The Korean Law Blog’s family-law coverage covers Korean marriage, divorce, property division, child custody, child support, international child abduction to and from Korea, adoption, and adult guardianship, with particular attention to foreign nationals and families with connections to more than one country. Its related Korean inheritance and estate-planning articles examine how to protect and transfer family assets in Korea and abroad. This collection brings together practical guides, case commentary, legislative developments, and family-law resources, organized by subject for easy reference. Each title links directly to the article
Continue readingTag: Korean Divorce
Korean Supreme Court Clarifies Property Division Method for Unlisted Shares in Korean Divorce Cases
On May 29, 2026, the Supreme Court of Korea issued a landmark decision regarding the division of unlisted shares in a divorce property-division case. The ruling is significant because the Court expressly addressed how courts should approach cases where a large portion of the marital estate consists of founder-held shares in a privately held company. The Court recognized that a cash settlement, commonly referred to in Korean practice as daesang-bunhal or compensatory division, is often the most practical method for dividing unlisted shares. However, the Court made
Continue readingAlimony in Korean Divorces: Spousal Support Under Korean Divorce Law
Alimony is a familiar concept in many Western jurisdictions; however, in Korea, alimony, as known in the West, is not recognized under the Korean Civil Act. Instead, Korean family courts address financial fairness and support issues primarily through property division, compensation for mental distress (위자료), or, in exceptional cases, limited post-divorce spousal maintenance. For additional articles on Korean Divorce and Family Law, please see: IPG Legal’s Divorce Law Archive & IPG Legal’s Family & Divorce Law Team. The Legal Framework for Spousal Support in Korea Korean family
Continue readingDiscovery & Division of Cryptocurrency Assets in Korean Divorce Cases
As cryptocurrency investment becomes increasingly popular in South Korea and throughout much of the world, it has also raised complex issues in divorce cases and other asset division cases. Due to its decentralized and often anonymous nature, digital assets like Bitcoin are sometimes used to conceal wealth during divorce proceedings, estate matters, and other asset division matters. Below, we answer common questions from IPG Legal clients who are navigating divorce cases and we shall have articles posted, in the near future, on other asset discovery issues facing
Continue readingGrounds for Divorce in Korea: Korean Divorce Law Basics
Foreigners may file, in most cases, for divorce in Korea if one party to the divorce resides in Korea or the parties agree to the jurisdiction of the Korean Family Court or local Korean court. Korea does not restrict those under SOFA, diplomats, and non-permanent residents from filing for divorce in Korea. For additional information on divorce in Korea, please see: Getting a Divorce as a Foreigner in Korea. However, if the non-filing party to a divorce wishes to stay married, the filing party must prove that
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