https://juanesq.com/ Plain-English guides to Korean law for foreign residents — immigration and visas, criminal defense, employment, real estate, family law, and tax. en Mon, 24 Aug 2026 03:56:27 GMT juanesq https://juanesq.com/guide/criminal-trial-process-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/criminal-trial-process-korea-foreigners.html Criminal Defense Interpretation covers the hearing, not the case file. The order a Korean hearing follows, a sentence pronounced in about a minute, and the seven days that start running that same day. Mon, 24 Aug 2026 03:56:27 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/enforcing-a-judgment-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/enforcing-a-judgment-korea-foreigners.html Civil Claims & Debt Recovery Attachment of claims (채권압류) reaches a bank account in days; an auction takes months and may yield nothing. Which route fits what you found, and the ten-year clock on the judgment. Mon, 24 Aug 2026 03:56:27 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/working-hours-annual-leave-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/working-hours-annual-leave-korea-foreigners.html Labor & Employment Below five employees, a sixty-hour week can be lawful and owe nothing extra. The premiums, the leave that becomes cash on termination, and the clause that tries to absorb both. Mon, 24 Aug 2026 03:56:27 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/criminal-record-certificate-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/criminal-record-certificate-korea-foreigners.html Documents & Authentication A suspended indictment (기소유예) is not a conviction, but it is still on a record — a different one. Which certificate shows what, who is entitled to ask for it, and how long the entries stay there. Sun, 23 Aug 2026 08:13:05 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/criminal-settlement-agreement-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/criminal-settlement-agreement-korea-foreigners.html Criminal Defense Paying the victim ends some Korean prosecutions completely and others not at all. Which offences, what the written agreement must contain, the deadline that closes the option, and what to do when the victim will not talk. Sun, 23 Aug 2026 08:13:05 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/entry-refusal-airport-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/entry-refusal-airport-korea-foreigners.html Immigration & Visas The entry decision belongs to the officer at the port, not to the mission that issued the visa. What secondary inspection actually involves, why the statement you sign matters more than the interview, and the difference between being refused once and being banned. Sun, 23 Aug 2026 08:13:05 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/appealing-immigration-decision-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/appealing-immigration-decision-korea-foreigners.html Immigration & Visas Refused an extension or served with a departure order? Three routes exist, the clock is 90 days, and filing does not stop removal — which is why suspension of execution (집행정지) matters more than the appeal itself. Sat, 22 Aug 2026 13:48:51 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/limitation-periods-deadlines-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/limitation-periods-deadlines-korea-foreigners.html Civil Claims & Debt Recovery Korean law puts a deadline on nearly every claim, and it runs from earlier than you think. The civil, criminal, and labour periods, how interruption actually works, and the rule that matters most to people who leave Korea. Sat, 22 Aug 2026 13:48:51 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/visa-after-divorce-korean-spouse-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/visa-after-divorce-korean-spouse-foreigners.html Immigration & Visas Divorce does not automatically end an F-6 visa — but keeping it means proving the Korean spouse's fault (귀책사유). A Korean attorney explains F-6-3, the route through a child, and the alternatives when fault cannot be shown. Sat, 22 Aug 2026 13:48:51 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/fixed-term-contract-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/fixed-term-contract-korea-foreigners.html Labor & Employment Work more than two years on fixed-term contracts (기간제) in Korea and the law can treat you as permanently employed — but the exceptions are wide. A Korean attorney explains the two-year rule, the expectation of renewal (갱신기대권), and what a non-renewal means for your visa. Fri, 21 Aug 2026 07:38:03 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/illegal-filming-charges-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/illegal-filming-charges-korea-foreigners.html Criminal Defense Illegal filming (불법촬영) under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act carries up to seven years in prison — and in Korea, possessing or watching the footage is a separate offence. A Korean attorney explains what the law covers, what a phone forensic examination finds, and what follows a foreign national beyond the sentence. Fri, 21 Aug 2026 07:38:03 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/provisional-attachment-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/provisional-attachment-korea-foreigners.html Civil Claims & Debt Recovery Winning a Korean lawsuit against an empty account is worth nothing. Provisional attachment (가압류) freezes a debtor's property before they can move it. A Korean attorney explains what can be frozen, what it costs, and how debtors fight back. Fri, 21 Aug 2026 07:38:03 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/d4-language-student-visa-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/d4-language-student-visa-korea-foreigners.html Immigration & Visas A D-4 visa (어학연수) buys you a language course, not a life in Korea — attendance is monitored, part-time work needs permission you do not have on arrival, and the extension is decided on your record. A Korean attorney explains the conditions, the work permit, and the route to a D-2 student visa. Wed, 19 Aug 2026 10:40:19 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/departure-ban-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/departure-ban-korea-foreigners.html Criminal Defense A foreigner under investigation in Korea is not given a departure ban (출국금지) — the measure is a departure suspension (출국정지), and most people