Real estate and property disputes in Korea are on the rise. Korea’s rapid urban development, the growth of mixed-use projects, a complex lease-deposit culture, and the presence of many fraudulent actors have made real estate litigation one of the most active areas of Korean civil and criminal law practice. What once involved routine ownership or tenancy issues now regularly includes high-value civil compensation claims, construction-defect suits, and administrative appeals. IPG Legal’s real estate and dispute resolution team has represented both Korean and foreign parties in property cases
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Filing a Lawsuit in Korea: The Korean Civil Litigation System explained by IPG Legal Law Firm
South Korea’s civil litigation system is governed by the Korean Civil Procedure Act. The Civil Procedure Act of Korea (민사소송법, Minsa Sosong Beop) is the primary legislation governing civil litigation in the Republic of Korea. It establishes the framework for how disputes between private parties are initiated, conducted, and resolved in the Korean courts. Most civil and commercial disputes in Korea are generally handled through a three-tiered court system. Thus, at the base are the District Courts (지방법원), which serve as the courts of first instance; above
Continue readingLess than 10% of Korean Civil Cases Settle Before a Judgment
The Legal Times has reported that a recent study found that less than one in ten civil lawsuits resolve through settlement or mediation. Over the past five years, an average of 61% of civil cases in the first trial ended in a verdict, while only 7% ended in mediation or reconciliation. This represents a significant difference compared to countries like Japan (33%) and the United States (60-70%). The full article can be found at: [Exclusive] Civil litigation settlements and mediations are declining, with only 7% of cases
Continue readingKorean Companies Fined and Held Civilly Liable for Bid Rigging in Public Procurement in Korea
Five civil engineering companies were found to have colluded in bidding for a Gangwon Development Corporation project in Gangneung City, Korea. Following administrative sanctions imposed by the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), the Chuncheon District Court ruled that these companies must pay damages for their unlawful collusion (bid rigging). Facts Court Holding The court found that the defendants violated Article 19(1)(8) of the former MRFTA, which prohibits collusion that interferes with fair competition in public bidding. The court opined that: “The defendants should have independently determined the bidding
Continue readingShareholder Rights Disputes under Korean Law: Key Korean Supreme Court Cases
Shareholder disputes in Korea often revolve around a few recurring issues. The primary jurisprudence on shareholder disputes in Korea pertains to access to information, the duty and liability of directors, the fairness of control-related issuances, and exit/value protection through appraisal rights. For more information on Korean Corporate Law, please see: IPG Legal’s Korean Corporate Law and Compliance Archive. Below is a practical roadmap and guide based on recent and leading Korean Supreme Court holdings. Access to Information: Books & Records (KCA art. 466) in Korea In Korean
Continue readingKorean Administrative Court Recognizes Causation Between COVID-19 Vaccination and Death
On July 11, 2025, the Seoul Administrative Court of Korea rendered a significant judgment (Case No. 2023GuHap73595) recognizing a causal link between the administration of a COVID-19 vaccine and the death of a patient in Korea who suffered from an intracranial hemorrhage. The Korean Court annulled the decision of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) denying compensation under the national vaccine injury relief scheme. This along with the Korean Covid-19 Vaccination Workers’ Compensation Injury Case shows the willing of Korea to infer a nexus between
Continue readingKorean Adult Guardianship a Tool in Resolving Corporate Management Disputes in Korea
IPG Legal is one of the leading Korean law firms assisting families residing globally in Korean Adult Guardianship, Korean Inheritance, Korean Estate Planning, and Korean Inheritance Tax Matters. Increasingly, the Korean Guardianship System is being utilized to resolve complex and contentious corporate management disputes. Adult Guardianship as a Tool to Resolve Korean Company Management Disputes Adult guardianship in Korea was typically associated with protecting individuals who cannot make decisions for themselves due to mental or physical incapacity. Today, lawyers in Korea are strategically utilizing adult guardianship as
Continue readingProtecting Minority Shareholder Rights under Korean Law: A Legal Guide by IPG Legal Law Firm
Minority shareholders in Korea often find themselves navigating a Korean corporate environment dominated by controlling families, holding companies, savvy sharks, and complicated chaebol structures. The situation seems daunting, but with recent changes to Korean Law, minority shareholders have more avenues to redress controlling shareholder/management issues. The Korean Commercial Act (KCA), supplemented by the Capital Markets Act of Korea for listed entities, provides a range of rights intended to protect minority shareholders from abuse, cash burns, self-dealing, and tunneling. However, success depends on strict compliance with thresholds, timelines,
Continue readingUtilization of Korean Accountants in Termination of Employees for Urgent Managerial Need in Korea
IPG Legal has used accountants to opine that the Korean layoff of an employee is for urgent managerial need in all cases we were involved in regarding the layoff of Korean workers. We have often been questioned by clients about whether the extra expense is necessary. Yes, the expense is necessary, and here is why. For additional articles in Korean Labor & Employment Law, please see: IPG Legal’s Korean Labor & Employment Law Archive. Why You Should Utilize an Accountant Before Claiming an Urgent Managerial/Business Necessity Under Article
Continue readingKorean Court Confirms Covid-19 Vaccination Injury and Compensation under Korea Workers’ Compensation System
A Korean appellate court ruled that a hospital employee who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome and nerve paralysis after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine should be recognized as having suffered an occupational injury that is compensable under Korea’s Workers’ Compensation Benefit System. The Seoul High Court ruled in favor of the Plaintiff in an appeal of a lawsuit denying benefits by the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service. Korea’s COVID-19 Vaccine Workers’ Compensation Occupational Injury Case Holding of the Court of First Instance The Plaintiff filed an administrative lawsuit to
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