Harassed or Assaulted While Traveling in Korea: What to Do, Step by Step

No one plans for this part of a trip. But over the years I've taken consultations from travelers — people with a return flight in a few days, shaken, and convinced that being a foreigner meant nothing could be done. That belief is wrong, and it is exactly what lets these things go unanswered. If you are harassed or assaulted while visiting Korea, you have the same legal protection as anyone in this country. This guide — the first in my legal tips series for travelers — walks through what to do, step by step, in plain English. I'm a Korean attorney in Seoul who works with foreign clients in English, and nothing in this post is drawn from any individual case.

Who do I call first?

Your safety comes first — move to a safe, populated place. Then know these three numbers. 112 is the police emergency line; interpretation can be arranged for foreign callers. 1330 is the 24-hour Korea Travel Hotline, which offers help in multiple languages and can bridge communication when you're overwhelmed. 1366 is the women's emergency hotline. Save all three in your phone now, at the start of your trip — not after something happens.

What should I preserve?

Evidence ages fastest in the first days. Keep every message, photo, and receipt connected to the incident; write down the time, the exact place, and how to reach any witnesses while memory is fresh. If the incident happened at a bar, hotel, or store, ask the venue — politely but immediately — to preserve their CCTV footage, and note that you've asked; recordings are commonly overwritten within days to weeks. In cases of physical assault, do not wash the clothes you were wearing, and try to see a doctor before showering if you can. I know that is a hard instruction to read. It matters.

Where can I get medical help and evidence collection in one place?

Korea operates one-stop support centers for victims of sexual violence, established by statute and commonly called Sunflower Centers (haebaragi centers, Act on the Prevention of Sexual Violence and Protection of Victims, Article 18). They combine medical care, counseling, forensic evidence collection, and investigative support in one place, typically attached to major hospitals, and interpretation can be arranged. If you are unsure where the nearest one is, 1330 or 1366 can direct you.

Do I have to speak to the police in Korean?

No. You can ask for an interpreter for your statement, and you should — even if your Korean is conversational. The written record of your statement will be in Korean, and once you sign it, it becomes your account. Have it read back through the interpreter from the beginning, and ask for corrections before signing anything that doesn't match what you said.

What if my flight leaves in a few days?

This is the question travelers ask most, and the answer is the most important thing in this guide: leaving Korea does not end the case. File the report before you depart if at all possible — reporting from Korea, with the evidence fresh, is far stronger than reporting from abroad. After that, you can authorize a Korean attorney to follow the investigation, receive updates, and act on your behalf while you are back home. Investigations do not require you to remain in the country, and additional statements can often be arranged in ways that account for your departure. What genuinely weakens a case is not your flight home — it is the days of silence before anyone is told.

One more thing

Reporting a crime as a victim does not put your travel status in question, and being a visitor does not make your account count for less. If it happened to you, it was not your fault — and it is worth reporting, even with a suitcase already packed.

If this happened to you or someone traveling with you, you can reach me in English through the contact form at lawyerseoul.com — including after you've returned home.

Jaewon Lee, Attorney at Law (Joye Law)

#Korea travel safety
#tourist rights Korea
Sunflower Center
#Korean lawyer English