[SAMPLE] Decision – Review of Legality of Detention (구속)

서울중앙지방법원 Seoul Central District Court 결 정 DECISION 사 건 2017초기79 구속적부심사 Case No. 2017초-79Type: Review of Legality of Detention 피고인 홍길동 (1965. 11. 7. 생), 무직 Defendant: Hong Gildong (Born…

Drunk Driving and Illegal Lodging Operations: Appellate Court Upholds ₩15 Million Fine for Former President’s Daughter

<Case Brief> Court Seoul Western District CourtCriminal Appellate Division 2-3 Presiding Judge Lim Ki-hwan, Chief Judge Defendant Moon Da-hye (age 43)Daughter of former President Moon Jae-in…

Your Wedding Is Not Marketing Content: Portrait Rights Prevail

<Case Brief> Court Suwon District CourtCivil Division (Single Judge) Presiding Judge Yeon Un-hee Case Number 2025Gadan509766 Decision Date December 18, 2025 Disposition – Partial victory for…

Concealment of a Stillborn Infant Constitutes Abuse of Human Dignity: Korean Court Imposes Prison Sentence

<Case Brief> Court Cheongju District CourtCriminal Division (Single Judge) Presiding Judge Kang Hyun-ho Charges Abandonment and Concealment of a Corpse (사체유기) — Holding Concealing the body…

Inadequate Disclosure: Court Upholds Fair Trade Sanctions Against Airbnb

<Case Summary> Court & Case Seoul High Court, Administrative Division 3 Decision date: January 22, 2026 Case No.: 2024누39419 What Happened The court upheld corrective measures…

GPS Bracelet Violations Send Jo Doo-soon Back to Prison

<Case Summary> Defendant Jo Doo-soon, a convicted child sex offender under post-release supervision. Court & Decision Suwon District Court Ansan Branch, Criminal Division 1 Presiding Judge:…

[SAMPLE] Petition for Leniency (Request Not to Punish) #2

처벌불원 탄원서 Petition for Leniency (Request Not to Punish) — ○ 사  건 : 서울서부지방법원 2000노1000 / 준강제추행Case: Seoul Western District Court, 2000No1000 / Quasi-Indecent Act…

[SAMPLE] Petition for Leniency (Request Not to Punish) #1

처벌불원 탄원서 Petition for Leniency (Request Not to Punish) — ○ 사 건 : 2000고단2000 상습강제추행Case No.: 2000Godan2000 Habitual Indecent Act ○ 탄원인, 피해자 : 김…

Work Stress, Depression Relapse, Suicide: Court Recognizes ‘Line-of-Duty Death’ for Public Official

🔎 Case Summary A South Korean administrative court held that a public official’s suicide, following a relapse and worsening of depression, qualified as a line-of-duty death…

A Partial Conviction: Kim Keon-hee Guilty Only of Influence-Peddling in High-Profile Corruption Trial

Case Summary Kim Keon‑hee, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison after a Seoul court…

Forging a ‘No-Punishment Statement’ Backfires: Prison Term for Manipulating Sentencing Evidence

🔎 Case Summary A defendant who forged a victim’s “no-punishment statement” (처벌불원서) to secure leniency was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment. The court emphasized that tampering…

COVID-19 Assembly Ban Upheld: Supreme Court Finalizes Fines Against KCTU Leader

🔎 Case Summary The Supreme Court finalized fines against Yang Kyung-soo, President of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), and Jeon Jong-deok (then KCTU Secretary-General,…

BTS Wins Again: Appellate Court Upholds Damages Against ‘탈덕수용소,’ Increases Awards for V and Jungkook

What happened: BTS members V (Kim Taehyung) and Jungkook (Jeon Jungkook) won on appeal in their civil damages lawsuit against the operator of the YouTube channel…

[SAMPLE] Criminal Complaint – Crime of Libel

고 소 장 Criminal Complaint — 고소인 Complainant 이 ○ 숙서울 광진구 자양동 11 ○○ 101동 101호 Lee ○-sukUnit 101, Building 101, ○○, 11 Jayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu,…

[SAMPLE] Criminal Complaint – Crime of Fraud

고 소 장 Criminal Complaint — 고소인 Complainant 김 ○ 곤 (540916-1111111)Kim ○-gon (Resident Registration No. 540916-1111111) 용인시 수지구 ○○동 111 ○○○○ 111동 111호Unit 111, Building…

