion, and are urging the government to ensure the corporation upholds its commitments to improve the treatment of non-regular workers.

Recent Insurance Delinquency Issues

Separately, reports indicate that actor Shin Eun-kyung and broadcaster Lee Jin-ho have been listed as high-amount and habitual delinquents in social insurance premiums according to MSN. This is unrelated to the NHIC worker dispute but highlights ongoing issues with insurance premium payments in South Korea.

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