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In danger 112 · Injured 119 · Interpreter 1345

112119
I am facing domestic violence

Step 5 of 6

Taking legal steps

Do this now

  1. 1Apply for free legal advice on 132
  2. 2Do not rush divorce or custody — take advice
  3. 3You can take time over whether to press charges

What to prepare

  • All records of the violence
  • Marriage and children documents
  • Police report records
  • Counselling records
  • Whether you need an interpreter

There is no need to rush. You can decide after you are safe.

Free help

  • Korea Legal Aid Corporation, 132 — free advice and litigation support, interpreter available.
  • Migrant women's rights organisations — free counselling, referral to legal support, accompaniment.
  • Multicultural family support centres — counselling, interpretation, referrals.
  • 1366 — start here when you don't know where to go.

What a consultation covers

  • Divorce process — by agreement or through the court.
  • Custody and child support — who raises the children, and how costs are met.
  • Division of property and compensation.
  • Criminal charges — whether to seek punishment for the violence.
  • Residence status — how all of this connects to your stay.

These are tangled together. Don't decide one in isolation — discuss the whole picture.

If you are pressed to decide

  • Don't be moved by "if you don't sign now it will go badly for you."
  • Never sign papers handed to you by your spouse or their family without reading them.
  • If you don't understand, say you will read it again with an interpreter.
  • Once signed, it is hard to undo.

It is fine to hesitate over charges

Whether to seek punishment is your decision. You do not have to decide now. But keep the records now — if you change your mind later and there is nothing, it becomes hard.

Source

Korea Legal Aid Corporation www.klac.or.kr · Ministry of Gender Equality and Family www.mogef.go.kr / As of 2026-08

Say it like this

  • 무료 법률 상담을 받고 싶습니다. 통역도 부탁드립니다.

    muryo beopryul sangdam-eul batgo sipseumnida. tong-yeok-do butakdeurimnida.

    I would like free legal advice, with an interpreter please.

  • 이 서류는 지금 서명하지 않겠습니다.

    i seoryu-neun jigeum seomyeong-haji anketseumnida.

    I will not sign this document now.

  • 통역과 함께 다시 읽어보겠습니다.

    tong-yeok-gwa hamkke dasi ilgeobogetseumnida.

    I will read it again with an interpreter.

Take care

Never sign papers from your spouse's family without an interpreter. Divorce or custody may be at stake.

Where to go

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