A 41-year-old worker employed in a basement machine room of an aging hotel in Seoul collapsed and died of a cerebral hemorrhage during a night shift. The lower courts did not recognize the death as an industrial accident, thus denying benefits. The lower courts noted, in part, that the working hours did not meet the criteria for “overwork.” The Korean Supreme Court reversed and remanded. Facts Supreme Court Judgment (Summary)The Supreme Court of Korea overturned the original judgment and remanded the case to the Seoul High Court ( 2024du40400). “Mr.
Continue readingThe Korean Law Blog by IPG Legal Law Firm (Seoul, Korea Office)
IPG Legal Law Firm is ranked a top Dispute Resolution Law Firm and one of the top international law firms in Asia. Sean Hayes, one of the Korean Law Blog authors, is rated a Top 100 Lawyer and a top lawyer in numerous legal tier rankings.
Hiring Employees in Korea: The Basics by an HR Guru and Advisor to IPG Legal
“Hiring is your most important task,” said the late Steve Jobs. Considering a wrong hiring decision can be extremely expensive to repair, let’s look at some recruiting options. Ideally, a succession plan will have an internal candidate ready for promotion: advancing a rising star’s career and providing continuity with minimum controversy and a positive message to the workforce that capable people who do well will be recognized and rewarded. Often, however, hiring from outside is required. If the company has a competent HR recruiting function, direct ads and in-house screening
Continue readingEmployee Titles in Korea: Yes, Titles Still Matter in Korea
In many Korean companies, job titles carry significant weight because they communicate seniority, professional standing, and expected responsibility. Thus, they shape how colleagues address one another and help clients and business partners identify the appropriate person for discussions. Using the correct title is often an important expression of respect and an acknowledgment of a person’s position within the organization. Because titles can influence perceptions of authority and professional recognition, employers should carefully consider how assigning or changing a title will be understood by employees, colleagues, and customers. Some Korean companies
Continue readingIPG Legal Law Firm & Our Lawyers in the News
IPG Legal and its lawyers have appeared in Korean and international media in coverage of cross-border disputes, international child return and adoption, criminal defense, business, investment, and developments in Korean law. The articles below bring together reporting, interviews, and references to the firm’s legal commentary, alongside coverage of individual lawyers’ professional and public activities. This collection also includes published profiles and rankings, republications and translations, press announcements, and articles written by Sean Hayes. These appear in separate sections so readers can distinguish news coverage from authored commentary and other publications.
Continue readingKorean Supreme Court Vacates Korean DUI Conviction
The Supreme Court of Korea ruled that if police officer conducts a breathalyzer test without providing the driver with water to rinse their mouth, the result constitutes illegally obtained evidence. The First Criminal Division of the Korean Supreme Court overturned the original ruling sentencing the Defendant to one year in prison suspended for two years on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act on October 1, 2026, and remanded the case to the Daejeon District Court ( 2025do16613 ). Foreigners, in Korea, DUI convictions may lead to deportations, revocations of visas
Continue readingKorean Criminal Defense Lawyers: IPG Legal’s Criminal Defense Team
IPG Legal: Big Firm Experience & Connections with Boutique Firm Efficiency & Street Smarts A criminal investigation in Korea can place your liberty, career, business, and ability to remain in Korea and travel abroad at risk. For a foreign national, the uncertainty is often compounded by unfamiliar procedures, language barriers, immigration issues and lack of close family support. IPG Legal’s Criminal Defense Team represents individuals, executives, and civilian and active duty individuals serving in the armed forces in Korea facing criminal allegations in Korea. Our approach combines Korean courtroom experience,
Continue readingSeoul Court Suspends Building Permit in Hannam-dong Han River View Dispute
The Seoul Administrative Court has temporarily suspended the building permit for a residence being constructed for Meritz Financial Group Chairman Jo Jung-ho in Hannam-dong, Seoul. The decision grants interim temporary relief to Booyoung Group Chairman Lee Joong-geun, who alleges that a new house obstructs his Han River view and that a permit was unlawfully issued. Court Grants Temporary Suspension On October 12, 2026, the Seoul Administrative Court’s Administrative Division 3 granted Lee’s application to suspend a building permit. Lee brought the proceedings against the Yongsan District Office, which issued the
Continue readingKorean Labor & Employment Law at IPG Legal
Big Firm Experience & Connections with Boutique Firm Efficiency & Street Smarts Proactive advice from employment lawyers is essential for business success in Korea; nuanced, proactive advice is not easy to obtain for foreign companies and executives working and doing business in Korea. IPG Legal’s Korean Labor & Employment Law Team advises companies, executives, and employees on workplace compliance, employment disputes, and negotiated departures. Our work combines the experience of Korean and international lawyers, former judges, and business advisers with a practical understanding of how companies operate. Learn more about
Continue readingWhen Korean Civil Disputes Become Criminal Cases in Korea: A Practical Guide for Foreign Companies, Executives, and Counsel
One of the most misunderstood features of the Korean legal system is the frequent overlap between civil liability and criminal exposure. In many jurisdictions, a breach of contract, shareholder dispute, derivative suit, partnership dispute, or failure to pay a debt is addressed strictly through civil litigation. In Korea, however, the same conduct can trigger Korean criminal investigations by the Korean police and Korean prosecution. Why Korean Civil Disputes Become Criminal Cases in Korea The Korean legal system permits criminal liability where conduct underlying a civil dispute implicates intent, deception, or
Continue readingKorean Supreme Court Holds Landlord Liable for Renting Out Home After Refusing Lease Renewal
A Korean landlord who refuses to renew a residential lease because they intend to live in the property may owe damages if they later rent it to someone else. Moving in temporarily does not automatically protect the landlord from liability. In a September 10, 2026 decision, Korea’s Supreme Court upheld an award of approximately KRW 30.8 million to a tenant whose landlord rejected renewal on “personal occupancy grounds.” The landlord’s subsequent need to repay other tenants’ deposits did not excuse the decision to rent the apartment out again (Supreme Court
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