Frequently Asked Questions

Backed by 21 years as a prosecutor and 30,000+ cases handled, we advise broadly across all areas of law — criminal, civil, family, corporate/economic, administrative, and more — with particular strength in criminal, finance/AI, election/labor, economic crimes, and trust design.

We are located at 401 Saemaul Geumgo Bldg., 373 Sanseong-daero (180-3 Dandae-dong), Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13148.

Attorney Youngnam Lee leads the firm with expertise in blockchain and AI technology law.

Lee Youngnam Law Office (이영남 법률사무소).

We aim to provide better legal services using AI technology at the intersection of law and technology.

Yes, the lot behind the building is free for the first hour. If it is full, the nearby Huimangdae Park public parking lot (KRW 6,000/day, ~240m) is available. Our office is at 401, 4F, 373 Sanseong-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si — about a 5-minute walk from Exit 6 of Dandaeogeori Station (Line 8).

Yes. Attorneys are bound by a statutory duty of confidentiality (Attorney-at-Law Act Art. 26). Information and case details we learn during consultation are never disclosed to outside parties, so you can speak freely.

Yes. We take cases nationwide. Beyond Seongnam and the greater Seoul area, we handle matters in Gwangju, Busan, Daejeon, Jeju, and elsewhere. For distant locations, we first organize the matter by phone consultation and then explain how to proceed.

Yes. Backed by 21 years as a prosecutor, we advise and defend across all criminal matters — from statement strategy and detention response at the police/prosecution investigation stage through trial and sentencing. Submit a consultation request or call 031-736-4345.

Yes. We provide finance-related legal services including crypto/blockchain advisory and disputes, financial and investment fraud, and illegal deposit-taking / multi-level schemes — with particular strength in emerging tech such as AI and fintech.

Yes. We advise and defend on election-law violations (false-statement publication, unlawful contributions, improper campaign methods, etc.), and also handle labor matters.

Yes. We provide dedicated defense for economic crimes such as embezzlement, breach of trust, and fraud. We organize the key issues — fund flows and gain amounts, intent and deception — and design a strategy from the earliest investigation stage. Our strength is investigation defense from a prosecutorial background.

It is a legal service for designing trust structures to protect assets and pass them to the next generation. It is used for succession of family businesses, real estate, and financial assets; preventing inheritance disputes; and managing assets in preparation for diminished capacity (e.g., dementia).

Yes, we advise on and handle civil matters broadly — loans, damages, contract disputes, and more.

Yes — real estate transactions and lease disputes, as well as reconstruction/redevelopment project disputes (union formation and operation, member status, sale-claim litigation, eviction, etc.).

Yes, we advise on and handle family matters such as divorce, property division, child custody, and alimony.

Yes, we advise on inheritance matters broadly — estate division, statutory-reserve (yuryubun) claims, wills, and inheritance disputes.

Preparing before you attend matters a great deal. First confirm what case and in what capacity (suspect or witness) you are being called, organize the facts in chronological order, and — importantly — consult a lawyer before giving your statement, because a first statement often sets the direction of the entire case. Call 031-736-4345 or submit a consultation request.

You may go alone, but as a suspect you have the right to counsel during questioning and the right to remain silent. Because what you say becomes evidence, it is safer to respond with counsel — especially when you are contesting the charge. Call 031-736-4345 or submit a consultation request.

You can map out in advance what questions may come, what to state, and what to be careful about, avoiding unnecessarily damaging statements. Reviewing the issues and evidence beforehand lets you answer consistently and accurately. Call 031-736-4345.

First confirm the exact charge, then organize the facts and any favorable materials (contracts, messages, transfer records, etc.) accordingly. Reacting emotionally or rushing to make contact or settle can hurt you, so it is important to set a strategy with counsel early in the investigation. Call 031-736-4345 or submit a consultation request.

Identify the harm and the person, gather supporting evidence (texts, recordings, contracts, transfer records, etc.), and file a complaint with the police or prosecution. How the offense is framed and the evidence organized greatly affects the investigation and outcome, so having counsel from the complaint stage helps. Call 031-736-4345 or submit a consultation request.

