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Special appeal window nears its end
SEOUL, South Korea — South Koreans seeking a review of earlier COVID-19 vaccine injury compensation decisions must submit a special appeal by Oct. 23, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said.
The temporary process applies to people whose claims were decided before a special compensation law took effect on Oct. 23, 2025. It allows eligible cases to be reconsidered under broader standards, including provisions that may presume a connection between vaccination and an adverse reaction when specified conditions are met.
Of 75,792 previous decisions potentially eligible for review, 2,265 appeals had been filed as of Oct. 11, 2026, according to the agency. That represents 3% of the total, though the government said the figure for eligible decisions includes duplicates.
KDCA Commissioner Lim Seung-kwan urged eligible applicants to review the required documents and file promptly. Appeals submitted after Oct. 23 will not be accepted or considered by the special law’s review committee.
Who can apply
The special appeal is available to people who received a COVID-19 vaccine injury compensation decision under South Korea’s Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act before the new law took effect. It covers vaccinations administered under the country’s temporary COVID-19 vaccination program from Feb. 26, 2021, through June 30, 2024.
Applicants may use the process only once. People who challenged an earlier decision in court and already received a final judgment are excluded.
Those who received compensation decisions after the special law took effect are subject to the standard appeals process instead. They generally must appeal within 90 days of receiving notice of the decision.
How to file
The vaccinated person or a surviving family member must apply in person at the local public health center responsible for the vaccinated person’s registered address. If the vaccinated person has died, eligible relatives may also be able to file at the public health center serving their own address.
Applicants must submit an official appeal form and a consent form for simplified notifications. They may include additional evidence supporting their claims. Anyone seeking compensation for expenses not included in the original application must also provide relevant medical records, diagnoses and original receipts.
Local health authorities conduct an initial review before sending the case to the KDCA. A review committee then considers the appeal, and the agency makes the final compensation decision.
Instructions are available on the KDCA website at www.kdca.go.kr under the COVID-19 special compensation law section. Applicants may also contact their local public health center or the agency’s compensation review support team at 043-719-6842.
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