Types of Parking Violations (in Korea)

Above is what a (motor vehicle) parking ticket/citation looks like in Korea. Interestingly, Korean parking tickets kindly outline the 12 possible stop/parking violations subject to an administrative fine…

Divorce Law in Korea

[Example Situation] Mr. and Mrs. Yoon have been married for over 10 years. They have a daughter in elementary school. One fateful day, Mrs. Yoon stumbles…

Is it Legal to Secretly Record a Conversation (in Korea)?

In Korea, it is legal to secretly record a conversation if you yourself are a party to it. Otherwise, it’s illegal (and a crime). The pertaining…

What to do after a Car Accident (in Korea)

[Example Situation] Jason has bought a new car, and he is driving it for the first time in Korea. Today, he is exploring the immediate neighborhood. While exiting an alley,…

[STORY] Seo Ji-won

Seo Ji-won was a beloved Korean singer (male/solo artist) from the mid 90s. Seo’s first album came out in October 1994. Above was his debut song “Another…

Your Guide to Self-Defense (in Korea)

[Example Situation] John lives alone on the 3rd floor of a small one-room (Korean) villa / apartment. Today is a weekday, but he’s called in sick. Before having…

Crimes of Larceny under Korean Law

“Larceny” is a ten-dollar word. It means “theft.” Let me talk briefly about “Crimes of Larceny” (절도의 죄) under Korean law. In 2012, there were 293,074 reported cases of…

Criminal Records under Korean Law

Sample Criminal Record Above is what a Korean “criminal record” (범죄경력자료) looks like (when requested by the police). Do not worry; it is a made-up record of a fictitious…

Bicycle Law in Korea

I recently read in the news that a total of 126 people died (2009-2012) as a result of bicycle-related traffic accidents just in Seoul, Korea. There were almost…

Prenups under Korean Law

True or false? “There is such thing as a ‘prenuptial agreement’ under Korean law.” The statement is true. But, the question itself is a trick question (sorry). Let me tell…

‘De Facto Marriage’ under Korean Law

[Seoul Family Court: Decision of July 19, 2013, 2012Neuhap144, A “Property Division” Case] I. Main Characters: Yin & Yang (Note: Fictitious names) 1. Mr. Yin: Korean, male, age 75,…

Disposition of Non-Indictment (under Korean Law)

Let’s say you know a crime has been committed (in Korea). You can take action by: 1) Filing a criminal complaint (고소): If you are the…

Congratulatory Money in Korean Weddings

When attending a wedding in Korea, it is customary to prepare/give money as gift. This is called “congratulatory money” (축의금). Usually, such money is prepared in…

Personality Rights under Korean Law

In Korea, it is generally understood that Articles 10 and 17 of the Korean Constitution (대한민국헌법) guarantee an individual’s so-called personality rights (초상권). Article 10 deals with “the…

Crosswalks and Pedestrian Safety (in Korea)

Pedestrian Crossing Signals (보행신호등) In Korea, pedestrian crossing signals usually go like this: Red → Green → Green (flashing) → Red. Of course, red means, “Do…

The Crime of ‘Instigating Abortion’ in South Korea

The Crime of “Abortion” (and Other Related Crimes) Jisun is faced with an unplanned pregnancy. Her longtime boyfriend Jinho is the father. Unsure of how Jinho will respond, she informs him via text message. Jinho’s heart…

Korean Law on Murder

Earlier this month, a man was found stabbed to death at a noraebang near Konkuk University (Subway) Station, an area regarded as one of Seoul’s top nightlife destinations. All this instantly became…

Crimes Against Reputation (in South Korea)

Earlier this year, a man in Korea was indicted for defamation and other crimes after he posted explicit images of his one-night stand online. This particular case stood out…

Korean Law on Rape

In Korea, criminal law can be tricky and confusing because several different laws come into play simultaneously. Korea’s rape laws are a good example. There are…

Drunk Driving in Korea

Driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05% or higher constitutes drunk driving in Korea. It takes around three shots of soju for an adult to attain a BAC of…