Korean Job Discussion Forums

milkweedma · Joined: 15 Dec 2006

I was driving my car today (i have no licence, registration or insurance) and an older guy slammed into my drivers side door on a scooter.
He's in hospital with broken ribs, abrasions and cuts. It's totally his fault. The cops told me "no driving in Korea for 12 months" as punishment.
Problem is, i will be sued for hospital bills whether he has or doesn't have medical insurance.
Should i leave the country shortly or pay 3,4 or 5 million won as and when it's decided in 2 weeks time?
What would you do?
Cheers.

Gnawbert · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Location: The Internet

What would I do? I'd stick it out, pay the bills, and deal with the headaches. Bummer about the costs, but you did choose to drive w/o all the stuff that could have prevented such a situation, or at least lessened it.

chipsbebo · Joined: 26 Apr 2009 Location: The Rainy Island

If you leave will you be chased? 1 year off the road seems like a light enough penalty to pay for having no licence or insurance?

GoldMember · Joined: 24 Oct 2006

No its totally YOUR FAULT. You have no licence registration or insurance, you should not be on the road in the first place. In a lot of other countries you'd be sitting in a cell right now, lucky for you the police and legal system here is a joke.

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

Oh, get off it. The accident's not his fault. Driving without a license is stupid, of course, as is driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle; however, that does not relieve the other driver of the duty to drive responsibly.

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

I say, next time you have an accident, get out of the car, and immediately shout 'DOG BABY'.

Walk towards him in a threatening manner and shout loudly. if he shouts, shout louder.

When the police come, make sure the other man is not hear, and shout louder. As soon as only your side is heard, you are right. If need be, hire a local grandfather with a loud voice to shout for you and make sure to slip him a few chuns to call the other guy a few animal baby variants.

Ruraljuror · Joined: 08 Dec 2007

Time to leave the country.

You don't have a license. In the eyes of the law, you are wrong. It's kinda like if you were driving drunk, but happened to get into an accident that was not your fault...you would get the book thrown at you no matter how in the right you were.

If you were in your home country and you heard about a foreigner driving around with no license, registration, or insurance, how would you feel about it?

poeticjustice · Joined: 28 Feb 2009

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

I'm amazed they didn't grab your passport.

saw6436 · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon, ROK

In ANY accident between a car and a scooter or car and pedestrian the driver of the car is ALWAYS at fault. Screwed-up but that is the Korean system.

My wife was hit by a drunk driver. Her car was pushed into another car. Conclusion. The DD was liable for 80% of the damage to my wifes car. My wife was liable for 20% damage to her car. My wife was liable for 80% damage to the 3rd car. That cars owner was liable for 20% damage.
Just by BEING ON THE ROAD you assume some liability. One of the reasons you never want to hit an expensive car here. Lucky this is that the DD tried to flee Korea and got caught. Then he became 100% liable for BOTH cars and his own.

As to not having a license. No sympathy from me, and I drove 3 years without a DL (I did have insurance and registration though).

IlIlNine · Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Location: Gunpo, Gyonggi, SoKo

... I guess it just depends on how long you've been here and what ties you have to the place. If you're acting in such a reckless manner, probably not much.

If you're just a 1st or 2nd year newbie, I would leave.

You're looking at a lot of money owed.

1) his scooter (well, this'll be the cheapest thing to fix) 500,000 if you're lucky

2) his medical expenses. He'll be in the hospital for a while with broken ribs... he'll basically be milking it for all the system's worth. You're looking at something in the range of 10,000,000 .

3) any sort of legal issues with your car -- it's possible they won't push the issue -- but if they do, you're looking at millions worth of fines.

It's not that difficult to get a cheap legal car (they're sold on this website all the time!) - and if you can't pay the ~600,000 a year for decent insurance and registration fees, well -- in the end it's not all that much is it?

You make your choices, and you get what's coming...

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

Run! And don't get caught! Don't do the crime if you can't do the time!

travelingfool · Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Location: Parents' basement

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul