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…

Misuse of Police Vehicles and Integrity Duties: Court Upholds One-Month Suspension for Repeated Private Use

<Case Brief> Court Seoul Administrative Court Division / Presiding Judge Administrative Division 6 Presiding Judge: Na Jin-yi Decision Date February 1, 2026 Case Number 2024Guhap83469 —…

No Weekends Off for Constitutional Rights: Korea’s Constitutional Court Strikes Down Ban on Lawyer Access for Detainees

<Case Summary> The Constitutional Court of Korea unanimously ruled that denying a pretrial detainee access to legal counsel on weekends or at night, when the purpose…

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Leading Insurrection

A Korean court has sentenced former President Yoon Suk-yeol to life imprisonment for leading an insurrection related to the December 3 emergency martial law declaration. ⚖️…

[SAMPLE] Statement of Grounds for Appeal – Crime of Indecent Act on Incapacitated Person

항 소 이 유 서 Statement of Grounds for Appeal — 사      건 2000노1111  준강제추행 피  고  인 이 ○ ○ — Case No.2000No1111Indecent Act by…

[SAMPLE] Defense Counsel’s Written Opinion – Crime of Indecent Act in a Crowded Public Place

변호인 의견서 Defense Counsel’s Written Opinion — 사건  2000고정1111 성폭력범죄의처벌등에관한특례법위반(공중밀집장소에서의 추행)Case: 2000Gojung1111 Violation of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes…

Hiring by Unwritten Rules: Court Upholds One-Month Suspension for Preferential Recruitment

<Case Summary> Court & Date Seoul Administrative Court (Administrative Division 8), decision dated November 19, 2025 Key Issue Whether disciplining a senior official for applying undisclosed…

Supreme Court: Merely Notifying Tenants of ‘Priority Interests’ Alone Does Not Discharge a Broker’s Duty of Care

<Case Summary> The Supreme Court of Korea held that a real estate broker cannot be relieved of liability merely by mentioning that priority leasehold interests ‘exist,’…

Supreme Court of Korea: Mere Anxiety After Data Breach Is Not Compensable Damage

<Case Summary> The Supreme Court of Korea held that mere psychological anxiety resulting from a data breach does not constitute compensable damage under the Personal Information…

Helped Illegal Migrants Escape and Injured an Officer, Yet Avoided Prison: Why the Court Chose a Suspended Sentence

🔍 Case at a Glance Who – A 66-year-old factory official (identified as “A”) – A 34-year-old immigration enforcement officer (identified as “B”) What Happened Immigration…

Posting a Child Thief’s Photo Backfired: Store Owner Fined for Emotional Abuse and Defamation

🔍 Case Overview Who Store owner A, operator of an unmanned ice cream shop in Incheon. Child B, an elementary school student (8 years old at…

[SAMPLE] Application for Appointment of Court-Appointed Counsel (aka Public Defender)

국선변호인 선정청구서 (Application for Appointment of Court-Appointed Counsel) 사건번호: 2022노1234 (Case No.: 2022No1234) 죄명: 폭행 (Charge: Assault) [피고인 정보 / Defendant Information] 성명: 스캇마이클 (Name: SCOTT…

[SAMPLE] Decision on Appointment of Interpreter and Translator (for non-Korean Defendants)

서울중앙지방법원 (Seoul Central District Court) 통역 및 번역인 지정결정 (Decision on Appointment of Interpreter and Translator) 사 건: 2022노1234 폭행 등 (Case No.: 2022No1234 / Charge:…

No Shortcut in Medical Practice: Doctor Sanctioned for Unauthorized Blood Collection

<Case Brief> Court Seoul Administrative CourtAdministrative Division 5 Presiding Judge Lee Jeong-won Case Number 2024Guhap88242 Decision Date February 2, 2026 Disposition – Plaintiff’s claim dismissed –…

Curfew Means Curfew: Supreme Court Tightens Interpretation of Ankle Monitor Restrictions

<Case Brief> Court Supreme Court of Korea Division / Presiding Justice Criminal Division 2 Presiding Justice: Park Young-jae Decision Date February 2, 2026 Disposition Reversed and…

From Defector to Drug Kingpin: Court Hands 23-Year Sentence to Southeast Asia–Based Meth Trafficker

🔍 Case Overview Defendant: A woman in her 30s, surnamed Choi. (A North Korean defector who fled to South Korea in 2011.) Core Crime Acted as…

False Rape Accusation Leads to Civil Liability: Court Orders ₩24.4 Million in Damages for Malicious Prosecution

<Case Snapshot> Court: Incheon District Court Bucheon Branch Decision Date: November 27, 2025 Type of Case: Civil damages following criminal conviction for false accusation Damages Awarded:…

Posting False Election Claims on Social Media: A Korean Court Fines Criminal Profiler ₩3 Million

<Case Snapshot> Court: Suwon District Court, Criminal Division 13 Date of Decision: February 5, 2026 Defendant: Lee Soo-jung, local party chair of the People Power Party;…

[SAMPLE] Notice of Extension of Detention (구속) Period

서울중앙지방검찰청 Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office (02) 530-3114 — 2017-1691 Document No.: 2017-1691 수 신 서울구치소장To: Warden, Seoul Detention Center 발 신 서울중앙지방검찰청From: Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office 제 목 구속기간연장통지서Subject: Notice…

[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…