Your child's Korean father stopped answering: what to do in the first week

When messages stop being read and calls go unanswered, it is easy to panic or to want to tell the whole world. This guide is about the first week: small, safe steps that keep every legal option open for your child.

1. Do not delete anything, and do not argue

Old chats, photos and voice messages are often the strongest proof that you had a relationship and that he knew about the child. Do not delete chats, even painful ones, and do not "unsend" your own messages. If he blocks you, the history usually stays on your phone, so keep it.

Avoid long arguments or threats. Messages you send can be read by a court too.

2. Make two copies of your evidence

Save screenshots and exports in two places, for example a cloud account only you can open and a USB stick or a second phone. Collect:

• His full name (in Korean letters if you have it), date of birth, and any ID or passport details he gave you
• His phone numbers and accounts (KakaoTalk, LINE, Facebook, Instagram, Zalo) and the date each one stopped working
• Messages, photos of you together, travel dates and money transfers he sent
• Pregnancy and hospital records, especially if he came with you
• Your child's birth certificate

You do not need his address to start. These details help legal aid and the court find him through official channels.

3. Keep it private: do not post his name or photo

It is tempting to post his face in "find the father" groups. Please don't. In Korea, publicly stating even true facts that damage someone's reputation can be a crime under Article 307(1) of the Criminal Act, punishable by up to 2 years in prison or a fine of up to 5 million won. Posting also warns him, can make him hide money, and can be used against you in court.

Be careful of anyone who offers to "find the father" for a fee paid in advance. Real legal aid and support groups do not ask for large upfront payments.

4. Talk to free help in your language

• Danuri Helpline 1577-1366 (Korea): open 24 hours, 365 days, in 13 languages including English, Tagalog and Vietnamese. It is for migrants and multicultural families in Korea, but family or friends in Korea can call for information.
• Korea Legal Aid Corporation 132 (Korea): free or low-cost legal help for people with household income at or below 125% of the national median income, including foreign residents of Korea.
• The Korean embassy or consulate in your country: ask about family-registration paperwork. Korean embassies accept family-registration reports from Koreans abroad.

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5. Know the two roads ahead

• If he answers again: he can recognize the child voluntarily by filing an acknowledgment report (임의인지). This is the fastest and cheapest route.
• If he stays silent or refuses: the child, or you as legal representative, can file a case for acknowledgment in the Korean family court where he lives, usually together with a claim for child support. If he denies being the father, the court can order a DNA test.

Both roads are explained in the 6 steps.

Your first-week checklist

Sources

• Civil Act Art. 863-864: suit for acknowledgment (summary)
• Supreme Court 2001Meu1353: the right to acknowledgment cannot be waived (summary)
• Family Litigation Act Art. 26: court where the father lives (summary)
• Family Litigation Act Art. 67: DNA test orders and sanctions (summary)
• Criminal Act Art. 307(1): defamation by stating facts
• Danuri Helpline hours and languages (Ministry of Gender Equality and Family)
• Korea Legal Aid eligibility: 125% of median income, including foreign residents
• Family registration reports at Korean embassies (Act Art. 20, Rules Art. 40)

Sources last checked 2026-11-03. This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; confirm with legal aid or a lawyer before acting. Start with the 6 steps or find where to get help.

Found a mistake?

If anything here is wrong or out of date, email us at [email protected]. Please do not send personal information about anyone. We cannot give advice on individual cases.