Reacting on impulse can hurt you. (1) Check the crime, items, place, and period stated in the warrant (you may object to any seizure beyond that scope); (2) counsel has the right to be present at the search (Criminal Procedure Act Arts. 121 and 219), so contact a lawyer as soon as possible; (3) when it ends, obtain the seizure list (Art. 129) to confirm what was taken. Electronic data on phones and PCs should be seized selectively, only the parts relevant to the charge. Never delete materials — that is destruction of evidence. For urgent situations, call the emergency line 010-2253-4347 immediately.

There is a procedure to contest it. Once a detention warrant is requested, a pre-detention interrogation before a judge (warrant substantive examination, Criminal Procedure Act Art. 201-2) is held. The court decides based on (1) risk of flight (2) risk of destroying evidence (3) whether you have a fixed residence, so you present materials showing no flight risk, efforts at recovery or settlement, and that evidence cannot be destroyed. The interrogation is usually held the day after the request, leaving very little time — prepare immediately. Call the emergency line 010-2253-4347 right away.

Yes. During the investigation you can request a review of the legality of detention, and after indictment you can request bail, to contest your release. If the grounds for detention are resolved or circumstances change (recovery, settlement), the chances improve, so the sooner you prepare the better. Call the emergency line 010-2253-4347 right away.

The right to remain silent is guaranteed by law, and exercising it is not itself a basis for a guilty finding. What to say and what to hold back depends on the case, so it is safer to decide this with counsel. Call 031-736-4345.

Witness questioning is in principle voluntary, so there is no compulsion, but depending on what you say your status could later change to that of a suspect. Don't take it lightly; if the matter is sensitive, consult a lawyer before attending. Call 031-736-4345.

The key is to present, with evidence and early, the reasons the charge does not hold. Submitting an opinion that organizes favorable materials and points out the holes in the other side's claims works in your favor when the referral decision is made. Early response shapes the outcome, so sooner is better. Call 031-736-4345 or submit a consultation request.

A settlement is a very favorable factor. For offenses punishable only on the victim's wishes (e.g., assault, threat), the offender cannot be punished if the victim does not want it, and in other cases settlement and recovery are important grounds for non-prosecution or a reduced sentence. Because the effect depends on the timing, terms, and wording of the settlement, it must be handled carefully. Call 031-736-4345.

Yes. We handle fraud complaints related to e-commerce and consignment-sales (shopping-mall consignment operation) businesses. We organize the key issues — group complaints by multiple victims, whether there was intent to deceive or defraud, and the consignment contract structure and fund flows — and, from the earliest investigation stage, design your statement strategy together with victim-recovery and settlement plans. Our strength is investigation defense built on 21 years as a prosecutor. For specifics, please submit a consultation request or call 031-736-4345.

Yes. Under the Telecommunications Fraud Refund Act, payment suspension is meant only for voice phishing (telecommunications-based financial fraud) and does not apply to face-to-face business or ordinary commercial disputes (Art. 2(2) proviso). We respond in five steps — objection to the bank (Art. 7), an opinion to investigators, an injunction to lift the suspension, a main action to confirm the debt does not exist, and immediate notice of filing (Art. 9(5)). Missing the notice within two months of the public notice can extinguish the deposit claim, so early action is critical. Call 031-736-4345.

Yes. Illegal deposit-taking (principal-guaranteed fundraising from the general public), multi-level marketing (Door-to-Door Sales Act), and fraud (Criminal Act Art. 347) each have different elements, so we analyze the business substance, any principal-guarantee agreement, and intent to defraud issue by issue. For group complaints by multiple victims we defend each case individually, and where an account freeze is also involved we pursue lifting it in parallel. Our strength is investigation defense from 21 years as a prosecutor.

