Navigate Your Foreigner Traffic Accident Korea: A Step-by-Step Guide

It’s complicated enough in your own country, but if a foreigner is involved in a traffic accident in Korea, “insurance/police/hospital” matter—but the very first priority is always ‘safety (preventing secondary accidents) + aiding the injured.’ Today, I’ll walk you through the same flow recommended by the Korea Non-Life Insurance Association (Foreigner Traffic Accident Korea Response Guide). (accident.knia.or.kr) Below is what you should do in order, by situation.

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Step 0: Three things you must do immediately (common)

1. Turn on hazard lights and secure safety: If possible, move to the shoulder/a safe place, set up a warning triangle, and evacuate people outside the guardrail (accident.knia.or.kr)
2. Check for injuries: If there is a serious injury/reduced consciousness/bleeding, call 119 first (accident.knia.or.kr)
3. Secure photos/videos of the scene, vehicles, and road: Accident location, signals/signs, damaged areas, license plates, and preserve dashcam footage (accident.knia.or.kr)

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1) When you should call the police (112) first

If any of the following applies, prioritize calling 112.

• Someone is injured (including minor pain)
• The other party flees/refuses insurance/refuses to verify identity
• Suspected DUI or unlicensed driving, or fault is heavily disputed
• Damage to property other than vehicles (guardrail/facilities), or a road hazard occurs

Police/legal guidance also emphasizes the duties to stop, provide aid, and report in the event of an accident. (smpa.go.kr)

Tip: With 112, it’s faster if you clearly state only “accident location (street name/landmark), whether there are injuries, and whether lanes are blocked.”

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2) File an insurance claim “immediately after securing/clearing the scene”

After securing safety + contacting 112/119 (if needed),

4. Report the accident to your insurer (most operate 24/7)
5. Confirm/request the other party’s insurer as well (if the other party cooperates, share claim/report numbers with each other)

The Korea Non-Life Insurance Association’s response guide also follows the flow of police report (if needed) → insurance claim filing. (accident.knia.or.kr)

What you must exchange on the spot

• The other party’s name/contact, license plate number, and insurer
• (If possible) Check their driver’s license
• Witness contact information

⚠️ Don’t say things like “It’s 100% my fault” as an on-site settlement. It’s safest to have fault determined through insurance/investigation.

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3) Go to the hospital quickly—even if you don’t feel pain (especially for injury accidents)

6. Get medical treatment (ideally the same day or as soon as possible)

• It’s common to feel fine right after the accident and feel pain the next day, so medical records are extremely important.
• To receive treatment through the other party’s insurance, you usually need a bodily-injury claim (a bodily-injury claim number), and guidance explains that hospitals record your case using that number. (Naver Pay)

Important

• If the other party insists, “It’s minor, so I can’t open a bodily-injury claim,” practical guidance also notes that after securing a diagnosis/medical opinion, reporting to the police can help. (Naver Pay)

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One-line summary of the “correct order” by situation

A) Someone is injured

Safety measures → 119 → 112 → photos/evidence → file insurance claim → hospital (secure medical records) (accident.knia.or.kr)

B) No one is injured, minor fender-bender (seems settleable)

Safety measures → photos/evidence → file insurance claim (both sides) → (if needed) 112 (accident.knia.or.kr)

C) The other party flees/refuses insurance/argues about fault

Safety measures → 112 → evidence (plate number/video/witnesses) → file insurance claim (smpa.go.kr)

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On-site checklist (save this for Foreigner Traffic Accident Korea)

• Hazard lights/warning triangle/evacuate (prevent secondary accidents) (accident.knia.or.kr)
• If there are injured people, call 119 (accident.knia.or.kr)
• If there’s a dispute/injury/hit-and-run, call 112 (smpa.go.kr)
• Photos/videos (wide → close-up → plate → signals/signs) (accident.knia.or.kr)
• Secure claim/report numbers (your insurance/the other party’s insurance) (accident.knia.or.kr)
• Leave medical records (bodily-injury claim number) (Naver Pay)

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