South Korean pension service has recovered none of convicted killer's survivor payments
In short
South Korea's National Pension Service has recovered none of the approximately 13 million won in survivor's pension paid to Yi Eun-hae (이은해), whose life sentence for killing her husband was upheld in 2023. The service said recovery is difficult because she is imprisoned and no assets in her name have been identified.
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South Korea's National Pension Service has recovered none of the approximately 13 million won in survivor's pension paid to Yi Eun-hae (이은해), who is serving a life sentence for killing her husband, Korean outlets reported on October 11. The reports cite material obtained from the service and other bodies by Democratic Party lawmaker Gim Gyo-heung (김교흥), a member of the National Assembly's health and welfare committee. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
Yi applied for survivor's pension after her husband's death in 2019 and received approximately 460,000 won a month over 28 months. The service cancelled her entitlement after the Supreme Court upheld her life sentence in 2023. It explained that recovery through asset seizure or compulsory enforcement is difficult because she is imprisoned for a lengthy period and no property in her name has been identified. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
Under the pension rules described in the reports, survivors who deliberately cause the death of a covered person cannot receive survivor's pension, and payments obtained through false or improper means must be recovered. The material showed 34 survivor-pension fraud cases over the past five years, involving approximately 400 million won. About 230 million won had been recovered, with the reported recovery rate standing at 56.3%. Yonhap's accompanying table gives the figures as of the end of June 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
The documents also described a case in which a spouse who had gone overseas in 2001 was falsely reported dead. Approximately 96 million won in survivor's pension was paid over 273 months, and the fraud came to light when the spouse returned in 2023. Gim urged authorities to continue tracing improper recipients and recover all payments so that contributors who faithfully pay their premiums do not suffer harm. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The case is part of a wider recovery shortfall: reported survivor-pension fraud over the past five years totalled about 400 million won, with 56.3% recovered. A lawmaker called for continued tracing and full recovery to protect people who pay pension contributions.
Key facts
- Yi received approximately 460,000 won a month for 28 months after her husband's death in 2019, totalling about 13 million won. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The National Pension Service cancelled her entitlement following the Supreme Court's 2023 judgment. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The service says no assets in her name have been identified, making seizure or compulsory enforcement difficult. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Reported survivor-pension fraud comprised 34 cases over five years, totalling about 400 million won, with approximately 230 million won recovered. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap publishes its October 11 report on the unrecovered pension payments. [ 2 ]