German pension refund for Koreans: eligibility, bilateral agreement, and claim process.
South Korea and Germany have a bilateral Social Security Agreement. If you worked in Germany as a Korean citizen and contributed fewer than 60 months, you can likely reclaim your pension contributions after returning to Korea. The agreement can combine Korean and German months toward the 60-month threshold. Average refund across 3,500+ cases: EUR 12,926.
“Got €16,400 back. Camilo kept me updated every step.”
James T. · Canada
What to check first
Country pages should narrow the likely route, not replace the full refund review.
The first job is orientation: current residence, voluntary contribution questions, waiting periods and document readiness still need to be checked together.
Current residence outside Germany still matters first
Country intent usually starts with residence context, because that can change which pension route is more realistic.
The 24-month rule and the broader contribution history remain core
A country page should never imply that nationality or current location alone decides the outcome.
Document and transfer details matter early in cross-border cases
Identity documents, current address details and payout handling often shape how smoothly a case can move after the fit is clear.
The Korea-Germany Social Security Agreement and your refund eligibility.
The bilateral agreement allows contribution months from both countries to be combined toward the 60-month pension threshold. Under 60 combined months and now living in South Korea: a refund is generally possible 24 months after your last German contribution. Over 60 months: a regular German pension may be more relevant. Fundsback handles the entire process digitally and in English.
Common questions that usually come up on country pages
Who can claim a pension refund?
Pension refund is usually relevant for people who paid into the German pension system, may not fit the standard pension path and want to check whether reclaiming contributions makes more sense than waiting for regular retirement benefits.
ExploreDo I have to wait 24 months for a pension refund?
In many refund cases, the 24-month gap after your last mandatory contribution is part of the timing logic. The exact fit still depends on your insurance history and whether another pension route is more relevant, so it should be checked in context first.
ExploreReady to move from country-specific research into the actual refund path?
Use the country page to get the first orientation right, then continue into Pension Refund or contact if the case needs more human guidance.
