At a press conference following his appointment, Kim Sung-joo, the head of the National Pension Service of Korea, stated that for the national pension to be universally accessible, it is crucial to reduce gaps in coverage where certain demographics are unable to make contributions. He urged the government to play a more proactive role in providing financial support to those at risk of falling into old-age poverty after retirement. This call for immediate government action highlights the severe urgency to address these blind spots in the national pension system, especially as South Korea is projected to enter an ultra-aging society in 2024.

Currently, around 2.76 million individuals are classified as 'non-payers' due to economic difficulties such as job loss or business cessation. More than 89% of these non-payers cited financial hardship as the primary reason for their inability to contribute. Furthermore, nearly 590,000 individuals are long-term defaulters, having missed contributions for over 13 months. Many of these individuals risk not receiving adequate pensions, or any pension at all, since a minimum contribution period of 10 years is required for eligibility to receive old-age pensions, intensifying the risk of poverty among the elderly population.

Moreover, an additional 6.63 million individuals are excluded from the pension system altogether, including students, conscripts, and stay-at-home spouses. This cumulative situation leaves nearly 1 million people (33.6% of insured individuals aged 18-59) in a precarious position regarding retirement savings. Despite gradual improvements in the system, the relative poverty rate among seniors is concerningly high, with projections indicating that 35.9% of the elderly population will fall below the median income level by 2024, emphasizing the need for immediate reforms in the national pension system to address these widespread vulnerabilities.