discover it at the airport check-in counter. A Korean attorney explains who gets one, how long it lasts, and the two ways to fight it. Wed, 19 Aug 2026 10:40:19 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/sued-in-korea-civil-lawsuit-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/sued-in-korea-civil-lawsuit-foreigners.html Civil Claims & Debt Recovery A payment order (지급명령) gives you two weeks. A complaint (소장) gives you thirty days. Ignore either and the court decides without you. A Korean attorney explains the three envelopes a foreign defendant receives, the deadlines attached to each, and what to do if you never got the papers at all. Wed, 19 Aug 2026 10:40:19 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/indecent-act-by-force-charges-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/indecent-act-by-force-charges-korea-foreigners.html Criminal Defense Indecent act by force (강제추행) is charged far more broadly in Korea than foreigners expect, settlement no longer ends the case, and a conviction brings registration, employment restrictions and immigration consequences. A Korean attorney explains what happens and when counsel matters. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 02:07:59 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/refugee-asylum-application-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/refugee-asylum-application-korea-foreigners.html Immigration & Visas Refugee status (난민) in Korea is decided on an interview, refused far more often than granted, and appealed on deadlines measured in days. A Korean attorney explains the two application routes, what you may do while waiting, and how humanitarian stay (인도적체류허가) differs. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 02:07:59 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/sending-money-out-of-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/sending-money-out-of-korea-foreigners.html Banking & Foreign Exchange Korean banks refuse outbound transfers for documentation reasons, not amounts. A Korean attorney explains the foreign exchange rules (외국환거래), what evidence each category of money requires, the rule against split remittances (분할송금), and how to move funds when you leave for good. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 02:07:59 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/alien-registration-address-reporting-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/alien-registration-address-reporting-korea-foreigners.html Immigration & Visas Alien registration (외국인등록) and the 14-day change-of-address report (체류지 변경신고) are the easiest immigration duties to forget and among the most expensive. A Korean attorney explains the deadlines, the fines, and how a missed report surfaces years later at renewal. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 22:53:19 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/criminal-complaint-victim-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/criminal-complaint-victim-korea-foreigners.html Criminal Defense Someone defrauded, assaulted, or threatened you in Korea and you want them prosecuted. A Korean attorney explains the criminal complaint (고소장), what the police do with it, why non-prosecution is common, and the appeal routes a victim has. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 22:53:19 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/d10-job-seeker-visa-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/d10-job-seeker-visa-korea-foreigners.html Immigration & Visas The D-10 job seeker visa (구직) buys time to find work in Korea — but it is scored on points, limited in duration, and strict about what you may do while holding it. A Korean attorney explains eligibility, extensions, and the mistakes that end the status early. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 22:53:19 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/detention-warrant-bail-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/detention-warrant-bail-korea-foreigners.html Criminal Defense Police can hold you 48 hours before a judge decides whether you stay. A Korean attorney explains the detention warrant hearing (구속영장실질심사), why foreigners are found to be flight risks, and the two routes out — detention review and bail. Sat, 08 Aug 2026 10:24:36 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/f2-7-points-based-visa-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/f2-7-points-based-visa-korea-foreigners.html Immigration & Visas The F-2-7 points-based residence visa (거주) frees you from employer sponsorship and shortens the road to permanent residency. A Korean attorney explains how the scoring works, who can apply, and where applications actually fail. Sat, 08 Aug 2026 10:24:36 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/marriage-registration-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/marriage-registration-korea-foreigners.html Family Law In Korea the wedding does not marry you — filing the marriage report (혼인신고) does. A Korean attorney explains the documents a foreign spouse needs, what the district office checks, and why the marriage and the F-6 visa are two separate matters. Sat, 08 Aug 2026 10:24:36 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/birth-registration-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/birth-registration-korea-foreigners.html Family Law A child born in Korea to foreign parents does not become Korean and cannot be entered in the Korean family register. A Korean attorney explains the 90-day status application, embassy registration, and what happens when a Korean father is involved. Fri, 07 Aug 2026 10:39:53 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/e2-teaching-visa-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/e2-teaching-visa-korea-foreigners.html Immigration & Visas An E-2 visa is tied to one employer, not to teaching. A Korean attorney explains workplace change permission, what counts as unauthorized activity, and what happens to your status when a hagwon contract falls apart. Fri, 07 Aug 2026 10:39:53 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/summary-order-criminal-fine-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/summary-order-criminal-fine-korea-foreigners.html Criminal Defense A summary order imposes a criminal fine with no hearing, and becomes final in seven days if you do nothing. A Korean attorney explains what it really is, when to request a formal trial, and