South KoreaWhat is employer liability?
Employer liability in South Korea means employers are legally responsible for damages caused by employees while performing work duties, as defined under the Civil Act.
What the Law Says
South Korean law holds employers strictly liable for harm caused by employees acting within the scope of their duties.
Under the Civil Act, an employer is liable for damages caused by an employee's actions performed in the course of employment — even if the employer was not personally negligent.
This is called 'strict liability' — meaning the victim does not need to prove the employer failed to supervise or hire carefully. It applies only when the harmful act occurred during a 'work-related act', i.e., an activity connected to the employee’s assigned duties or reasonably foreseeable in the workplace.
The injured party has three years from the time they become aware of both the damage and the identity of the liable employer to file a claim.
Statutory TextAn employer shall be liable for damages caused by an employee in the course of performing his/her duties.
— Civil Act, s. 756 — Employer's Liability
What to Do
Confirm the harmful act occurred during the employee’s work duties or was closely related to them.
Gather evidence (e.g., witness statements, work logs, surveillance footage) linking the act to employment.
File a civil claim against the employer within 3 years of discovering the damage and liable party.
Consider consulting a Korean-licensed attorney to assess whether the act falls within 'course of duty' under s. 756.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.