Traffic Accidents in Korea: A Foreigner's Step-by-Step Guide

A car accident is stressful anywhere. In Korea, the added pressure of language, unfamiliar police procedures, and insurance paperwork makes it harder. This guide explains what to do after a gyotong sago (traffic accident) in Korea, whether you are a driver, passenger, cyclist, or pedestrian. It covers the police report, the insurance claim, and your compensation rights as a foreign resident.

The rules apply to everyone on Korean roads, including holders of D-2, D-10, E-7, F-2, F-4, F-5, and F-6 visas. Your visa status does not remove your legal protections after a crash.

What should you do first after a traffic accident in Korea?

Stop immediately and turn on your hazard lights. Check everyone for injuries. Call 119 for an ambulance and 112 for the police. Do not move injured people unless traffic makes it dangerous. Photograph the scene, car positions, and license plates before vehicles move. Leaving an injury accident scene is a serious crime in Korea, even for foreign drivers with a valid license.

Secure the scene and gather evidence

Move to safety, but photograph first if you can do it without risk. Take wide shots of the road, close shots of the damage, and pictures of both license plates. If there are witnesses, ask for a phone number. Many Korean drivers use dashcams, and dashcam footage is strong evidence in fault decisions. The Korea Road Traffic Authority publishes safety and reporting guidance for road users.

Korea driver license for foreigners

When you must call the police

Minor scratches with no injury can sometimes be settled between drivers and insurers. But you must involve the police if there are injuries, a hit-and-run, drunk driving, or a serious dispute over fault. When in doubt, call 112. The Korean National Police Agency operates emergency lines with interpretation support for foreign callers.

How do you file a traffic accident police report in Korea?

Call 112 at the scene, or visit the nearest police station to file later. Officers record statements, photograph the scene, and issue a case number. This is the traffic accident report procedure in Korea. Report injury accidents as soon as possible, ideally within 72 hours, so medical and insurance claims are valid. Keep the case number, you will need it for every later step.

The reporting process step by step

The gyotong sago report usually follows this order:

1. Call 112 or go to a gyeongchalseo (police station) with jurisdiction over the accident site.
2. Give your statement. You may request an interpreter, which is a right, not a favor.
3. Officers review dashcam footage, photos, and witness accounts.
4. Police assign a preliminary fault ratio and issue a case number.
5. Insurers of both sides take over the financial settlement.

Under the Guarantee of Automobile Accident Compensation Act, every motor vehicle owner must carry mandatory liability insurance, and victims are entitled to compensation for bodily injury.

You can read the English statute summaries at MOLEG, the Ministry of Government Legislation. If you were a pedestrian or cyclist hit by a car, the same reporting steps protect your claim.

Korea emergency numbers foreigners

What documents do you need for a police report and insurance claim?

Bring your ARC (Alien Registration Card), your Korean or international driver license, and your car insurance certificate. For the claim, add the police case number, scene photos, dashcam footage, repair estimates, and any hospital records or receipts. These are the core traffic accident police report required documents in Korea. Keep both originals and copies, and note the other driver’s name, plate, and insurer.

Checklist of required documents

• ARC (Alien Registration Card), issued through Hi Korea and the Korea Immigration Service.
• Driver license: a Korean license, or a valid foreign or international driving permit.
• Vehicle insurance certificate showing your policy number.
• Police case number from the report.
• Medical records and receipts if you were treated.
• Bank account details for compensation transfer.

If you were treated in a hospital, the National Health Insurance Service may cover part of the cost, but auto insurers usually pay accident-related medical bills first. Keep every receipt so nothing is double-charged.

How does a car insurance claim work for foreigners?

After the police report, contact your insurer’s claim line and give the case number. The insurer assigns an adjuster who inspects damage and confirms the fault ratio. A car insurance claim as a foreigner in Korea works the same as for citizens. Most insurers offer English support. Payment covers repairs, medical costs, and lost income, based on the agreed fault split between the two parties.

Fault ratios and comprehensive insurance

Korean claims are settled by a fault ratio, for example 80 to 20. The at-fault side’s insurer pays the larger share. Most drivers carry jonghap bohom (comprehensive auto insurance), which combines mandatory liability with optional damage cover. The Financial Supervisory Service oversees insurers and runs a dispute mediation channel if you disagree with a settlement.

If the insurers disagree

If you feel the fault ratio is unfair, you can request review through your insurer, then escalate to the Financial Supervisory Service. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport also sets automobile compensation policy. Do not sign a final settlement until you understand the numbers. Ask for the agreement in writing and, if needed, an English explanation.

NHIS health insurance for foreigners

What if you are at fault, and can foreigners still get compensation?

Being the at-fault driver in an accident in Korea does not cancel your rights. Your comprehensive insurance pays the other party, and your own optional cover may pay your repairs. Accident compensation eligibility for foreigners is based on residence and insurance, not nationality. Injured foreign passengers and pedestrians can claim too. In a hit-and-run, a government-backed program can still compensate victims for bodily injury.

At-fault situations and penalties

If you caused the crash, expect a higher premium at renewal and, for serious cases, possible fines or points. Drunk driving, phone use, or fleeing raise the stakes sharply. Cooperate fully with the Korean National Police Agency. Honest cooperation protects your record and, indirectly, your visa standing with the Korea Immigration Service.

Compensation when the other driver is uninsured or flees

Korea runs a government guarantee program for victims of hit-and-run or uninsured vehicles, funded under the Guarantee of Automobile Accident Compensation Act. Foreign residents are eligible for bodily-injury compensation on the same terms as citizens. General civil-service and cross-agency information is available at Government24. File your police report quickly, because these claims need a documented case number.

A note on your visa

An ordinary accident, even one where you are at fault, is a civil and traffic matter, not an immigration violation. It does not directly affect a D-2, E-7, F-2, or F-6 visa. Serious criminal offenses, such as drunk driving with injury, are different and can affect residency. When unsure, check your status through Hi Korea.