Not necessarily. Fraud requires intent to deceive and take money from the outset; if you had the intent and ability to perform at the time of contract but later could not due to a downturn or falling sales, that is in principle a civil breach, not fraud. However, investigators tend to read intent broadly when there are many victims or large amounts, so early response is decisive. The keys are (1) proving with evidence of your business at the time of contract — its substance, performance, and finances — that it could have been performed normally then, (2) organizing cases where returns, refunds, or settlements actually occurred, and (3) pinpointing that the non-performance was caused by external circumstances. Investigation defense built on 21 years as a prosecutor is a strength. Call 031-736-4345.

Yes. We handle fraud complaints related to e-commerce, solution sales, and consignment-operation businesses. The core questions are whether what you sold customers was a guaranteed return or the provision of a program or service (the nature of the contract), and whether the non-performance was deception or a mere breach. We organize the contract structure, settlements, and fund flows along with records of actual performance to build a defense from the earliest investigation stage. Call 031-736-4345.

Yes. Illegal deposit-taking (guaranteeing principal and raising funds from the general public) and fraud have different elements, so we analyze issue by issue — the substance of the business, the content of any guarantee, and whether there was intent to defraud. Evidence that the business actually operated and that returns or refunds were paid is important for the defense. Call 031-736-4345.

Criminal and civil cases use different standards, so the strategies must be separated. Criminal requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt, leaving more room to defend, while civil has a lower standard and tends to turn against you first — and the civil result being submitted as evidence in the criminal case is the greatest risk. So we (1) respond with one consistent set of facts across both, (2) build blocking logic (differences in standard of proof and parties) so an adverse civil finding does not carry over into the criminal case, and (3) make sure key evidence is placed in both. Group complaints by many victims are defended victim by victim. Call 031-736-4345.

There is such a risk, but not necessarily. Facts found in a civil judgment are influential reference material in the criminal case, but criminal requires stricter proof (beyond a reasonable doubt) and the judge decides independently, so a civil result does not automatically become a conviction. The keys are (1) analyzing on what premises and evidence the civil judgment was made, (2) highlighting the differences in issues, parties, and standard of proof between civil and criminal, and (3) drawing the line so the civil finding does not carry over. Call 031-736-4345.

If the amount gained is large, the punishment can be aggravated. For fraud, embezzlement, or breach of trust, when the gain is 500 million won or more the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (Art. 3) applies and the sentence rises sharply (3+ years' imprisonment for 500 million to 5 billion won). Because recovery or settlement and contesting the gain amount matter to sentencing, we review each complainant's claimed loss individually. Call 031-736-4345.

When an investigation drags on, sitting still is not advisable. A neglected case can leave only unfavorable material on the record, so the key is to actively place favorable grounds on the record. We (1) submit a defense opinion organizing, issue by issue, why the charge does not hold, (2) cite the reasoning of any no-charge or non-referral decisions from other agencies, and (3) request necessary witness or evidence review to move the case forward. If the decision keeps being delayed, the status can also be checked and urged. Call 031-736-4345.

Yes. A no-charge or non-referral decision — and its reasoning — from another police station or prosecutor's office on the same business structure is important defense material in the current case. Presenting not just the conclusion but the grounds for why no offense was found is persuasive. Call 031-736-4345.

Yes. Corporate bankruptcy is based on insolvency or excess of debt, and a pending criminal case against the representative is not a requirement either way. But bankruptcy and the criminal and civil cases affect one another, so the order and timing must be set strategically. We (1) organize the company's finances and creditor situation, (2) check how ongoing civil suits are handled in bankruptcy, and (3) coordinate the bankruptcy timing so it does not conflict with the criminal defense. Call 031-736-4345.

When the lease has ended and the deposit is not returned, first file for a lease-registration order (Housing Lease Protection Act Art. 3-3) so you keep your opposing power and priority even after moving out, then recover it through a deposit-return suit or a payment order. You can also claim delay interest. Call 031-736-4345 or submit a consultation request.

If the lease has lawfully ended, you can seek delivery (eviction) of the property. Demand delivery by certified mail, and if the tenant does not comply, file an eviction suit; you can also use an injunction against transfer of possession to keep the possession from being passed on. Call 031-736-4345.

