Sean Hayes and So Young Yoon appeared on CTV in a criminal matter in Korea, which IPG Legal is assisting with on a reduced-fee basis, as we believe is part of our duty to the Korean legal system and expats in Korea. For additional articles on Korean Criminal Law, please see: IPG Legal’s Criminal Law Archive. Her lawyers argue Parks was unknowingly manipulated into transporting the drugs by someone she believed she was in a relationship with online. “We genuinely believe that No. 1, she didn’t know what was in the packages
Continue readingTag: criminal law
Korean Supreme Court Clarifies Statute of Limitations in Criminal Cases in Korea
In a recent decision by the Korean Supreme Court, the Court clarified how a statute of limitations tolls in Korea in criminal cases. The Supreme Court of Korea held that when prosecutors amend an indictment to add related charges, the statute of limitations should be determined based on the date of the original indictment rather than the date of the amendment of the indictment. On January 15, 2026, the Second Criminal Division of the Korean Supreme Court (Chief Justice Kwon Young-jun) overturned an appellate court decision that
Continue readingKorean Prison Sentence for Gross Negligence in Care of a Dangerous Dog
A dog owner whose dog led to the serious injury to a 60-year-old man was found guilty of gross negligence resulting in death and sentenced to a 4-year prison sentence. Facts Korean Court Judgment The court of first, in short held that the minimum requirements of an owner of a dog that knows that his or her dog has bitten a prior person is to have a dog on a lease, in a cage or in a fenced in area and warning the public through signage noting
Continue readingOverturning of a Finalized Criminal Conviction in Korea
In South Korea, after the finalization of a criminal conviction, overturning or reopening a criminal conviction is limited to specific post-conviction remedies noted below. We at IPG Legal have, regrettably, seen too many cases involving less-than-proactive and diligent representation that led to convictions that merit, at least, a reopening. The following article addresses the primary ways to overturn a criminal conviction in Korea. The major avenues of overturning a final and conclusive criminal conviction judgment in Korea are via: For more articles on Korean Criminal Law, please
Continue readingKorean Drug Drink Blackmail Voice Phishing Scam Sentence of 23 Years in Prison Confirmed by Korean Supreme Court
“Voice Phishing” is a crime that has hit many families in Korea. The Korean Court System, Korean Prosecution Services, and Korean National Assembly stepped up efforts to fight the issue with increased punishment and an increase in the efficiency of investigations. A particularly notorious case involved a Chinese voice phishing operation that targeted the families of wealthy children studying at hagwons (cram schools) in the Daechi-dong Hagwon District in Seoul. The perpetrator of the crime was sentenced to 23 years in prison. For more articles on Korean
Continue readingKorea’s Animal Protection Law
Attorney Jiwon MIN is a lover of cats and this post was motivated by her picture of her cute cat that I see every day on her WhatsApp profile. Please note that if you are charged with a crime in Korea, even a small fine can lead to deportation and an entrance ban. It is essential for all foreigners accused of a crime to retain the best lawyer available. In June of 2024 the Defendant was found guilty of beating the Defendant’s pet dog with the palm
Continue readingSean Hayes Interviewed on the Shooting of Carlos Lopez by the NYPD
Our New York office’s managing partner, Attorney Sean Hayes is representing, pro bono, the family of Carlos Lopez who was killed in 2003 by NYPD. According to the family of Mr. Lopez, NYPD undercover police officers responding to a shooting mistook Mr. Lopez as the perpetrator of the shooting. Witnesses noted that Mr. Lopez was not involved in the shooting, no gun was found on Mr. Lopez, no gun residue was found on Mr. Lopez and Mr. Lopez was not wearing clothes similar to a person fleeing
Continue readingKorea Increases the List of Serious Crimes in the Act on Regulation and Punishment of Criminal Proceeds Concealment
The Chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in Korea proposed an Amendment to the Korean Act on Regulation and Punishment of Criminal Proceeds Concealment (hereinafter as “Act on Punishment of Criminal Proceeds Concealment”) on April 4, 2019. Some crimes shall be added to the list of “serious crimes” stated in the aforementioned Act. Amendment to the Act on Punishment of Criminal Proceeds Concealment The list of “serious crimes” (also “specific crimes”) as defined in Art. 2 (1) Korean Act on Punishment of Criminal Proceeds Concealment shall
Continue readingConfession Prior to Arrest in Korea: Korean Sentencing Law Basics
Some crimes in Korea require the victim’s consent for the prosecutor to indict a victim, the most literal translation of these types of crimes are “Crimes Not Punished Against the Will of the Victim.” Additionally, a “Self Denunciation” (Confession to Korean Investigative Agency Prior to Arrest ) may mitigate punishment (Korean Criminal Act Article 52). The difference between these types of crimes and the formality in confessing may forego the opportunity to avoid a jail sentence. All good Korean criminal defense lawyers, at a minimum, should be
Continue reading
You must be logged in to post a comment.