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…

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…