If you had a resident registration and a confirmed date, you can receive a distribution in the auction through your opposing power and priority right, and a small-sum tenant can be paid a certain amount with top priority. Missing deadlines such as the distribution-demand cutoff is disadvantageous, so prompt checking is important. Call 031-736-4345.

You cannot be forced out immediately. Generally, once rent is overdue by two periods (three for commercial leases) or more, the landlord must terminate the contract and go through an eviction suit, which requires a judgment and enforcement. It is better to negotiate or prepare before arrears pile up. Call 031-736-4345.

If the landlord, without good reason, obstructs a contract with a new tenant and blocks your recovery of the premium, you can claim damages (premium protection under the Commercial Building Lease Protection Act). Proving the obstruction and the loss is key, so keep the relevant records organized. Call 031-736-4345.

Yes. If the amount is clear, you can recover it quickly through a payment order (summary procedure), and if the other side contests it, proceed with a loan-repayment suit. If there is a risk of loss, you can secure the other party's assets in advance with a provisional attachment. Call 031-736-4345 or submit a consultation request.

Yes. Even without a loan agreement, you can prove the loan and its amount with transfer records, texts, KakaoTalk, recordings, and the like. The more scattered the evidence, the more important it is to organize it early. Call 031-736-4345.

Yes. If the other party's breach (non-performance) caused you loss, you can claim damages for it. The contract, performance records, and proof of loss are key, and depending on the situation you can claim together with rescission of the contract. Call 031-736-4345.

If the contract went unperformed due to the other party's fault, you can rescind it and claim return of what you paid (restitution) plus damages. Conversely, if you rescind for your own reasons, the treatment of the down payment differs, so the contract terms and the circumstances must be reviewed together. Call 031-736-4345.

Yes. If the work is defective, you can demand repair of the defect, or claim damages in lieu of repair or for additional loss that arose. It is important to pinpoint the nature and scope of the defect with photos, estimates, or an appraisal. Call 031-736-4345.

If you were injured in a traffic accident, an assault, or the like, you can claim medical costs, lost income, and consolation money from the wrongdoer (or insurer). Secure the diagnosis, treatment records, and accident materials, and the proper amount is calculated by weighing the degree of fault and the scope of loss. Call 031-736-4345.

Yes. Before or during a lawsuit, a provisional attachment or injunction can tie up the other party's real estate, deposits, and the like in advance, preventing a situation where you win but cannot collect. If there are signs assets are being hidden, it is important to file promptly. Call 031-736-4345.

Yes. A prime contractor setting the unit price below the amount generally paid (e.g., a uniform rate cut, unilateral allocation, or below the lowest bid) or forcing an unfairly low price violates Article 4 of the Subcontracting Act (prohibition of unfair determination of subcontract payment). There are three avenues: (1) a report to the Korea Fair Trade Commission (corrective order, penalty surcharge); (2) subcontracting dispute mediation at the Korea Fair Trade Mediation Agency (fast, low-cost); and (3) a civil damages claim — a violation of Article 4 allows punitive damages of up to three times the loss (Article 35). Securing evidence — the basis for the unit price, the course of negotiations, estimates, the contract, and signs of a demand to cut the price — is key, and retaliation for reporting is prohibited. Call 031-736-4345 or submit a consultation request.

Once you have delivered the goods, the buyer can no longer withhold payment on a simultaneous-performance defense (Civil Act Art. 536), so you can claim and collect the price. If the amount is clear, recover it quickly through a payment order (summary procedure); if the buyer contests it, proceed with a suit for the purchase price; and if there is a risk of loss, secure the buyer's assets in advance with a provisional attachment. You can also claim delay damages for the unpaid period. Call 031-736-4345 or submit a consultation request.

Depending on the situation, you combine civil, criminal, and public-support measures. (1) File for a lease-registration order (Housing Lease Protection Act Art. 3-3) so you keep your opposing power and priority even after moving out, and prepare a deposit-return claim; (2) if you have a deposit-return guarantee (e.g., from the Korea Housing & Urban Guarantee Corporation, HUG), claim repayment from the guarantor; and (3) if there are signs you were deceived by someone who had no intention or ability to return the deposit from the start, you can file a fraud complaint (Criminal Act Art. 347). If you meet the requirements, you may also apply for a victim determination under the Special Act on Support for Jeonse Fraud Victims and Housing Stability to receive support. Preserving evidence early and managing deadlines are important. Call 031-736-4345 or submit a consultation request.

