IPG Legal has secured more than 60 not-guilty verdicts in Korean criminal law cases, including a recent acquittal for a client who was the victim of a catfishing drug-importation scam. For more information on Korean Criminal Law, please see: IPG Legal’s Criminal Law Archive. A Recent Acquittal for a Victim of a Catfishing Drug-Importation Scam IPG Legal recently obtained a not-guilty verdict for a victim of a catfishing scam involving drug importation. We are keeping the client’s identity and identifying circumstances confidential. However, the case raises a
Continue readingTag: Korean Lawyers
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 readingSucceeding in Business in Korea by Tom Coyner Business Advisor for IPG Legal
Since 1977, I have observed the rise and fall of many foreign companies in South Korea. I have witnessed the trials and tribulations as a bank employee, a high-tech salesman, a country manager, and as a business consultant of foreign and Korean companies doing business in Korea. Bluntly speaking, while some foreign ventures have had some unlucky breaks, those companies that have succeeded in the Korean market have done so for good reasons. And those who have failed have done so largely because of their own inadequacies
Continue readingAttorney-Client Privilege in Korea Clarified and Strengthened by Korean Supreme Court Holding
Cancellation of Seizure of Legal Opinion & Evidence in Korean Criminal Prosecution (2024Mo730) On February 20, 2025, the First Division of the Supreme Court of Korea (Chief Justice Shin Sook-hee) issued a significant ruling in 2024Mo730, canceling the Korean prosecution’s seizure of approximately 120,000 emails and related materials that included legal opinions exchanged between criminal defendants and their Koraen defense counsel. IPG Legal advises proactivity and demanding that your lawyers in Korea share all sensitive data via a secure cloud drive. For additional articles in Korean Criminal Law
Continue readingStatutory Damages in Korea Under PIPA for Personal Information Data Breaches
A recent Korean Supreme Court decision has fundamentally reshaped litigation risk analysis under the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), particularly regarding statutory damages under Article 39-2(1) of PIPA. The following post is essential reading for CISOs and those entrusted with company data. Contrary to widespread assumptions in the compliance community in Korea, the Korean Supreme Court confirmed that: A personal information processor may avoid statutory damages by proving that the data subject suffered no compensable mental damage — even where a data breach occurred. This ruling is
Continue readingIPG Legal’s South Korea Office: Leading International Law Firm in Korea
Korea is one of the most dynamic markets in Asia with a complex and ever-changing legal landscape. Korean regulators move quickly, Korean courts are sophisticated, and legal risk in Korea often shows up in places foreign businesses don’t expect: labor disputes that become criminal complaints, data incidents that trigger parallel investigations, shareholder conflicts in tightly held companies, or cross-border family and inheritance matters with assets in multiple jurisdictions. IPG Legal is built for that environment. We are an international law firm with a substantial practice in Korea
Continue readingSouth Korea Ratifies the Hague Adoption Convention
On October 1, 2025, South Korea will become a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (“Hague Adoption Convention”). This historic development represents one of the most significant reforms in Korean family law and adoption law in decades, signaling a move toward stronger oversight, transparency, and accountability in the adoption process. We will update the reader as more information becomes available regarding the implementation of the Hague Adoption Convention. For more information on Korean Adoptions, please see: IPG
Continue readingAttorney Sean Hayes Receives the Highest Ranking for International Law from AVVO Legal Ratings
Sean Hayes has honed his legal and commercial insights over 20+ years across Asia and the U.S. As the go-to counsel for cross-border deals, IP protection, regulatory compliance, and contentious matters for individuals and companies, Sean is known for his street-smart advice and aggressive advocacy. IPG Legal’s attorney, Sean Hayes, was rated the highest ranking by AVVO. Recognitions & Rankings for Sean Hayes Core Expertise of Sean Hayes International Dispute Resolution Represented and advised corporate clients in arbitration and court proceedings across Asia and in New York courts, including multi-million-dollar
Continue readingUsing Korea as a Test Bed for Asian Expansion: Look to Facebook
IPG Legal has advised, on many occasions, clients to look to South Korea for their Asian expansion prior to entering more expensive and difficult Asian markets. Hey Facebook seems to agree in an article entitled: Facebook uses Korea as Test Bed. This is a repost of article from nearly two decades ago. China is becoming even more difficult and much of SE Asia is not becoming more transparent—Korea is an excellent place to test the Asian waters. The Korea Herald has an interesting article that quotes the
Continue readingKorean Child Custody and Paternity Rights in Korean Divorce Cases
When filing for divorce at a Korean court—whether it is uncontested (mutual consent) or contested (Korean court-ordered)—and minor children are involved, the divorcing parties (or the Korean Family Court) must decide who shall hold paternity rights and who shall have custody rights over the children. Korean Mutual Consent Divorce In a mutual consent divorce, a written agreement regarding the custody and paternity rights of the minor children must be submitted to the Family Court in Korea along with the divorce application. Since mutual consent divorces are based on
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