Supreme Court Clears Way for 5·18 Families to Sue the Gov’t for Emotional Damages

What happened South Korea’s Supreme Court en banc held that bereaved families of 5·18 victims still have valid rights to claim consolation money (emotional distress damages)…

Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo Sentenced to 23 Years for Aiding Insurrection

The headline ruling A Seoul court sentenced Han Duck-soo, former Prime Minister, to 23 years in prison for aiding an insurrection and performing key roles in…

Supreme Court Says the State Can Recover Medical Costs for an Inmate’s Self-Harm Treatment

Core holding (Supreme Court): The Korean government can seek reimbursement (recourse) for medical expenses it paid to treat an inmate’s injuries caused by the inmate’s intentional…

Supreme Court Ends ‘Affair’ Narrative: Ex-UN Singer Choi Jung-won Cleared in Divorce-Linked Dispute

What happened: South Korea’s Supreme Court dismissed the ex-husband’s appeal, finalizing the appellate ruling in a divorce dispute tied to public “affair” allegations involving Choi Jung-won…

Yoon Suk Yeol Sentenced to 5 Years for Blocking a CIO Arrest

A Seoul Central District Court panel sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to 5 years in prison for obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant by…

[SAMPLE] Criminal Complaint – Rape of an Incapacitated Person

고 소 장 Criminal Complaint — 1. 고소인 1. Complainant 성명 ○   ○   ○Name: ○   ○   ○ 주민등록번호Resident Registration Number: 주소 ○○시 ○○구 ○○동 ○○○-○○Address: ○○○-○○, ○○-dong, ○○-gu, ○○ City…

[SAMPLE] Criminal Complaint – Occupational Negligence Resulting in Bodily Injury

고 소 장 Criminal Complaint — 1. 고소인 1. Complainant 성명 ○   ○   ○Name: ○   ○   ○ 주민등록번호Resident Registration Number: 주소 ○○시 ○○구 ○○동 ○○○-○○Address: ○○○-○○, ○○-dong, ○○-gu, ○○ City…

Korea’s Tobacco Lawsuit, Round Two: Health Insurer Loses Again After 12-Year Legal Fight

What the case was about: Korea’s National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) sued major tobacco companies seeking about KRW 53.3 billion (₩533억) in damages. NHIS argued the…

Ocean World Drowning: Court Finds Operator, Safety Contractor, and Group Leader Jointly Liable (₩470 Million Award)

🔎 Case Summary A South Korean court held a water park operator, its outsourced safety management company, and a taekwondo academy director jointly liable for the…

When Public Interest Outweighs Silence: Constitutional Court Clears ‘Unanswered Questions’ PD Over Jeong-in Coverage

South Korea’s Constitutional Court unanimously overturned prosecutors’ decision to grant a suspended indictment against an SBS Unanswered Questions (그것이 알고싶다) Producer who broadcast unaltered photos of…

‘You Ruined My Family’ : Court Upholds Prison Sentence for Father-in-Law Who Stabbed Daughter-in-Law

A man in his 70s was sentenced to three years in prison for the attempted murder of his daughter-in-law, with the ruling upheld on appeal. The…

Betrayal Within the Family: Woman Sentenced to Prison for ₩1.1 Billion Fraud Against In-Laws

A woman in her 50s was sentenced on appeal to four years in prison for committing large-scale fraud against her in-laws and acquaintances. The ruling was…

[SAMPLE] Criminal Complaint – Interference with Business

고 소 장 Criminal Complaint — 1. 고소인 1. Complainant 성명 ○   ○   ○Name: ○   ○   ○ 주민등록번호Resident Registration Number: 주소 ○○시 ○○구 ○○동 ○○○-○○Address: ○○-○○, ○○-dong, ○○-gu, ○○-si 직업Occupation:…

[SAMPLE] Criminal Conplaint – Infliction of Bodily Injury

고 소 장 Criminal Complaint — 고소인 Complainant 김○기 (810723-1111111)Kim ○-gi (Resident Registration No. 810723-1111111) 010-7287-**** — 피고소인 Accused 박○민 (800221-1111111)Park ○-min (Resident Registration No. 800221-1111111)…

Affair, Murder, and Concealment: Life Sentence Finalized in Bukhan River Body Disposal Case

South Korea’s Supreme Court has finalized a life sentence for Yang Gwang-jun (39), a former military officer convicted of murder, corpse mutilation, and body disposal. Yang…