If the other party took your investment by deceiving you while having no intention or ability to return it from the start, it can be fraud. But this is distinct from a mere investment loss, so proving the explanations and promises made at the time of solicitation and where the funds were actually used is important. You can pursue a criminal complaint together with a civil claim for return. Call 031-736-4345.

In partnership or company-fund disputes, whether embezzlement or breach of trust is made out turns on whose money it was and with what authority it was used. The key to the defense is organizing the ownership of the funds, the authority to use them, and the terms of the partnership agreement to prove it was legitimate execution. Call 031-736-4345.

Merely failing to repay borrowed money is not fraud. It must be proven that at the time of borrowing you had no intention or ability to repay and deceived the lender (intent for loan fraud), and repayment efforts and your financial situation are important factors. Call 031-736-4345.

Recovery depends greatly on where the funds went and how quickly you act. First preserve the chats, transfer records, and the other party's account, then pursue a fraud complaint together with measures to trace and freeze the funds. The funds scatter as time passes, so early response is important. Call 031-736-4345.

You first need to identify the cause of the withdrawal freeze or account lock (suspected terms violation, a payment-suspension request from investigators, a dispute report, etc.) to set the response. For a legitimate transaction, you can explain and object to the exchange; against an improper freeze, you can take steps to have it lifted. Call 031-736-4345.

You can file even without knowing the other party. Based on wallet addresses, transaction records, and chat logs, the person can be identified through the investigation, and measures regarding the exchange the funds passed through are pursued in parallel. It is important to preserve evidence quickly before it disappears. Call 031-736-4345.

It depends on whether it is an uncontested or a judicial divorce. For a judicial divorce, the first step is organizing, along with materials supporting the grounds for divorce, the proof for each issue — property division, custody, consolation money (property details, how the marriage broke down, etc.). Call 031-736-4345 or submit a consultation request.

Property division splits the property formed and maintained together during the marriage according to contribution, and a full-time homemaker is recognized as contributing through housework and childcare and can receive a substantial share. How you prove the scope of the property and each person's contribution determines the amount. Call 031-736-4345.

Custody is decided with the child's welfare foremost, weighing the caregiving environment, the primary caregiver, and the child's wishes. Child support is calculated based on the parents' income and the child's age, and if it is not paid after being set, there are means to compel performance. Call 031-736-4345.

Yes. You can claim consolation money for emotional harm from the affair partner who took part in your spouse's infidelity and infringed the marriage. Securing proof of the infidelity (messages, photos, circumstances) is the key. Call 031-736-4345.

Inheritance passes on debts as well as assets, so if the debt is greater you should choose renunciation of inheritance or qualified acceptance (paying debts only within the inherited estate). Both must in principle be filed with the court within three months of learning the inheritance has commenced (Civil Act Art. 1019), so not missing the deadline is most important. Call 031-736-4345 or submit a consultation request.

Yes. An heir has a legally guaranteed minimum share, the legal reserve, so if a particular heir monopolized the estate through lifetime gifts or a will, you can claim return of the legal reserve. It is important to establish the scope of the gifted and inherited property and to meet the claim deadline. Call 031-736-4345.

Yes. A gift a particular heir received during the decedent's life (a special benefit) is treated as a share received in advance when calculating inheritance shares and can be accounted for, and if it infringes the legal reserve it becomes subject to return. Proving the timing, content, and amount of the gift is key. Call 031-736-4345.

