If you have been assaulted

If someone hit you, that is a crime. It makes no difference whether it was your boss, a colleague or a family member.

What to do now

1. Get somewhere safe.
2. Call 112. Ask for interpretation. If you cannot speak, text 112.
3. Go to hospital. Go even if you seem unhurt. The medical certificate is the most important evidence.
4. Photograph your injuries — with the date visible, from several angles.
5. Get witnesses' names and contacts.
6. Keep clothing and objects as they are. Do not wash them.
7. Get counselling. The mind takes longer to heal than the body.

What you need

• Medical certificate and records
• Photos of injuries
• The circumstances (date, time, place)
• Witnesses
• Message and conversation records

Where to go

• 112 police (text reporting also works)
• 119 if you need urgent treatment
• 1577-1366 Danuri Helpline (13 languages, 24 hours)
• 1366 women's emergency line
• 132 Korea Legal Aid Corporation (free legal advice)
• 1350 if it happened at work
• Your local support centre for foreign workers

Questions people ask

My boss hit me. Violence at work breaches the Labor Standards Act and is a criminal offence. Tell both 112 and 1350.

I have no valid status. Protecting the victim comes first in assault cases. If worried, get advice through 1577-1366 or a support centre.

They're offering money to settle. Get free advice from 132 before signing. Settling before treatment ends means you cannot claim for later complications.

I'm afraid of retaliation. Tell the police and you can request protective measures. Stay in contact with a support centre.

Take care

Always obtain the medical certificate. Injuries fade with time and become hard to prove. At the hospital, state clearly that you were hurt by being hit.

Related

call-112 · robbery · workplace-harassment · emergency-text

Source

Korean National Police Agency www.police.go.kr / As of 2026-08