Legal matters in Korea — handled from abroad

You’re Not in Korea. Your Legal Problem Is.

You left Korea with something unresolved — or you’ve never lived here, but a matter in Korea now needs a lawyer. Most of it can be handled without flying in. Here is what can be done from where you are, what can’t, and how we work with clients in other time zones.

Is this you?

You left Korea and your landlord never returned your deposit
Your last Korean employer still owes you wages or severance
Someone in Korea owes you money — a person or a company
You've received, or heard of, a Korean lawsuit against you
You left Korea while a police matter was still open, and you want to know whether you can come back
You were defrauded or harmed by someone in Korea and want to file a complaint
You own an apartment or land in Korea and the tenant has stopped paying — or you want to sell
You had a child with a Korean national who has since disappeared, or you need child support or a divorce handled in Korea
A relative in Korea has died and left property in Korea

What can be done from abroad — honestly

Matter	Done remotely	Needs you in Korea
Criminal — you are the victim or complainantCriminal Defense →	Filing the complaint through us as your representative, following the investigation, settlement talks, victim statements by document.	Not usually. A complainant statement is almost always taken — but for a client abroad it is typically given through us as your complaint representative, or in writing. Some investigators still want your own account, in person or by video, especially on facts only you know; we tell you early if yours will.
Criminal — you are the suspect or defendantCriminal Defense →	Finding out where your case stands (including whether a warrant or travel ban exists), written submissions, settlement with the other side, planning a voluntary appearance.	Usually, more than once. Questioning as a suspect and trial hearings generally require you to be here, and they can fall months apart — the police stage, including any follow-up questioning, and then the court. We can't promise a single trip; what we can do is prepare each stage before you fly so no trip is wasted, and tell you honestly when staying abroad is no longer an option.
Civil — deposits, wages, money owed, lawsuits against youCivil Litigation →	Nearly everything. Korean civil litigation runs on an electronic filing system; your attorney files, appears, and enforces on your behalf under a power of attorney.	Almost never.
Property you own in Korea — rent arrears, eviction, saleReal Estate & Lease →	Demand letters, lease termination, suits for unpaid rent and possession, enforcement, sale under power of attorney, setting up and supervising a management company.	No.
Family — paternity, child support, divorce with a Korean spouseDivorce & Family →	Paternity suits, child support claims and enforcement, divorce filings and property division — the filings and the case itself run through your attorney.	Sometimes. Family courts apply a party-appearance rule — a representative may appear in your place only with the judge's permission — and in a paternity case the court-ordered DNA sampling is normally done in Korea by the appointed examiner. We tell you early if yours will need a trip, and plan it so one trip covers both.
Inheritance — property left to you in KoreaRequest a consultation →	Confirming heirs and shares, registration, agreements with co-heirs in Korea, and sale of inherited property under power of attorney.	No.

How we work with you from abroad

1Consultation by video or phone in your time zone — evenings and early mornings in Korea are available for the Americas.
2A power of attorney and the documents your country requires — we send a checklist for where you live.
3We act in Korea; you get updates in English by email at each step.
4Fees: the same consultation fee as everyone else (60 minutes · ₩150,000, VAT included — ₩100,000 if it ends within 30 minutes), paid in advance by bank transfer — tell us if that is difficult from where you are; retainers quoted in writing after the consultation.

Referring a client from abroad? We work with overseas counsel — write to us directly and we’ll coordinate with you in English.

Two things to know before you call

Time matters more from abroad.Korean deadlines don’t pause because you’ve left — a lawsuit served while you’re away can end in a default judgment, and some criminal matters are easier to resolve before you return than after.

We’ll tell you if it isn’t worth it. Some matters cost more to pursue from abroad than they’re worth. We say so at the consultation — that’s the point of paying for one.

Guides for clients abroad

One more thing worth knowing: a consultation here does not commit you to anything. Some people book an assessment, learn where they stand, and decide not to pursue the matter — with our agreement. That is a good outcome too.

Request a Consultation

Consultation with the Attorney

60 minutes · ₩150,000 (approx. US$110), VAT included

If the consultation ends within 30 minutes, you pay only ₩100,000 (approx. US$70).

We review the facts and your documents, then tell you the legal issues and how we would approach them. The same fee whichever language you speak, Korean or English — conducted by the attorney who would actually handle your case, not by staff, and not through an interpreter.

The same fees are published on our Korean-language site.

Request a Consultation 031-658-6100