Workplace Injury (산재) — Compensation for Foreign Workers in Korea

1. ·The Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act applies to businesses employing workers and covers work-related injury, illness, disability or death; coverage does not depend on the worker’s nationality or visa status.
2. ·Even if the employer failed to enrol the business or pay premiums — and even for undocumented workers — the injured worker can still receive benefits from COMWEL.
3. ·Benefits include medical care benefit (요양급여), temporary layoff benefit (휴업급여, a portion of average wage while unable to work), disability benefit (장해급여) and survivors’ benefit (유족급여).
4. ·You file the claim with COMWEL (근로복지공단), which decides based on whether the injury is work-related — not on the employer’s agreement.
5. ·This industrial-accident system is separate from, and usually more favourable than, a private settlement offered by the employer.

1. ·You are a worker (근로자) — employed under someone’s direction, regardless of visa.
2. ·The injury or illness is related to your work.

1. 1Get medical treatment immediately and tell the hospital it is a work-related injury (산재).
2. 2Record how, when and where it happened; keep names of witnesses and photos.
3. 3File a medical-care benefit claim (요양급여 신청) with COMWEL (근로복지공단, 1588-0075) — do not rely on the employer to do it.
4. 4Do not sign a private “settlement” waiving your rights before understanding your 산재 entitlements.
5. 5If the employer pressures you or you were undocumented, seek help — coverage still applies; contact a labor attorney (노무사) or a migrant worker center.

Korea Workers’ Compensation & Welfare Service (근로복지공단, COMWEL, 1588-0075).

1. ·Assuming you are not covered because of your visa/undocumented status.
2. ·Letting the employer “handle it” privately instead of claiming 산재.
3. ·Signing a low settlement that waives statutory benefits.