Several means of compulsion are available in stages. If you have an enforcement title — a judgment, a mediation protocol, or a child-support-obligation record — you first apply to the family court for a performance order (Family Litigation Act Art. 64); if the obligor still fails to pay three or more periodic installments, you can seek detention (same Act Art. 68, up to 30 days). Compulsory execution such as attachment of the other party's assets or wages is also possible. If non-payment continues despite a performance order, you can, through the Child Support Agency, request suspension of the obligor's driver's license (Act on Enforcement and Support of Child Support Payment Art. 21-3), a travel ban (Art. 21-4), and public disclosure of the obligor's name (Art. 21-5). Call 031-736-4345 or submit a consultation request.

Co-heirs in principle divide the estate by agreement (Civil Act Art. 1013), but if no agreement is reached, you can petition the family court for an estate-division adjudication and have it divided by the court. An heir who lived with and cared for the decedent for a considerable period, or specially contributed to maintaining or increasing the estate, can assert a contributory portion (Civil Act Art. 1008-2), and an heir whose legal reserve was infringed by lifetime gifts can raise a legal-reserve return claim within the division. Proving the scope of the estate and the gifts is key. Call 031-736-4345.

When the spouses agree to divorce, the steps are: receive the family court's divorce guidance, go through a reconsideration period, obtain confirmation of the intent to divorce, and then report it. The reconsideration period runs from the day you receive the guidance — three months if there is a child to raise (including an unborn child), one month if not (Civil Act Art. 836-2) — and the court may shorten or waive it where there are urgent circumstances such as violence. If there is a child to raise, you must submit an agreement on custody and parental authority, and the family court prepares a child-support-obligation record (which serves as the basis for compulsory execution if payment is not made). Call 031-736-4345 or submit a consultation request.

Request → Intake → Attorney review → We contact you to schedule a consultation.

Consultations are paid. The exact fee varies by case type and consultation method, so please call 031-736-4345 to inquire.

Once your consultation request is received, we contact you promptly on business days to arrange a schedule. For urgent criminal matters such as arrest or detention, call our emergency line at 010-2253-4347.

We offer in-person and phone consultations. Our office is at 401, 4F, 373 Sanseong-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si (about a 5-minute walk from Exit 6 of Dandaeogeori Station, Line 8). For distant or busy clients, phone consultation is available. (We do not offer video consultations.)

Bringing a brief timeline of what happened makes the consultation far more accurate. If you have related documents (contracts, complaints/accusations, police or prosecution summons, screenshots of texts/KakaoTalk/email, transfer records, etc.), please bring them. If you are unsure what is needed, just bring whatever you have.

Fees vary by case type, complexity, court level, and expected duration, and generally consist of a retainer and a success fee. At the consultation we clearly explain the expected cost and how the matter will proceed, so please share your situation first. For specific figures, call 031-736-4345.

Yes. After we take your case, we keep you updated on key steps (investigation, hearings, filings, etc.) as they happen, and consult you in advance whenever an important decision is needed. You can reach us with questions at any time.

Go to the "AI Case Analysis" menu, select a case type, enter details, and AI will analyze it.

AI analysis is for reference only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult an attorney for legal opinions.

Yes, we offer an AI-powered certified letter drafting service. Download it from the AI services page.

The AI self-service tools you use directly on this site (case analysis, etc.) are free. However, consultations and case engagements handled directly by the attorney are paid, and fees vary by matter.

AI-generated documents are drafts. We recommend attorney review before actual use.

It is a service where AI simulates criminal case procedures step by step to guide you through the expected process. Download it from the AI services page.

Yes, AI analyzes sentencing guidelines for criminal cases and predicts expected sentencing outcomes. Download it from the AI services page.

It organizes similar precedents and key issues based on publicly available Korean case law and statutes. However, AI analysis is a reference draft only and does not guarantee the outcome of an actual case. For an accurate assessment, always have an attorney review it.

Our main number is 031-736-4345.

Please contact us at ibiubu70@gmail.com.

Yes, we accept 24-hour emergency consultations. For urgent criminal matters (arrest, detention, search and seizure), please call the emergency line directly at 010-2253-4347. For general consultation booking or inquiries, call our main number 031-736-4345.

Yes. We offer consultations in English and Chinese. Let us know your preferred language when you request a consultation and we will prepare accordingly.