“Human Trash” Said in a Hospital Ward Argument Is Not Criminal Insult, Supreme Court Rules
In what is now the sixth significant insult ruling of 2026, the Supreme Court has overturned a conviction for calling a fellow patient “human trash” during…
Right to a Lawyer in the Room: Supreme Court Rules Private University Dismissal Was Void for Denying Legal Representation
In its first explicit ruling on the subject, the Supreme Court has held that private university faculty members have the right to have their lawyer present…
Forced Back to Work After Brain Hemorrhage, He Died: Court Rules Early Return Was Industrial Accident
A worker who survived a brain hemorrhage, expressed reluctance to return to work due to ongoing physical impairment, was nonetheless called back by his employer due…
Psy Criminally Fined ₩5 Million for Obtaining Prescription Sedatives Without In-Person Consultation
Korean singer Psy (Park Jae-sang) has been criminally fined ₩5 million after being found to have obtained prescriptions for psychotropic sleep and anxiety medications without attending…
Commentary on the ‘Crime of Distortion of Law’ (법왜곡죄) under Article 123-2 of the Criminal Act
1. Legislative Background and History A. Debate on the Need to Introduce the Crime of Distortion of Law (법왜곡죄) The crime of distortion of law (beopwaegok-joe;…
Constitutional Complaints Against Court Judgments (재판소원) in South Korea
1. Overview and History A. Meaning of a Constitutional Complaint Against a Court Judgment A constitutional complaint against a court judgment (재판소원) is a mechanism by…
Procedure for the Recommendation and Appointment of Supreme Court Justices (대법관) in South Korea
1. Constitutional Basis Article 104(2) of the Constitution provides that “The Justices of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of…
Withdrawal of Indictment (공소취소) in South Korea: A Detailed Commentary
1. Concept of Withdrawal of Indictment Withdrawal of indictment is a procedural act by which the prosecutor retracts, before the court, an indictment that has already…
South Korea Abolishes the Prosecutors’ Office on October 2: Background and What Changes
Key takeaways Starting October 2, 2026, South Korea’s Prosecutors’ Office (Geomchalcheong) will be abolished. The Public Prosecution Service (Gongsocheong), under the Ministry of Justice, which will…
Hospital That Turned Away Emergency Patient Before His Death Loses Final Appeal: Administrative Sanctions Upheld
Korea’s Supreme Court has confirmed that a hospital’s decision to refuse an emergency patient — a teenager who later died after being turned away by multiple…
“I Thought It Was Security Tokens”: Taiwanese Man in His Seventies Gets Six Years for Smuggling 5.1 kg of Methamphetamine into Korea
A Taiwanese national who arrived at Gimhae International Airport carrying over five kilograms of methamphetamine in a suitcase — while claiming he believed it contained security…
The Manager Is Responsible Too: Supreme Court Confirms Care Home Director’s Conviction for Fall Death
A care home director acquitted at trial has had a conviction confirmed by the Supreme Court — with the court finding that systemic failures in fall…
The F-6 Marriage Visa in South Korea: Every Requirement You Need to Know
As of 2024, well over 180,000 foreign spouses live in South Korea as marriage immigrants — the official term for people who relocated there because they…
“Gangster (양아치) Supports a Gangster (양아치)”: Online Comment About a Public Figure Escapes Criminal Insult Conviction
In its fifth significant ruling this year on the limits of criminal insult, the Supreme Court has overturned a conviction for a comment posted on a…
Towel in the Mouth of a Suicidal Drunk Detainee: Police and Firefighters Acquitted by Jury
Two police officers and two firefighters charged with negligent homicide after a drunk woman died following their attempt to stop her from biting off her own…
Private Rooms, Public Concern: Supreme Court Rules Room Cafes Are Off-Limits to Minors
A room cafe operator who allowed teenagers into his establishment — consisting of 16 private booths furnished with mattresses and pillows — has had his acquittal…
₩17 Million and a Smartwatch Camera: Soldier Who Sold Military Secrets to China Gets Four Years
