Foreign companies and individual investors entering the Korean market sometimes assume that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is merely a non-binding document used to outline preliminary discussions and thus not enforceable under Korean Law. Under Korean law, that assumption is
IPG Legal
IPG Legal is a law firm specializing in Korean law, providing expert opinions and legal services primarily for foreign courts, law firms, and international clients involved in cross-border litigation, arbitration, and transactions related to Korea. The firm offers expertise in a wide range of Korean legal areas including corporate and commercial law, contract law, employment and labor law, criminal law, family and inheritance law, real estate, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance. IPG Legal frequently assists with matters such as the Hague Child Abduction Convention, Korean labor standards, criminal defense, and the interpretation of Korean statutes and judicial precedents. The firm also addresses practical legal challenges faced by foreign nationals and businesses operating in Korea.
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Korean Immigration and the Administrative Court on Granting a Visa for Mongolian Student to Complete Masters Degree at a Korean University
By Sean Hayes
An administrative court in Korea has ruled that it was valid to deny a foreign student’s request to extend their stay to meet the requirements for graduation from graduate school. On February 12, 2026 , the Jeonju District Court Administrative…
Shall Korean Bonuses be Utilized for Calculating of Average Wages for Severance Payment Calculation Purposes?
By Sean Hayes
The Supreme Court of Korea ruled that Hanwha Ocean (formerly Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering)’s performance-based bonuses should not be considered wages for the calculation of severance payments under Korean Law. For additional articles on Korean Employment & Labor…
Korean Supreme Court Clarifies Statute of Limitations in Criminal Cases in Korea
By Sean Hayes
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…
Drafting & Negotiating Korean Joint Venture/Shareholder Agreements in Korea: Why Language, Governance, and Arbitration Clauses Matter
By Sean Hayes
We have many clients who find it advisable to enter the Korean market through joint ventures with Korean partners. In many cases, this structure makes commercial sense: the Korean partner brings local market knowledge, relationships, regulatory familiarity, and operational experience,…
E-7 Visa Korea: A Guide for Foreign Professionals and Companies Intending to Sponsor Foreign Professionals to Work in Korea
By Sean Hayes
South Korea is an increasingly attractive destination for foreign professionals, multinational companies, and entrepreneurs wishing to work and do business in Korea. Working legally in Korea, for non-Koreans, requires obtaining the appropriate immigration status under Korea’s Immigration Control Act. The…
Attorney-Client Privilege in Korea Clarified and Strengthened by Korean Supreme Court Holding
By Sean Hayes
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…
Trade Secret Protection Act Crimes in Korea Clarified by Supreme Court of Korea
By Sean Hayes
In a ruling that is important for technology companies, multinational employers, and cross-border R&D stakeholders, the Supreme Court of Korea (Third Criminal Division, January 15, 2025, 2025Do13231) held that the crimes of acquiring, using, and disclosing trade secrets under the…
Procedural Legality and the Right to Counsel in Korean School Violence & Other School Committee Disciplinary Proceedings in Korea
By Sean Hayes
Recent reports concerning the restriction on Korean attorneys’ participation in School Violence Countermeasures Review Committee (SSCRB) proceedings raise issues in Korean administrative law and constitutional law: whether limiting an attorney’s presence and participation in quasi-adjudicative disciplinary proceedings violates the right…
Statutory Damages in Korea Under PIPA for Personal Information Data Breaches
By Sean Hayes
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…