Living in a foreign country can leave newcomers vulnerable, especially when they lack familiarity with the local language, culture or legal system. Women, in particular, face heightened risks of domestic, sexual and other forms of violence.
An October report by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family showed 35,339 counseling cases involving immigrant women who were victims of a crime in 2024 — a steep rise from 9,613 cases in 2020.
The increase suggests more victims are reaching out for help, with consultations related to domestic violence accounting for 35.8 percent, or 12,647 cases.
One recent case drew national outrage in December, when a South Korean man poured boiling water on his Thai wife. Police immediately separated the suspect and placed the victim in a protective shelter, where she is reportedly recovering.
Protecting victims
The enforced separation in the December case was deemed an emergency procedure Level 1 or 2, referring to evicting the possible perpetrator from the residential area or room and a temporary restraining order of 100 meters, respectively. The third level limits access to the victim via phone or email.
These actions can be taken either with the court's approval or at the discretion of law enforcement officers on site, if the case calls for immediate action. The procedures are effective for two months, but can be extended twice if the court decrees it.
If you feel severely threatened in a situation, call police immediately and request such a process. Note that these actions are only taken in emergency situations, with concrete evidence of abuse, such as in the aforementioned case.
As mentioned previously in this series, you have the right to request an interpreter when speaking with police, as well as in subsequent legal proceedings.
Call for help
After contacting police, you should then reach out to the Danuri Call Center (1577-1366), which provides multilingual support for immigrants around the clock. It provides services in Korean, English, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Khmer, Mongolian, Russian, Thai, Lao, Uzbek, Nepali and Japanese.
The Women's Emergency Hotline (1366) is run in Korean, but you can request foreign language service via the Danuri line or directly at this number.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family operates regional counseling centers for immigrant workers victimized by crime in nine major areas. They can be contacted by phone: Seoul at (02) 2038-0173, Incheon at (032) 446-0091, Daegu at (053) 745-4508, Gangwon Province at (033) 244-1366, North Chungcheong Province at (043) 223-5253, South Chungcheong Province at (041) 566-1366, North Jeolla Province at (063) 255-1366, South Jeolla Province at (061) 282-1562 and Jeju Island at (064) 722-6242.
All women victimized by crime can seek help at these centers, regardless of their residential status. They can seek consultation on temporary protections, legal issues and medical help. The protective shelters provide temporary residence for both the victim and her children, while aiding in physical and psychological medical care.
In the nation's capital and most populous city, the Seoul Counseling Center for Migrant Women offers one-stop services ranging across counseling, emergency protection and legal consultation. You can visit the center in person at its new location on the 13th floor of the Seoul Global Center in Jongno, central Seoul. Call (02) 733-0120 or email smf0120@daum.net.
Limits to medical support
As of 2026, undocumented residents are not eligible for extended medical-fee subsidies beyond immediate care due to a 2025 policy revision — a change that immigrant groups say is discriminatory.
Emergency treatment for sex crimes remains available to all, along with a pledge to ensure undocumented victims will receive continued support in such cases, according to the government.
Remember that you can seek help for crimes including assault, rape, stalking and dating violence. Korea's domestic violence, sexual violence and victim protection laws guarantee support for anyone whose daily life has been disrupted by violence — even those without valid immigration documents. If something happens, do not hesitate to reach out to authorities.
