Legal Fees
We tell you the cost from the start.
It does not suddenly grow mid-case.
An exact quote follows a review of your case. The price you are told at the consultation is the price — it does not change at signing.
How legal fees work in Korea
Korean litigation fees typically have two parts. The retainer (착수금) is paid when you engage the firm and covers the work of running your case. A success fee (성공보수), agreed in writing before you sign, is paid only if the outcome defined in your engagement letter is achieved. Both are set out in your engagement letter before you commit — nothing is added mid-case.
Retainer ranges
| Practice area | Retainer range | Depends on |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal defense | ₩4,000,000 – ₩10,000,000 | stage of the case and factual complexity |
| Divorce & family | ₩4,000,000 – ₩7,000,000 | property division and custody issues |
| Civil (loans & contract disputes) | from ₩3,000,000 | claim amount and difficulty of proof |
| Real estate & lease | ₩3,000,000 – ₩6,000,000 | type of dispute |
Retainer amounts are subject to VAT (10%), which is not included in the figures above. The consultation fee below includes VAT.
Where your case falls within a range depends on its stage, its complexity, and the scope of work — including work conducted in English. The exact figure is quoted in writing before you sign.
Consultation — 30 minutes, ₩100,000 (approx. US$70), VAT included
The same fee whichever language you speak, Korean or English. Every consultation is conducted by the attorney who would actually handle your case — not by staff, and not through an interpreter.
The same fee is published on our Korean-language site.
What we will tell you before you pay anything
- If we think your chances are poor, we will not recommend engaging us. That assessment is what the consultation fee buys.
- Which situations can create additional costs during a case — and which cannot — explained before you sign, not discovered after.
- Case record review and document analysis are quoted separately and agreed in advance.