South Korea

What offence is committed by leaving an accident scene?

Up to 5 years
Maximum imprisonment
20M KRW
Max fine
24 hours
Reporting deadline
Article 51
Road Traffic Act
The Short Answer

Leaving an accident scene without reporting or assisting injured persons is a criminal offence under South Korea’s Road Traffic Act, punishable by up to 5 years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to 20 million KRW.

What the Law Says

South Korean law strictly prohibits drivers from leaving the scene of a traffic accident without fulfilling legal duties — including stopping, reporting, and providing assistance.

Under the Road Traffic Act, any driver involved in a traffic accident must immediately stop their vehicle, report the incident to police or local authorities, and provide necessary aid to injured persons. Failure to do so constitutes a criminal offence.

The law applies regardless of fault or severity — even minor collisions require compliance. Leaving before fulfilling these duties is treated as 'failure to perform duty after traffic accident', a serious violation with strict penalties.

Drivers must report the accident within 24 hours if no injuries occurred, but if injuries or death result, immediate reporting and on-site assistance are mandatory.

Statutory Text

A person who causes a traffic accident shall immediately stop the vehicle and take necessary measures such as protecting the scene, rescuing injured persons, and reporting to the competent authority.

— Road Traffic Act, Art. 51 — Duty After Accident
Statutory Text

Any person who fails to perform the duty prescribed in Article 51… shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than five years or a fine not exceeding 20 million won.

— Road Traffic Act, Art. 133 — Penalty

What to Do

1

Stop your vehicle immediately at the scene.

2

Check for injuries and call emergency services (119) if needed.

3

Report the accident to police (112) without delay — immediately if injuries occurred.

4

Remain at the scene until authorities arrive or lawful release is granted.

5

Exchange contact and insurance information with other parties, if safe and appropriate.

Sources

statuteRoad Traffic Act, Art. 51 — Duty After AccidentstatuteRoad Traffic Act, Art. 133 — Penalty

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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.