This article covers what to do after an assault in Korea. It includes community experience and general guidance. If you are in immediate danger, call 112. For sensitive support needs, please also contact your embassy or a local support organization.
A thread in the EEIK community shared a case in which a foreign tourist was stalked into her Hongdae accommodation and assaulted in daylight. The poster helped her report it. The suspect was caught about a month later. The thread drew 76 responses — part support, part practical advice for anyone who might face a similar situation.
This article draws on that experience to answer the questions that came up most often.
Can Foreigners Report an Assault in Korea?
Yes. Foreign nationals — including tourists — can file a police report in Korea. Language is not a legal barrier to reporting.
Korean police can use translation apps for initial communication, and official translators can be arranged for formal statements at the station. The process described in the original EEIK thread took approximately one hour from arrival at the police station to completion of the report.
How to Call the Police in Korea
Call 112 for police. When the operator answers, say “English please” — this can get you connected to an English-speaking operator or initiate interpreter arrangements.
112 is for emergencies and active incidents. If the situation has already passed and you need to file a report, you can go directly to your nearest police station. Having a Korean-speaking friend accompany you is helpful but not required.
What to Do Immediately After an Assault
The steps that matter most in the first hour:
- Get to a safe place. Leave the location if it is not secure.
- Call 112 if the threat is active or you need immediate police response.
- Do not clean up or change clothes before a medical examination if sexual assault occurred — evidence preservation matters for the case.
- Document everything you can. Take photos of the location, note the time, and write down what happened while details are fresh.
- Tell someone. A friend, your accommodation host, or anyone nearby who can stay with you.
At the Police Station
Korean police have translation tools and can arrange official interpreters for formal statement-taking. The community experience described in the thread was largely positive — police took the report seriously, used translation support, and processed the statement within an hour.
That said, community members also shared mixed experiences across different situations and regions. If you feel your report is not being taken seriously, ask to speak with a senior officer, request your embassy contact, or follow up in writing.
After filing, ask for a case number and the name or ID of the officer handling your report. These are important for any follow-up.
Your Embassy or Consulate
Your country’s embassy or consulate can provide consular support, connect you with local legal resources, and help you follow up on a case after leaving Korea. This is particularly important for tourists who need to return home before a case is resolved.
Most embassies in Seoul have emergency contact lines. Look up your specific embassy’s contact details in advance and keep them accessible — this applies before you ever need them.
After Leaving Korea
Cases can continue after you leave. If you need to follow up, your embassy can assist with communication. It may also be possible to designate a local representative or lawyer to receive case updates on your behalf. Korean cases can take time to move through investigation, prosecution, and court stages.
Keep all documentation — your case number, the date and details of the report, and any communication from police or prosecutors.
Support Resources in Korea
- 112 — Police emergency line. Say “English please” for language support.
- 1366 — Women’s crisis hotline (Korean). Can connect to support services.
- 한사성 — NGO supporting women’s rights and legal assistance in criminal and civil cases. Korean-language only, but can support formal processes.
- Your embassy — For consular support, legal referrals, and case follow-up from abroad.
A Note on Safety in Korea
Korea has a reputation as a safe country, and by many measures it is. But safe does not mean risk-free, and the EEIK community’s honest position — reflected across the 76 responses in this thread — is that safety requires awareness, not just reassurance.
Reporting matters. It creates a record, it can lead to accountability, and it contributes to the community’s overall safety. The original poster’s decision to help their friend report led to the suspect being caught within a month.
If something happens to you or someone you know, the process is more accessible than many people assume.