Your rights if you are arrested
You still have rights when arrested. Don't panic — remember the following.
Your rights
- To be told the reason and the offence — they must explain why you are being arrested.
- To appoint a lawyer — if you cannot afford one, you can request a court-appointed lawyer.
- To remain silent.
- To have family or an acquaintance informed — you can name who to contact.
- To have your consulate informed — as a foreign national you can request notification of your embassy.
- To an interpreter.
- To challenge the lawfulness of the arrest — you can request a review.
What to say on the spot
- "I need an interpreter."
- "I want to call a lawyer."
- "Please inform my country's embassy."
- "I want to contact my family."
Memorise these four sentences.
What not to do
- Resisting or running — it makes everything much worse
- Signing documents you did not understand
- Guessing when you answer
- Lying
Where to go
- 132 Korea Legal Aid Corporation (free advice, court-appointed counsel)
- Your country's embassy or consulate
- 1345 Immigration Contact Center
- 1577-1366 Danuri Helpline (13 languages, 24 hours)
- Your local support centre for foreign workers
Questions people ask
I can't afford a lawyer. There is a court-appointed lawyer system. Say "I want a court-appointed lawyer." 132 also gives free advice.
Doesn't informing the embassy work against me? Consular assistance is an internationally guaranteed right. It helps with interpretation, finding a lawyer and contacting family.
I don't know where my family is. A support centre or your embassy can help make contact.
I was caught in an immigration crackdown. That is a different procedure, but you can still request interpretation, a lawyer and consular notification. Ask 1345 and 132 for help.
Take care
Memorise those four sentences now. "I need an interpreter. I want a lawyer. Please inform my embassy. I want to contact my family." Being able to say them changes the outcome.
Related
detained-by-police · lawyer-right · interpreter-right-police · embassy-help-arrest
Source
Korea Legal Aid Corporation www.klac.or.kr / As of 2026-08