Medical care after domestic violence

Don't say "I fell". Only the truth creates a record.

When you go to hospital

1. Get examined. Internal injuries can exist even when you look fine.
2. Say honestly that you were hit. Medical staff are bound by confidentiality.
3. Photograph injuries from several angles, with the date visible.
4. Obtain a medical certificate — needed for later legal steps. See medical-certificate.
5. Keep the receipts as well.

Support available

• Medical cost support — schemes exist for domestic violence victims.
• Shelter — safe temporary accommodation. See dv-shelter.
• Legal support — protection orders, divorce, custody. See dv-legal-support.
• Psychological counselling — for you and your children.
• Child protection — a child witnessing violence is itself child abuse. See child-abuse-report.
• Residence advice — check your options after divorce. See f6-divorce-stay.

If you are in danger now

1. Call 112. If speaking is difficult, you can report by text.
2. Contact 1366 (24 hours, multilingual).
3. Move somewhere safe and ask to be referred to a shelter.
4. Take your passport, residence card, bankbook and medication if you can.
5. Children can be protected with you.

Where to go

• 112 police (emergency, text reporting available)
• 1366 Women's Emergency Hotline (24 hours, multilingual)
• 1577-1366 Danuri Call Centre (13 languages)
• 129 Health and Welfare Call Centre
• 132 Korea Legal Aid Corporation

Questions people ask

Will reporting cost me my residence status? Reporting violence is a separate matter. There are often routes to remain after a divorce. Check with 1345 and 1577-1366. See f6-divorce-stay.

My spouse says "report me and you'll be sent home". That is a threat. A spouse has no such power. Verify the facts with 1577-1366.

I'm enduring it for the children. Witnessing violence is itself harmful to a child and can constitute child abuse. Start with counselling.

I have no evidence. Medical records are evidence. Start now — go to hospital and photograph the injuries.

Take care

Saying "I fell" at the hospital leaves no record. Telling the truth is what protects you later. If you share a phone or accounts with the perpetrator, your counselling contacts may be exposed — use a safe device.

Related

domestic-violence-emergency · dv-shelter · dv-legal-support · sexual-violence-support · medical-certificate

Source

Ministry of Gender Equality and Family www.mogef.go.kr / As of 2026-08