Support for crime victims

Support begins with a report. You can report regardless of your residence status.

What is available

• Counselling and psychological support — for the mental toll of what happened.
• Legal support — free advice and help with litigation. See legal-aid-overview.
• Medical cost support — where treatment costs are heavy.
• Financial support — where your livelihood is affected.
• Personal protection — measures where threats continue.
• Interpretation — during investigation and trial.

The process

1. Call 112 or go to your nearest police station.
2. You may request an interpreter when giving your statement. See interpreter-right-police.
3. Ask 1577-1295 (Crime Victim Support Centre) for counselling.
4. Apply for the support you need — the police, prosecution and support centre are the routes in.
5. Keep your evidence: medical certificates, photographs, messages.

What you need

• Alien registration card
• Evidence (photos, medical certificates, messages, recordings)
• The case reference number given after reporting
• A copy of your bankbook, for financial support

Where to go

• 112 police
• 1577-1295 Crime Victim Support Centre
• 132 Korea Legal Aid Corporation
• 1345 Immigration Contact Centre (interpretation)
• 1366 Women's Emergency Hotline / 1388 youth

Questions people ask

My residence status is precarious — can I still report? You can report being a victim of crime. If you are worried, consult 1345 or a migrant support organisation first. See ngo-support.

I don't speak Korean. You have the right to request an interpreter during the investigation. 1345 can also help.

The offender wants to settle. Always take legal advice before signing. Ask 132. Settlements are hard to undo.

I can't afford treatment. Medical cost support exists. Ask 1577-1295 and the hospital's social work office.

Take care

Evidence disappears with time. Record injuries with photographs and a medical certificate, and threats through messages or recordings, immediately. Don't try to resolve it alone — negotiating directly with the offender is dangerous.

Related

assault-victim · scam-types · legal-aid-overview · interpreter-right-police · police-report

Source

Ministry of Justice www.moj.go.kr / As of 2026-08