South Korea to Enforce ‘Eight-Week Rule’ for Long-Term Treatment After Minor Car Injuries

South Korea will begin enforcing an “eight-week rule” on Sept. 10 for people receiving treatment after car accidents. Patients with minor injuries such as bruises will need a professional medical review to continue treatment beyond eight weeks.

The Financial Supervisory Service said the measure follows an amendment to the enforcement decree of the Automobile Damage Compensation Guarantee Act. It aims to prevent excessive or prolonged treatment by so-called “fake patients” and reduce insurance payouts that insurers consider unjustified.

Patients classified in injury grades 12 through 14 must submit materials, including a medical certificate and copies of medical records, to the Korea Automobile Damage Compensation Promotion Agency within seven weeks of the accident. The agency will review whether continued treatment is necessary.

The revised system will apply to people involved in accidents from Sept. 10 onward. Those already receiving treatment for accidents that occurred earlier will continue under the existing system, with no treatment-period limit. Pregnant women and children aged seven or younger can also continue treatment without a separate review.

Patients must initially pay costs incurred during the review, such as document-issuance fees. They can later claim those costs from their insurers as part of their insurance benefits. The provided text ends before describing the procedure for patients who disagree with the review result.