Got Into a Car Accident?

📌 At a glance

If you're in or might be in a car accident in Korea, this note tells you exactly what to do. Save this page or screenshot it before you drive.

1. Quick action sequence — the 10-step list
2. First 3 things — stop, check injuries, prevent second accident
3. Driving a rental car? — special steps
4. What to record at the scene
5. If someone is injured
6. If it's on the highway
7. Your legal duties in Korea
8. Emergency phone numbers
9. Language tips for foreigners
10. What to tell the police
11. Documents you'll need later
12. Things you must NOT do

🔗 Related: [Traffic fines guide] · [Driving rules in Korea]

🆘 Quick action sequence

If you're in shock, just follow this list in order:

1. Stop the car immediately

2. Turn on hazard lights

3. Check if anyone is injured

4. Call 119 (ambulance) or 112 (police)

5. If on highway → also call 1588-2504

6. Contact your rental car company

7. Take photos and videos

8. Exchange info with the other driver

9. File an insurance claim

10. Need translation help? Call 1345 or 1330

👉 Steps 4 and 5: Your rental car company contract may also list specific numbers. Check the contract you got at pickup.

① ② ③ The first three things — do these no matter what

① Stop the car immediately

• ❌ Never leave the scene.
• In Korea, drivers have a legal duty to stop, help victims, and report.
• 👉 If someone is injured and you leave, this becomes a major criminal issue. Even if you're scared or unsure, stay.

📜 Based on Road Traffic Act, Article 54.

② Check for injuries

• Anyone hurt? → Call 119 immediately.
• Signs that need urgent help: unconsciousness, bleeding, complaining of pain, can't walk.

③ Prevent a second accident

• Turn on hazard lights
• Move to a safe spot if possible
• 👉 On highways, get out of the car and move to a safe area off the road. Cars stopped on highways are at high risk of being hit.

🔗 [Download: Korean Emergency Phrase Card + contacts]

🚗 Driving a rental car? Read this carefully

Rental car accidents have stricter rules than personal car accidents. Doing the wrong thing can cost you a lot.

What to do right after the accident

• 📞 Contact the rental car company first or at the same time as emergency services
• 📋 Follow the accident reporting steps in your rental contract
• 📸 If they ask for photos/videos, send them immediately
• 🚛 Towing or repair location → follow company instructions

What NOT to do

• ❌ Repairing the car on your own
• ❌ Towing without company permission
• ❌ Letting an unregistered driver explain the accident
• ❌ Hiding the accident and returning the car quietly

Why this matters

Rental cars are different from personal cars in:

• 🛡️ Insurance coverage limits
• 💰 Self-deductible amounts
• 📅 Loss-of-use compensation (charged for days the car can't be rented)
• 👤 Registered driver verification — only registered drivers are insured

👉 If an unregistered person was driving when the accident happened, the insurance might not cover anything. You'd be personally liable.

📸 What to record at the scene

Must capture

• 📷 Full vehicle photos (yours and theirs)
• 🔍 Close-up of damaged areas
• 🪪 License plate photos
• 🛣️ Road conditions
• 🚦 Traffic signals / signs
• 🎬 Dashcam (블랙박스) footage — save it before it overwrites
• 📝 Accident time and location

Information to exchange with the other driver

• Name
• Phone number
• Car license plate
• Insurance company name
• If possible: driver's license info

⚠️ At the scene — don't do this

• ❌ Don't say things like "It's 100% my fault" — fault is determined later by insurance
• ❌ Don't argue emotionally
• ❌ Don't accept cash settlements on the spot

👉 Korean drivers may push for on-the-spot cash settlement to avoid insurance hassle. Politely decline. Always go through insurance and the police if needed.

🚑 If someone is injured

Even if it looks minor — if anyone says they have pain:

1. 📞 Call 119
2. 📞 Also call 112 (police)
3. 📞 Notify your rental car company / insurance
4. 📋 Keep a record of any hospital visit

⚠️ In Korea, accidents involving personal injury are taken much more seriously than property-only accidents. Procedures are stricter and consequences are heavier.

