When a call comes in saying your child got hurt at after-school or care class, most parents head straight to the hospital. But an accident during Neulbom (the all-day after-school and care program) hours differs from one during a regular lesson: the place you file the claim can depend on who runs the program. On top of that, the inpatient-fee rule under school safety mutual aid changed on September 15. This article follows the text of the Act on the Prevention of and Compensation for School Safety Accidents and its Enforcement Decree and Rules, and sets out what to check if your child is hurt during Neulbom or after-school hours. The basic notification steps and the three-year limit are in our earlier article, so this one covers what is specific to Neulbom, plus the appeal stages.

Neulbom hours are not excluded from mutual aid

Article 2(4) of the Act defines educational activities as classes, special activities, extracurricular activities and the like carried out "inside or outside the school, under the supervision of the principal, according to the school curriculum or the education plan and policy set by the principal." After-school and care programs are planned and managed by the principal, so they fall within that definition. Article 2 of the Enforcement Decree adds the usual time spent at school before and after educational activities and time spent at school on the principal's instruction. If you are still unsure what Neulbom is, read the differences between care classes, after-school classes and Neulbom school first.

Whether the school runs it or a contractor does can change where you file

The 2026 Neulbom operating plan published by one elementary school in Incheon says that accidents during after-school and care activities are compensated by the School Safety Mutual Aid Association, but that "for outsourced programs, compensation is handled through the insurance the contractor has taken out." The same plan says the contractor is responsible for accidents within program hours and that the school confirms liability insurance before signing the contract. This is one school's plan, and it can differ by city or provincial office of education and by contract. So when an accident happens, ask the teacher in charge "Is this program run directly or outsourced, and do we claim through the mutual aid association or the contractor's insurance?" and keep the answer in a text message or a note.

Medical benefits are based on the patient's share of health insurance costs

Under Article 36(2) of the Act, medical care benefits cover the portion of treatment costs that the person paid under the National Health Insurance Act. The scope is examinations and tests, medication, treatment and surgery, rehabilitation, hospitalization, nursing and transport. Paragraph 4 of the same article also treats as medical care benefits caregiver fees where a medical need for care is recognized, and the cost of prescribing and buying assistive devices such as eyeglasses and hearing aids. Costs of carrying out measures after school violence are in the same paragraph, and we covered them in our article on protective measures for student victims of school violence.

Since September 15, two- and three-bed rooms count as standard rooms

Article 14 of the Enforcement Decree pays room charges at the standard-room rate, and pays for a higher-grade room only when a doctor's opinion made it unavoidable. Previously a room with three beds or fewer counted as higher-grade. The amendment in force from September 15, 2026 now defines only a single room as higher-grade at medical institutions other than clinics and dental hospitals. Under the supplementary provisions it also applies to claims already in progress when it took effect.

The school must explain how to claim, and a decision comes within 14 days

Article 41-2 of the Act, added in January 2025, requires the school to explain the system, including how claims are made and paid, when an accident occurs, and to explain it to the guardian if the student is a minor. A claim form can be submitted either to the school or to the association (Article 3 of the Enforcement Rules). Attach documents that show the reason for the claim; for caregiver fees these are admission confirmation and other medical records plus a physician's opinion on the need for care. The association must decide within 14 days of receiving the claim. It may extend that by 14 days if an investigation is needed, and must give the reasons before the first period ends (Article 41). If the claimant asks, or the association sees a need, part of the benefit may be paid before the decision.

How it overlaps with other insurance and compensation from the other side

Article 45 says that once you receive mutual aid benefits, the state, the subscribing school and others are released from other statutory liability up to that amount, and conversely that if you have already received equivalent compensation under another law, no mutual aid is paid within that range. If compensation was paid under the Automobile Accident Compensation Guarantee Act, mutual aid is not paid (Article 43(1)(3)). Where an accident was caused by the student's intent or gross negligence, or by a third party's intent or negligence, the association may claim the amount it paid from the person responsible or that person's guardian (Article 44(1)). You cannot collect twice, so decide which route to claim through and then proceed.

If you are refused, 90 days is the benchmark and there are two stages

If the association refuses payment or the amount is too small, file a request for review with the School Safety Mutual Aid Compensation Review Committee within 90 days of learning of the decision. The committee must decide within 60 days, and may extend once by up to one month (Articles 57 and 59). You can request a second review within 90 days of receiving the written decision (Article 61), and if you still disagree, a lawsuit must be filed within 60 days (Article 64). If you miss the deadline, the decision is treated as agreed (Articles 60 and 64).

Summary of what to check after an accident during Neulbom hours

First, tell the teacher in charge of the program on the day and ask whether it is run directly or outsourced. Second, put the claim route (mutual aid association or contractor insurance) in a text message. Third, collect medical receipts and proof of admission. Fourth, if you hear nothing 14 days after claiming, ask the association how the claim is going. If you are worried about securing a care place, see also our article on care-class waitlist priority. This article is general information compiled from statute text and public materials and does not replace legal advice or a decision on any individual accident. Check the latest text at the National Law Information Center, and file through your city or provincial School Safety Mutual Aid Association.