How to file an industrial accident claim
You can file the claim yourself. No employer stamp or consent is required.
Steps
- Get treatment first. Tell the hospital you want it handled as an industrial accident.
- Complete the medical care benefit application, available at www.comwel.or.kr or at the hospital.
- Get the doctor's opinion (medical certificate), stating the circumstances and diagnosis.
- Submit it to the Workers' Compensation service in person, by post or online.
- The service investigates — workplace checks, witness statements.
- Once approved, medical costs are paid by the service.
- Apply for absence benefit for the period you cannot work.
What you need
- Passport and Alien Registration Card, if any
- The medical care benefit application
- Medical certificate and treatment records
- A statement of the circumstances (when, where, doing what)
- Witness names and contacts
- Labour contract and pay records
- Site photos
Where to go
- 1588-0075 Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service · www.comwel.or.kr
- Your nearest branch
- 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labor
- Your local support centre for foreign workers (accompaniment and interpretation)
- 132 Korea Legal Aid Corporation
Questions people ask
I can't fill in the form in Korean. Support centres for foreign workers help you write it and go with you, free of charge. You can also request interpretation from the service.
The company won't stamp it. It is accepted even with the employer section blank. The service verifies directly.
The hospital says it isn't an industrial accident. You can be examined at another hospital. Ask the service to point you to a designated medical institution.
How long does it take? It varies by case. Ask your case officer about progress.
Take care
There is a filing deadline. The longer you wait, the harder it is to prove the connection to work. Keep records from the day of the injury and file as early as you can. Never sign a company document you do not understand.
Related
industrial-accident-basics · industrial-accident-benefits · accident-employer-refusal · occupational-disease
Source
Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service www.comwel.or.kr / As of 2026-08