Criminal Defense in Korea
English-Speaking Criminal Lawyer in Korea for Foreigners
Former Prosecutor-Led Criminal Defense for Police Investigations, Arrests and Criminal Charges in South Korea
If you are a foreign national under investigation or facing charges in Korea, the first decisions usually matter more than the last ones. YUSU Lawfirm defends criminal cases in Korea and works with international clients in English, from the first call by the police through the prosecutor’s decision and, where necessary, trial.
YUSU Lawfirm (법무법인 유수) is a Korean law firm that represents foreign nationals in criminal cases in South Korea. The criminal defense team is led by Soobin You, a Korean-licensed attorney and former prosecutor. The firm provides English-language legal assistance to foreign clients facing police investigations, prosecution and criminal trials in Korea, and maintains offices in Seoul (Mapo) and Gyeongju.
Two guides set out the moments where this work actually happens: what the first 48 hours after an arrest require, and how a foreign victim reports a crime or files a complaint. The people who handle these cases are listed on our team page.
Where cases are won or lost
The first police interview shapes everything that follows
In Korea, what you say in your first police interview is written into a formal statement (피의자신문조서) that follows the case to the prosecutor and, if the case is indicted, into court. Correcting a statement later is far harder than getting it right the first time.
Foreign nationals face an additional problem: the interview is conducted in Korean, the legal terms do not map neatly onto English ones, and an interpreter is there to translate words — not to tell you what a question is actually asking or what a particular answer will mean for your case.
If you have already been contacted, start with police investigation support.
How a Korean criminal case moves
Most criminal matters in Korea follow the same path, and the point of leverage is earlier than most people expect.
Police investigation and interview of the suspect and witnesses.
The case file is sent to the prosecutor, who may investigate further.
The prosecutor decides whether to indict, and in what form.
If the case is indicted, it proceeds to trial in a Korean court.
Why YUSU Lawfirm
We know how Korean criminal investigations work — because we have worked inside the system.
Prosecution, police investigation and defense. Our team has worked on every side of the Korean criminal justice system, and international clients deal with us in English rather than through a chain of intermediaries.
Former prosecutor
Soobin You began her legal career as a public prosecutor at the Daegu and Uijeongbu District Prosecutors’ Offices, where she directed criminal investigations and prosecuted cases in court. She now leads the firm’s criminal defense work.
Former police investigator
Senior advisor Chunggeol Lee spent 13 years as a Korean police investigator, including the Voice Phishing Investigation Team at Gyeongsan Police Station and the Criminal Affairs Division at Gyeongju Police Station.
English-language assistance
Deputy Managing Attorney Kyungmin Kim was educated in the United States and communicates directly with English-speaking clients, so instructions and advice do not depend on an interpreter.
Criminal matters we handle
Criminal cases involving foreign nationals in Korea
The categories below are the ones international clients contact us about most often. Each links to related reading on this site.
Police investigation
Summons, questioning, written statements and what happens once the file leaves the police station.
Police investigation support →Sex offense allegations
Allegations arising from relationships, nightlife or public transport, including cases turning on consent and intoxication.
Sexual offense defense →Drug cases
Prescription-related charges and controlled substance allegations under Korea’s narcotics laws.
Case note: drug charge →DUI and traffic offenses
Drink driving, repeat offenses, and accidents where leaving the scene is treated as hit-and-run.
Case note: traffic case →Fraud allegations
Investment and loan disputes treated as fraud, voice phishing accusations, and victims who are themselves investigated.
Case note: fraud allegation →Stalking and assault
Contact after a relationship ends, and physical altercations reported to the police.
Guide: Anti-Stalking Act →Visa and immigration consequences
How a criminal charge or conviction can affect your visa status and stay in Korea.
Will a charge affect my visa? →Filing a complaint as a victim
If you are the person harmed, a criminal complaint is how the matter formally enters the system.
Criminal complaint →Other legal matters
Civil disputes, divorce and family matters, contracts and immigration handled by the same team.
All legal services →Case notes describe specific matters we have written about and are provided for background only. Every case turns on its own facts, and no outcome can be promised.
Frequently asked
Criminal defense in Korea: questions foreigners ask
Can I get an English-speaking criminal lawyer in Korea?
Yes. YUSU Lawfirm works with international clients in English. Deputy Managing Attorney Kyungmin Kim was educated in the United States and speaks with English-speaking clients directly, so advice does not have to pass through an interpreter. Court and investigation proceedings themselves are conducted in Korean, and a court interpreter is provided where required.
The Korean police contacted me. Do I need a lawyer before the interview?
Speaking to a lawyer before the interview is usually the most useful thing you can do, because your first statement is recorded and follows the case. See police investigation support for what the interview involves and how a lawyer prepares you for it.
Can a lawyer attend a police interview with me in Korea?
Yes. A defense lawyer may attend the suspect interview with you. The role is different from an interpreter’s: an interpreter converts language, while a lawyer advises you on what a question is directed at and what your answer may mean for the case.
Do I have to be in Korea for the whole case?
It depends on the stage and the charge. Some steps require your attendance in person and others can be handled by your lawyer. This is one of the first things to settle, particularly if your visa or work depends on travel, so raise it at the outset.
Will a criminal case affect my visa in Korea?
It can, depending on the offense and the outcome, and immigration consequences are worth considering from the start rather than after the criminal case ends. We have written about this in will a criminal charge affect my visa in Korea?
What does “former prosecutor” actually change about my defense?
It changes what the defense anticipates. Soobin You directed investigations and prosecuted cases before moving to defense, so the firm reads a case the way the other side is likely to read it — what will be asked, what the file needs to look like, and where a case is most likely to be decided.
When should I contact a lawyer?
Earlier is materially better than later. Most of the leverage in a Korean criminal case sits in the investigation stage, before any indictment decision is made — a point we explain in why you should hire a lawyer during the investigation.
Case guides from our criminal practice
- Charged with petty theft in Korea
- Accused of conspiracy in a fraud case
- Illegal filming charges and sentencing
- Prescription medication treated as a drug charge
- Leaving the scene of a traffic accident
- Lending a bank account or SIM card
- Accusations made on public transport
- Appealing a suspended sentence
- Child Welfare Act allegations
- Facing a false sexual assault accusation
Contacted by the police in Korea?
Talk to our English-speaking criminal defense team before your interview.
Accused, but not sure how serious it is?
What are you actually facing?
Send a brief summary, the current stage and any upcoming date. No documents or sensitive evidence are needed now. YUSU Lawfirm’s legal team will review your inquiry and contact you using the details you provide. We will request any additional information separately and explain any consultation or representation fees before you decide whether to proceed. Your inquiry will not be published.