The 4th Training Course on Public Pension in Asia/Pacific was held at the Center for International Affairs of the National Pension Service (NPS) from May 29 to June 2, 2017. The training course was co-hosted by the NPS, the OECD/Korea Policy Center (OKPC), the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the UN ESCAP.

The Course aims to help participants to introduce, enhance, and expand their respective countries’ pension schemes by sharing the NPS’ experience in extending the coverage to the majority of the Korean population within 11 years, which is regarded as unprecedently shortest period time taken in the world.

​* In only 11 years, from 1988 to 1999, the coverage has been extended to cover the majority of the Korean population.

​(Time taken in Major economies to implement their pension schemes nationwide : Germany 35 years, U.S.A 33 years, and Japan 20 years)

Twenty-three government officials, policy-decision makers, and pension professionals from fourteen countries in Asia Pacific (Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam) took part in the course.

The five-day training course began with lectures on “Public Pension Schemes of the OECD Members” and “Pension Schemes and Reforms in the Asia-Pacific Region” by experts from the OECD and the UN ESCAP, respectively, and the program was composed of lectures on Qualifications, Coverage and Collection, Benefits, ICT, Pension Fund Management, and Retirement Planning Service. Particularly, a lecture on ICT development in line with implementation and expansion of the National Pension scheme was included to reflect growing interests from participants in the NPS’ ICT technologies.

* ICT: Information and Communications Technologies

Acting Chairperson and CEO Ms. Rhee Won Hee stated at the welcome remarks: “As we celebrate the 30th year since the establishment of the NPS this year and the 30th year since the introduction of the National Pension scheme in 2018, I hope that our experience over the last three decade can contribute to the development of your pension systems and institutions.”