Supreme Court: Golf Course Designs Can Be Copyrighted Works

In a landmark intellectual property ruling, Korea’s Supreme Court held that golf course layouts and design drawings can qualify as copyrighted works, overturning a lower court…

‘You’re Hired.’ Four Minutes Later: ‘Actually, You’re Not…’ — Korean Court Calls It Unfair Dismissal

A recent decision from the Seoul Administrative Court confirms that once an employer notifies a candidate of acceptance, a valid employment relationship may already exist. Canceling…

Korean Supreme Court Recognizes Attorney–Client Privilege, Restricts Prosecutors’ Seizure of Legal Advice

Court: Supreme Court of KoreaCase: 2024모730 Key Ruling Background of the Case The Search and Seizure Dispute Lower Court Decision The trial court ruled that the…

Korean Supreme Court Upholds 3-Year Prison Sentence for Father Who Attempted Family Suicide

Court: Supreme Court of KoreaCase: 2025도17980Decision Date: January 15, 2026 Key Facts The Suicide Attempts Lower Court Decisions Appeal and Supreme Court Ruling Legal Takeaway Article:…

Korean Court Orders Former Kindergarten Staff to Pay Damages for Online ‘Mom Cafe’ Post

Court: Daegu District CourtCase: 2025가단1549 Key Facts Background Criminal Case Civil Court Decision The Daegu District Court held that B’s actions constituted an unlawful act that…

[SAMPLE] Complaint for Damages (Tort)

소 장 COMPLAINT 원 고 위 원고들 주소 : 서울 ○○구 ○○동 1-1 위 원고 4는 미성년자이므로법정대리인 친권자 부 ○ ○ ○, 모 ○ ○ ○…

[SAMPLE] Certified Notice Letter

내 용 증 명 CERTIFIED NOTICE LETTER 발 신 인 김 성 ○서울 도봉구 ○○동 555 ○○빌라 101010-7777-9999 Sender:Kim Sung ○101, ○○ Villa, 555 ○○-dong, Dobong-gu,…

Korean Court Upholds Refusal to Change Passport Surname from “LEE” to “YI”

Court: Seoul Administrative CourtCase: 2025구합54991Decision Date: December 18, 2025 — Key Facts A Korean citizen (identified as Mr. Lee) filed a lawsuit seeking to change the…

Korean Supreme Court: Calling Someone an “X-Man” Is Not Criminal Insult

Court: Supreme Court of KoreaCase: 2023도8410Decision Date: January 29, 2026 — Key Facts The dispute arose among residents involved in organizing an incoming apartment residents’ committee…

Korean Court Orders Parents to Pay Damages After Middle School Student Assaults Friend’s Mother

Case Summary A Korean court ruled that the parents of a middle school student must pay approximately 23 million KRW (about $17,000–$18,000 USD) in damages after…

Doctor Gets 6 Years in Prison for Killing 36-Week Newborn After Illegal Abortion

A Korean court has sentenced a hospital director and surgeon to prison after they delivered a 36-week fetus by cesarean section and then killed the newborn,…

South Korea’s Supreme Court Upholds Prison Sentence for Brother of TV Star Park Soo-hong in Multi-Billion Won Embezzlement Case

A high-profile family financial dispute involving Korean television personality Park Soo-hong has reached its final chapter. The Supreme Court of Korea upheld a prison sentence for…

[SAMPLE] Complaint – Action Seeking Revocation of Business Suspension Disposition

소 장 COMPLAINT 신 청 인 ○ ○ ○ (주민등록번호)○○시 ○○구 ○○동 ○○○의 45(전화 02-000-0000, 팩스 02-000-0000) Plaintiff (Applicant):○ ○ ○ (Resident Registration No.)45, ○○○-dong, ○○-gu,…

[SAMPLE] Last Will and Testament

유 언 증 서 (자필) LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT (Holographic) 유언자 서울시 ○○구 ○○동 ○번지 ○○직업 박○○는 0000. . . 유언자 본인 자택에서 다음과 같이 유언한다.…

Supreme Court: ₩100 Million Penalty for Unlicensed Driving Accident Is Not Excessive