why paying it can cost a foreign resident their visa. Fri, 07 Aug 2026 10:39:53 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/deportation-entry-ban-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/deportation-entry-ban-korea-foreigners.html Immigration & Visas A deportation order and a departure order are not the same thing, and the difference decides how long you're banned from returning. A Korean attorney explains the process, the 7-day objection window, and what still works. Thu, 06 Aug 2026 06:53:56 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/f3-dependent-visa-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/f3-dependent-visa-korea-foreigners.html Immigration & Visas Not every visa lets you bring your family to Korea, and an F-3 dependent cannot legally work without separate permission. A Korean attorney explains who qualifies, what to file, and the mistakes that cost families their status. Thu, 06 Aug 2026 06:53:56 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/frozen-bank-account-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/frozen-bank-account-korea-foreigners.html Criminal Defense One fraud report from a stranger can freeze your entire Korean bank account and block you from opening new ones. A Korean attorney explains why it happens to innocent foreigners and how to get the suspension lifted. Thu, 06 Aug 2026 06:53:56 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/copyright-trademark-infringement-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/copyright-trademark-infringement-korea-foreigners.html Intellectual Property Korea runs on a first-to-file trademark system, and copyright protection abroad doesn't register your brand here. A Korean attorney explains what foreign businesses and creators need to know. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 07:07:22 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/illegal-online-gambling-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/illegal-online-gambling-korea-foreigners.html Criminal Defense Betting on an offshore sportsbook or overseas casino site from inside Korea is a criminal offense, regardless of where the site is licensed. A Korean attorney explains the law and the risks for foreigners. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 07:07:22 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/probation-period-dismissal-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/probation-period-dismissal-korea-foreigners.html Labor & Employment A probation period (수습기간) in Korea doesn't mean at-will firing. A Korean attorney explains what protections foreign workers keep during probation, and how to respond to a sudden dismissal. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 07:07:22 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/e9-visa-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/e9-visa-korea-foreigners.html Immigration & Visas The Employment Permit System (고용허가제), the limited grounds for a workplace change (사업장 변경), the re-entry special case (재입국 특례), and what your departure insurance (출국만기보험) is actually worth. Tue, 04 Aug 2026 02:36:30 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/flat-tax-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/flat-tax-korea-foreigners.html Tax Law How the flat tax rate (단일세율) election works, who it actually benefits compared to the progressive tax rate (누진세율), and the filing mistakes that cost refunds. Tue, 04 Aug 2026 02:36:30 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/fraud-charges-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/fraud-charges-korea-foreigners.html Criminal Defense What actually separates criminal fraud (사기죄) from an ordinary breach of contract, why business disputes get filed as criminal complaints, and how to respond to a summons. Tue, 04 Aug 2026 02:36:30 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/data-privacy-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/data-privacy-korea-foreigners.html Privacy & Data Protection Your rights when a company mishandles or leaks your personal data in Korea — breach notification duties, free mediation, and statutory damages without proving loss. Sat, 01 Aug 2026 15:03:20 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/e7-visa-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/e7-visa-korea-foreigners.html Immigration & Visas Which jobs qualify for the E-7 visa, the employer sponsorship requirements, the points-based E-7-4 route, and what to verify before accepting an offer. Sat, 01 Aug 2026 15:03:20 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/insult-crime-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/insult-crime-korea-foreigners.html Criminal Defense How insult (모욕죄) differs from defamation, the public-perception requirement, the six-month complaint deadline, and the visa risk of even a minor conviction. Sat, 01 Aug 2026 15:03:20 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/common-law-marriage-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/common-law-marriage-korea-foreigners.html Family Law What a foreign partner in a de facto marriage (사실혼) actually gets under Korean law, what they don't, and why registering the marriage still matters. Sat, 01 Aug 2026 14:21:16 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/d2-student-visa-work-permit-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/d2-student-visa-work-permit-korea-foreigners.html Immigration & Visas The one-semester waiting rule, hour caps tied to your Korean ability, off-limits jobs, and the immigration risk of working without a permit — explained for international students. Sat, 01 Aug 2026 14:21:16 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/gift-tax-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/gift-tax-korea-foreigners.html Tax Law Who counts as a taxable recipient, the deduction traps foreign families fall into, and the 3-month filing deadline — gift tax in Korea explained for foreign residents. Sat, 01 Aug 2026 14:21:16 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/f4-visa-overseas-koreans-korea.html https://juanesq.com/guide/f4-visa-overseas-koreans-korea.html Immigration & Visas Near-permanent residency without a job sponsor, and a short list of jobs it still doesn't allow — the F-4 overseas Korean visa, eligibility and limits explained. Sat, 01 Aug 2026 13:40:08 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/will-testament-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/will-testament-korea-foreigners.html