Tips for Using Insurance During Seol Holiday... Car Insurance, Travel Insurance, and More

The General Insurance Association Discloses Useful Insurance Information for Seol Holiday

A and B, who are close friends and from the same hometown, decided to go back to their hometown together during this Lunar New Year holiday by riding in A’s car. Since the one-way driving time takes more than 5 hours, B agreed to take turns driving A’s car. However, there is concern about potential problems if B causes an accident. What should they do?

In this case, if they have subscribed to the 'Short-term Driver Extension Rider' in their car insurance, B can drive without any issues. The coverage is effective only from 24:00 on the subscription start date to 24:00 on the end date, so they must subscribe at least the day before handing over the steering wheel. It is important to note that if a driver who is not included in the driver scope defined by this rider drives the car, insurance coverage may not apply.

On the 27th, two days before Chuseok, the nation's biggest holiday, vehicles carrying returning holidaymakers are moving on the southbound lanes of the Gyeongbu Expressway as seen from the air. [Aerial filming cooperation=Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Aviation Unit, Pilots: Lieutenant Shin Seung-ho - Lieutenant Park Ji-hwan, Crew: Lieutenant Park Sang-jin] Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The General Insurance Association of Korea released useful insurance information for the Lunar New Year holiday on the 7th.

During the holiday, the 'Other Vehicle Driving Rider' can also be helpful when driving a different vehicle. This applies to vehicles of the same type as the insured vehicle (passenger car ↔ passenger car, some small vans, cargo trucks under 1 ton) that are not owned by the insured or their family members (parents, spouse, children). If you do not have car insurance for the vehicle you intend to drive, you can purchase 'One-day Car Insurance' by selecting the coverage period in units of one day (some companies offer hourly coverage).

Unexpected car troubles such as battery discharge, fuel depletion, or tire punctures may occur during the Lunar New Year holiday. In such cases, you can contact the car insurance company of the vehicle and request 24-hour emergency dispatch service to receive prompt assistance. Services include emergency towing, emergency refueling, battery charging, tire puncture repair or replacement, and unlocking services.

What should you do if a traffic accident occurs? To prevent secondary accidents, turn on the hazard lights and set up a safety triangle or flare to alert following vehicles of the accident. Also, quickly move to a safe place outside the guardrail or another secure location. Use a smartphone or other device to carefully photograph the accident vehicle and scene, and if possible, secure witnesses (contact information of bystanders) and obtain dashcam footage from nearby vehicles. Report the accident to the insurance company’s call center and notify the police to receive assistance.

If you are curious about the fault ratio in a car accident occurring during the holiday, it is helpful to check the fault ratio recognition standards on the 'Fault Ratio Information Portal' operated by the General Insurance Association of Korea. The fault ratio recognition standards listed here are the only officially recognized domestic standards created with reference to court precedents, laws, and dispute mediation cases, indicating the degree of responsibility of the perpetrator and victim in a traffic accident.

During the Lunar New Year holiday, other safety accidents besides car accidents frequently occur. Personal Liability Insurance covers compensation for damages caused to others’ bodies or property due to unexpected accidents during daily life. It is usually included as a rider in accident insurance, home fire insurance, or children’s insurance offered by insurance companies, so it is advisable to check your insurance policy details. For example, if the insured causes a contact accident while pushing a car double-parked in front of their vehicle, repair costs for the damaged vehicle can be compensated. Also, if a pet bites another person or pet during a walk, treatment costs can be covered. If a child damages someone else’s mobile phone while playing at a playground, repair costs can also be compensated.

Travel Insurance provides coverage for various accidents occurring during domestic and international travel. If you receive treatment at medical institutions in Korea or abroad for injuries or illnesses incurred during overseas travel, treatment costs can be reimbursed. Repair costs can be compensated for accidental damage (excluding loss) to personal belongings owned, used, or managed by the insured during the trip. In case of flight or baggage cancellations or delays, expenses for meals, accommodation, transportation, and essential items due to baggage delay or loss can also be covered.

Civil Safety Insurance is a group insurance independently subscribed to by local governments (cities, counties, districts) to prepare for various disasters or accidents occurring in daily life. It pays insurance benefits for various accident damages to local residents. Since most local governments have recently subscribed to Civil Safety Insurance for their residents, if you experience an unexpected accident, it is necessary to inquire about compensation eligibility with your local government or the insurance company with which the local government has subscribed.