First steps when injured at work
What you do right after an injury decides your compensation later. Memorise the order.
Right now
- Get away from the danger. Stop the machine and move somewhere safe.
- Get treatment. If serious, 119. Go to hospital even if you can walk.
- Tell the hospital you were injured at work. It must appear in the records.
- Photograph the site — the machine, the floor, safety guards, whether protective equipment was provided.
- Get witnesses' names and contacts. People often become unreachable later.
- Note the date, time and what you were doing.
- Tell the company — in a message, so there is a record.
What not to do
- Enduring it and carrying on — proving the connection later becomes hard
- Saying something untrue like "I just tripped" — even if the company asks you to
- Signing documents you do not understand
- Taking cash to make it disappear
Afterwards
- File the industrial accident claim with 1588-0075.
- If the company blocks it, file alone.
- Ask a support centre to accompany you.
What you need
- A phone (photos, notes, recording)
- Medical certificate
- Witness contacts
- Labour contract
Where to go
- 119 emergencies
- 1588-0075 Workers' Compensation service
- 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labor
- Your local support centre for foreign workers
- 1345 · 1577-1366 interpretation
Questions people ask
The boss offers to drive me to hospital. That's fine, but at the hospital say yourself that you were injured at work. Don't let the boss explain for you.
It was small so I let it go. It can worsen later. Get a hospital record now and ask 1588-0075.
It's hard to explain in Korean. Write it in a translation app beforehand, or use phone interpretation from 1345 or 1577-1366 at the hospital.
A colleague was injured. Call 119 and photograph the site for them. They may be unable to.
Take care
"An accident claim will cause visa problems" is a lie. Industrial accident insurance is independent of visa status. Record whoever says it and tell 1350.
Related
industrial-accident-basics · industrial-accident-report · accident-employer-refusal · call-119
Source
KOSHA www.kosha.or.kr / Workers' Compensation service www.comwel.or.kr / As of 2026-08