Inheritance & Estate Five statutory will forms, strict formality rules, and the forced heirship (유류분) claims that can override what the will says — wills in Korea explained for foreign residents. Sat, 01 Aug 2026 13:40:08 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/workplace-bullying-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/workplace-bullying-korea-foreigners.html Labor & Employment Excessive scolding, isolation, impossible workloads — workplace bullying (직장 내 괴롭힘) is a legal violation in Korea. The mandatory investigation process and remedies, explained for foreign employees. Sat, 01 Aug 2026 13:40:08 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/apostille-document-authentication-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/apostille-document-authentication-korea-foreigners.html Documents & Authentication Which agency certifies which document, and why apostille doesn't work everywhere — document authentication in Korea explained for foreign residents. Mon, 27 Jul 2026 01:37:30 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/lease-renewal-right-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/lease-renewal-right-korea-foreigners.html Real Estate & Leasing One renewal, a 5% rent cap, and a short list of reasons a landlord can refuse — the lease renewal right explained for foreign tenants in Korea. Mon, 27 Jul 2026 01:37:30 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/unemployment-benefits-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/unemployment-benefits-korea-foreigners.html Labor & Employment 180 days of Employment Insurance, an involuntary separation, and active job-seeking — the real eligibility test for 실업급여, explained for foreign workers. Mon, 27 Jul 2026 01:37:30 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/adoption-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/adoption-korea-foreigners.html Family Law Eligibility, the Family Court approval process, and the home study every applicant has to pass — adoption in Korea explained for foreign residents. Sun, 26 Jul 2026 06:12:24 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/freelance-platform-worker-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/freelance-platform-worker-korea-foreigners.html Labor & Employment The person-providing-labor (노무제공자) category, insurance rights it triggers, and how misclassification disputes actually play out for gig and platform workers in Korea. Sun, 26 Jul 2026 06:12:24 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/name-change-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/name-change-korea-foreigners.html Nationality & Military Service Name change (개명) after naturalization runs through Family Court, not the district office counter. The standard judges apply, and why some petitions get denied. Sun, 26 Jul 2026 06:12:24 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/child-abduction-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/child-abduction-korea-foreigners.html Family Law Korea is a Hague Convention country. What that actually means when a parent crosses a border with a child, the 1-year clock, and the narrow defenses that can block a return order. Sat, 25 Jul 2026 04:47:41 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/crypto-tax-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/crypto-tax-korea-foreigners.html Tax Law Reporting obligations, the tax residency test, and the mistakes that turn a missed filing into a penalty — crypto taxation in Korea explained for foreign investors. Sat, 25 Jul 2026 04:47:41 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/prenuptial-agreement-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/prenuptial-agreement-korea-foreigners.html Family Law What a Korean prenuptial agreement can and can't do, how courts treat them, and the drafting mistakes that get them invalidated — explained by a Korean attorney. Sat, 25 Jul 2026 04:47:41 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/hagwon-contract-dispute-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/hagwon-contract-dispute-korea-foreigners.html Labor & Employment Unpaid salary, cut hours, or a sudden firing at your hagwon (학원) — a foreign teacher's rights under Korean labor law, the E-2 visa risk of speaking up, and how to actually recover what you're owed. Fri, 24 Jul 2026 01:20:41 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/medical-malpractice-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/medical-malpractice-korea-foreigners.html Medical Malpractice & Patient Rights How medical negligence (의료과실) is proven in Korea, the burden-of-proof problem foreign patients face, mediation through K-MEDI vs. a civil lawsuit, and the deadline to act. Fri, 24 Jul 2026 01:20:41 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/school-violence-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/school-violence-korea-foreigners.html Family Law How the School Violence Prevention Act (학교폭력예방법) process works, the School Violence Committee (학폭위) hearing, and what foreign and multicultural families need to know whether their child is the victim or the one accused. Fri, 24 Jul 2026 01:20:41 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/consumer-rights-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/consumer-rights-korea-foreigners.html Consumer Protection Your cooling-off period (청약철회) rights, how to file with the Korea Consumer Agency (한국소비자원), and when a bad online purchase in Korea crosses into fraud (사기). Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:44:52 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/crypto-scam-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/crypto-scam-korea-foreigners.html Financial Crime & Fraud How crypto fraud (가상자산 사기) is investigated in Korea, your rights under the Virtual Asset User Protection Act (가상자산이용자보호법), and how recovery actually works for foreign victims. Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:44:52 GMT https://juanesq.com/guide/domestic-violence-korea-foreigners.html https://juanesq.com/guide/domestic-violence-korea-foreigners.html Personal Safety Domestic violence (가정폭력) is a crime in Korea with emergency measures (응급조치) and protective orders (보호처분) — and a foreign spouse's visa doesn't have to depend on staying married to the abuser. Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:44:52 GMT