In a significant ruling on auto insurance liability, Korea’s Supreme Court held that a driver who caused an accident while driving without a license may be…

Supreme Court: Deleting Company Data for Self-Defense Is Not Automatically Evidence Destruction

In a significant ruling on obstruction and corporate investigations, Korea’s Supreme Court held that deleting company materials to protect oneself from potential criminal liability does not…

Expired Medicine, Real Consequences: Court Upholds 1.5-Month License Suspension for Korean Medicine Doctor

A Korean court has ruled that prescribing medication past its expiration date justifies a 1 month and 15 day license suspension, even when no patient harm…

Trade Secret Crimes: Supreme Court Rules ‘Use’ and ‘Acquisition/Disclosure’ Must Be Judged Separately

In a major semiconductor trade secret case involving leaked Samsung technology, the Korean Supreme Court clarified an important criminal law principle: > Using a trade secret…

Court Upholds 12-Hour Special Education Order for Teacher-Parent Who Verbally Abused Child’s Homeroom Teacher

A Korean court has ruled that a teacher-parent who verbally attacked their child’s homeroom teacher over a performance evaluation must complete 12 hours of special education,…

[SAMPLE] Application for Release on Bail – Groping an Intoxicated Person

보 석 허 가 청 구 APPLICATION FOR RELEASE ON BAIL 사 건 0000노0000 준강제추행 Case No.: 0000No0000 – Quasi-Indecent Assault 피 고 인 하 ○…

[SAMPLE] Statement of Grounds for Appeal – The Crime of Obstruction of Official Duties

항 소 이 유 서 STATEMENT OF GROUNDS FOR APPEAL 사 건 0000노0000 공무집행방해 Case No.: 0000No0000 – Obstruction of Official Duties 피 고 인 박…

Court Orders Government to Pay ₩15 Million to ‘Busan Roundhouse Kick’ Victim

A Korean court has ruled that the State must compensate the victim of the notorious Busan “roundhouse kick” assault, finding investigative failures by authorities. — 🧾…

Calling a Coworker ‘Crazy’ Isn’t Workplace Bullying — If There’s No Power Imbalance, Court Says

A Korean court has ruled that even harsh insults between coworkers do not automatically qualify as workplace bullying if there is no hierarchical or relational superiority…

Married Military Prosecutor’s Romantic Confession to Junior Officer Upheld as Sexual Harassment — 3-Month Pay Cut Stands

A court has upheld disciplinary action against a married military prosecutor who expressed romantic feelings toward a junior female officer, ruling that a three-month salary reduction…

Found at a Convenience Store, Worn Like It Was His: Cartier Watch Case Ends in ₩1 Million Fine

A man who picked up a luxury watch left on a convenience store outdoor table and walked away wearing it has been convicted of misappropriation of…

Submitting Bank Account Data in Court Is Not Automatically a Privacy Crime — Supreme Court Clarifies Scope of ‘Recipient’ Under PIPA

Korea’s Supreme Court has ruled that submitting bank account information as part of court filings does not automatically constitute a violation of the Personal Information Protection…

Involuntary Psychiatric Admission in South Korea: A Procedural Guide

This guide explains Administrative Admission and Protective Admissionunder Korean mental health law, based on official procedures of theNational Center for Mental Health. It is written for…

Types of Sexual Offenses in South Korea: A Text-Based Flowchart

STEP 1. Was there any sexual act or sexual exploitation? Includes: Sexual intercourse Sexual touching Sexual exploitation, filming, or inducement Acts infringing sexual self-determination → NO➜…

Unleashed Greyhound Causes Fatal Bicycle Crash — Owner Sentenced to 1 Year 10 Months in Prison

A Korean court has sentenced a dog owner to prison after an unleashed greyhound ran into a cyclist, causing a crash that led to the cyclist’s…

Court Orders Telecom Company to Pay Damages After Leased Router Sparks Fatal Apartment Fire

<Case Summary> A Seoul apartment fire that killed a grandfather (70s) and his 7-year-old grandson was traced to an internet router installed inside the building’s entryway…