👉 For foreigners specifically: A traffic accident involving injury can affect your visa status in serious cases (especially if alcohol or no-license driving is involved). Always cooperate fully with police and consider getting legal advice if it escalates.

🛣️ If it's on the highway

⚠️ Highway accidents have a much higher risk of secondary collisions. Stay alert.

Steps

1. 🚨 Turn on hazard lights
2. 🚗 Move to the shoulder if possible
3. 🚶 Get everyone out of the car to a safe area off the road
4. 📞 Call 112 / 119 / 1588-2504
5. 📍 Describe your location:
   • Highway name
   • Direction of travel (e.g., "toward Busan")
   • Nearest IC (interchange) or JC (junction)
   • Kilometer marker post (small green signs along the road)

📜 Source: Korea Expressway Corporation Service Call Center, 1588-2504

📜 Your legal duties in Korea

After an accident, drivers must:

• ✅ Stop immediately
• ✅ Help any injured persons
• ✅ Provide your information to the other party (name, phone, address)
• ✅ Report to police if needed

📜 Based on Road Traffic Act, Article 54.

Can I skip the police report?

• If no one is injured AND the vehicle damage is clear AND road safety is secured → police report is not strictly required.
• BUT for foreigners and rental car drivers → in practice, always notify police OR your insurance / rental company. It's much safer.

👉 If you skip steps and something comes up later, you'll have very little proof to defend yourself with.

📞 Emergency phone numbers

🆘 Emergency

🌐 For foreigners

🚗 If you're in a rental car — also call

• 📞 Your rental car company (immediately)
• 📋 The accident reporting number on your contract
• ⚠️ Don't repair anything without their permission

🗣️ Language tips for foreigners

If your Korean is limited, say one of these first when calling:

🗣️ "English, please."

🗣️ "I am a foreign driver."

🗣️ "Car accident. I need police."

🗣️ "I need an ambulance."

How interpretation actually works

When you say your language to 112 or 119:

1. There's a 5–15 second silence while the dispatcher conferences in an interpreter
2. 👉 Don't hang up during the silence — many foreigners think they got disconnected and hang up. They didn't. Stay on the line.
3. The interpreter joins, and you can speak in your language

Best for accidents

• 119 / 112: Multilingual emergency support available
• 1330: 24/7 — best for general help and 3-way interpretation
• 1345: For immigration-related concerns after the accident (e.g., if your visa might be affected)

👉 Pro tip: You can also send an SMS to 112 or 119 with photos. Useful if you can't speak (injured, hidden, language barrier). The dispatcher will get your GPS automatically.

👉 Also useful: If you're at a hospital or police station and can't communicate with staff, dial 1330, hand your phone to the Korean staff, and let the operator interpret for you.

👮 What to tell the police

When reporting, give them:

• 📍 Accident location
• 🤕 Number of injured people
• 🩹 Severity of injuries
• 🚗 Number of vehicles involved
• 🚧 Whether the road is blocked
• 🔥 Smoke or fire from any vehicle
• 🌐 Whether you need foreign language help

📜 Based on traffic accident reporting requirements (생활법령정보).

📑 Documents you may need later

For insurance and rental company claims, you may need:

• 📷 Accident scene photos
• 🎬 Dashcam footage
• 📋 Rental car contract
• 🔢 Insurance claim number
• 📞 Police report number
• 📜 Traffic Accident Report Certificate (교통사고사실확인원) — issued by police station

👉 Save digital copies. Keep them at least until your insurance claim is fully closed.

🚫 Things you must NEVER do

🎯 Quick summary

If you only remember this:

1. Stop. Hazard lights. Check injuries. That's the first 30 seconds.
2. Call 119 or 112. Even minor accidents — better safe than sorry.
3. Call your rental company. Don't fix or tow anything yourself.
4. Photos. Photos. Photos. Take more than you think you need.
5. Don't say "I'm 100% at fault." Don't take cash settlements.
6. Need translation? Dial 1330 — it's 24/7.

🔗 Save these numbers in your phone before you drive:112 · 119 · 1588-2504 · 1330 · [Your rental company]

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