My luggage was lost. What is the liability limit?

What the Law Says

South Korean law sets clear limits on airline liability for lost or damaged checked baggage. The Aviation Business Act governs passenger rights, including compensation for baggage loss.

Airlines operating in South Korea must compensate passengers for lost, damaged, or delayed checked baggage, but only up to a statutory limit unless the passenger declares a higher value before check-in and pays an additional fee.

The law presumes baggage is lost if it is not delivered within 21 days after the date it should have been delivered. Passengers must report delayed or missing baggage to the airline within 7 days of arrival to preserve their right to claim.

Compensation is capped at ₩1.5 million per passenger, regardless of actual value — unless the passenger declared a higher value in writing at check-in and paid the required supplementary fee.

Statutory Text

In the case of loss, damage or delay of checked baggage, the air carrier shall be liable up to one million five hundred thousand won per passenger, unless the passenger has declared a higher value in writing at the time of check-in and paid the supplementary fee prescribed by Presidential Decree.

— Aviation Business Act, Article 104 — Liability for Loss, Damage or Delay of Checked Baggage

What to Do

Sources