A Korean Army sergeant who leaked classified military materials — including documents related to ROK-US combined exercises — to a Chinese intelligence operative over seven months…
Born in Korea but Invisible on Paper: Constitutional Court Rules Failure to Provide Birth Registration for Foreign Children Is Unconstitutional
In only the second ruling of its kind since the Constitutional Court was established, Korea’s Constitutional Court has found that the complete absence of legislation providing…
Drone Flew to North Korea, but Treason Charge Fails: Graduate Student Convicted Only of Aviation Law Violation
A graduate student who built drones and flew them across the military demarcation line into North Korean airspace on four occasions has been acquitted of general…
Twenty Years of Smoking Did Not Cause This Alone: Metal Worker’s Lung Cancer Death Recognized as Industrial Accident
A metal worker who spent over thirteen years cutting and grinding steel and aluminum in an unventilated underground workspace — and died of lung cancer —…
Knowing About the Verdict Is Not Enough: The Appeal Clock Starts Only When You Know It Was Served by Public Notice
A defendant who learned that judgment had been entered against him — but did not know the judgment had been served through public notice rather than…
Fake Stabbing Threat at Yatap Station Costs Poster ₩14.84 Million: Korea’s First Civil Judgment Against an Online Threat Maker
A man who posted a fake mass stabbing threat online — triggering the deployment of armored vehicles, special forces units, and 529 police officers over nearly…
Fell Out of a Golf Cart Drinking Water: No Caddie Fault, but the Golf Course Still Pays
A golfer who lost her balance and fell from a moving golf cart while drinking water has won damages against the golf course operator — even…
Military Employee Who Refused Superior’s Order Citing “Time to Go Home” Wins Reversal of Salary Reduction Penalty
Court and Division: Seoul Administrative Court, Administrative Division 12 Presiding Judge: Kang Jae-won Case Type: Action to revoke disciplinary action Decision: Plaintiff’s claim upheld Factual Background…
Drug Club Investigation Gone Too Far: Supreme Court Confirms Charges Thrown Out for Unlawful Prosecutorial Investigation
Two members of a Seoul university drug ring — including a licensed physician — have had their narcotics convictions permanently overturned because the prosecutor who charged…
Nippon Steel Ordered to Pay ₩80 Million to Forced Labor Victim’s Family: Supreme Court Confirms
Korea’s Supreme Court has confirmed a damages award against Nippon Steel Corporation in favor of the bereaved family of a wartime forced labor victim — and…
A Deathbed Confession Leads to a ₩30 Million Verdict: Wife Sues Late Husband’s Affair Partner
A woman whose husband confessed to a seven-year affair on his deathbed has won a civil damages claim against his affair partner — a woman who…
Burned by Hot Ginger Tea, But the Cafe Doesn’t Have to Pay: Court Rules Accident Alone Doesn’t Prove Negligence
A customer who suffered second-degree burns after hot ginger tea spilled from a disposable cup has lost her damages claim against the café — with the…
The Fear of Being Exposed Is Harm Enough: Courts Award Damages for Deepfake Creation Even Without Distribution
Two Korean civil courts have now ruled that a victim of deepfake sexual imagery is entitled to compensation for psychological suffering caused by the existence of…
“She’s on Medication for Depression”: Professor Criminally Fined for Disclosing Student’s Mental Health Treatment
A university professor who told another student that his advisee was receiving treatment for depression has been convicted of defamation — with the court finding that…
Landlord Who Knew His Motel Was Used for Prostitution Must Forfeit All Rent Collected, Supreme Court Rules
A building owner who continued renting his motel to a tenant he knew was running a prostitution operation cannot keep the rent he received during that…
Drowned While Horsing Around Without a Life Jacket—Facility Held 25% Liable
Factual Background A, a 27-year-old male gym trainer in Daegu, went with coworkers to a wakeboarding facility in July 2021 around 10 a.m. At the dock,…
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