Investment scams in Korea promising “guaranteed profits” and/or “principal protection” continue to spread rapidly across online group chats and ”reading rooms.” Many victims in Korea and abroad are approached with too-good-to-be-true offers through KakaoTalk, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Naver Band. Recent
The Korean Law Blog
The Korean Law Blog, published by IPG Legal, focuses on the application and interpretation of Korean law in cross-border litigation, arbitration, and international transactions. It covers expert opinions on Korean corporate, commercial, contract, employment, labor, criminal, family, inheritance, real estate, trust, intellectual property, and technology transfer laws. The blog also addresses procedural and substantive issues in Korean criminal defense, labor standards, and employment discipline. Comparative legal analyses, such as differences between Korean and U.S. free speech protections, are featured. Practical guidance on hiring independent contractors and structuring distribution or agency agreements in Korea is also provided, targeting foreign counsel, businesses, and courts dealing with Korean legal matters.
Latest from The Korean Law Blog - Page 6
Probationary Periods in Korean Employment Agreements: Korean Court Rules in Favor of Employee in Unfair Dismissal During Korean Probationary Period
By Sean Hayes
Many employers in Korea, often due to ill-advised counsel, mistakenly believe that Korean probationary employment periods permit them to terminate workers without justification or even written notification. A recent ruling by the Seoul Administrative Court clarifies that probationary periods are…
Coupang Fulfillment Services in Korea Found Liable for Unfair Dismissal and Union Suppression by Seoul Administrative Court
By Sean Hayes
Coupang, an e-commerce company with its primary business in Korea, was found to have committed unfair labor practices in violation of Korea’s Trade Union Law and unfairly dismissed a worker in Korea in breach of the Korean Labor Standards…
Cross-Border Estate & Trust Planning for Foreign Residents in Korea and Korean Families with Heirs Abroad
By Sean Hayes
As South Korea continues to attract foreign entrepreneurs, executives, and long-term residents, an increasing number of expatriates and multi-nationality families are discovering that their estate and trust structures, often established under foreign law, do not comply with Korea’s civil-law inheritance…
Korean Supreme Court Upholds ₩200 Million Fine Against Binggrae for Price-Fixing: Landmark Korean Competition/Antitrust Law Ruling
By Sean Hayes
In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court of Korea upheld a KR₩200 million fine against Binggrae Co., Ltd. for its participation in a large-scale price-fixing scheme involving Korea’s top ice cream manufacturers. The decision, handed down on October 16, 2025,…
Alimony in Korean Divorces: Spousal Support Under Korean Divorce Law
By Sean Hayes
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,…
How Foreigners Can Purchase Real Estate under Korea’s Land Transaction Permission System
By Sean Hayes
Over the past few years, Korean real estate prices have surged, particularly in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan areas. In response, the new administration has significantly expanded the scope of the Korean Land Transaction Permission System. The System is a…
South Korean Court Recognizes Causal Link Between COVID-19 Vaccine and Neurological Injury
By Sean Hayes
Korea is leading the way, through its courts, in providing compensation for damages allegedly caused by the COVID-19 Vaccination. A recent ruling by the Seoul Administrative Court has marked a significant development in Korea’s vaccine-related compensation jurisprudence. The Seoul Administrative…
Korean Commercial Arbitration Board Announces Comprehensive Revision to Arbitration Rules: Korean Arbitration Updates
By Sean Hayes
The Korea Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB) International Arbitration Center has announced a comprehensive revision of its International Arbitration Rules. This is the first significant amendment to the Rules in a decade. The revised Rules, scheduled to take effect in January…
Korean Company CEO’s Criminal Liability for Workplace Safety under the Korean Occupational Safety & Health Act and Korean Serious Accidents Punishment Act
By Sean Hayes
A recent judgment by the Changwon District Court in Korea (Case No. 2025Godan1381) highlights the increasing potential for criminal liability of CEOs and executives in Korea under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of Korea (OSHA) and the Serious Accidents…