Where to Go When You Need Legal Help

We all want the best for you – we want you to come to Korea, have an awesome time, meet lovely friends, perhaps someone to love every once in awhile, take award-winning photos, lose those last ten pounds, complete your PhD and win so much money that you can buy a small country off the coast of Australia (no, we don’t mean New Zealand, kiwi friends).

Just the same, things happen. They happen when you’re at home, and they might just happen while you’re here. Though Korea is generally safe, given that you’re traveling and most likely working with a major language barrier, things could possibly take a turn for the worse.

If so, don’t panic. Instead, take a few deep breaths, and seek sound advice from professionals. It’s possible to get the problem resolved or at least find some kind of solution. If the resources below won’t help, ask the people on our Forum if they might possibly have had the same problem, and feel free to e-mail us if you need some specific guidance (we might be able to refer you to a good service, translate something or offer a shoulder to cry on at the very least).

TheYeogiyo.com can’t be held responsible for advice or transactions that take place between you and the following companies, but we’ll gladly take their names down if they’re not as reputable as we believe.

Association for Teachers of English in Korea (ATEK)

* provides free basic information to all English teachers regarding legal issues (as well as employment problems, difficulties with activities of daily life, health care system concerns, etc.)
* Web site: http://atek.or.kr/

Bar Association of Seoul

* includes a legal counseling centre for migrant workers regarding unfairly delayed wage payment, industrial disaster damage, brutal acts by employers and other human rights violations.
* The SBA lawyers pay counseling visits to Seoul Chosunjock Church and the Philippine Culture House on Sundays
* 02-3476-8080
* Web site: http://www.seoulbar.or.kr/

Kangnam Labour Law Firm – Mr. Bong-Soo Jung

* Turn to him for help with a shady hagwon or other employer
*Recommended by foreign lawyers
* Authored a bilingual English-Korean reference on employment and labor law
* Where to go: Champs Elysee Centre, 11th Floor (Seollung Station, Exit 1) – (02) 539-0098
* Web site: http://www.k-labor.com/tiki-index.php

Korean Legal Aid Corporation

* Will help for free
* Dial 132 from anywhere in Korea or visit their offices
* You might need a translator
* Web site: http://www.klac.or.kr/ (Korean only)

Ministry of Labour

* Will help with unpaid wages (including severance and overtime), sexual harassment and industrial accident cases, unfair dismissal, suspension, transfer, reduction wages or other unfair labour practices
* Call 1350 and press 7 for English between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
* Web site: http://english.molab.go.kr/english/mol/MOL.jsp

The Seoul Global Centre for Foreigners

* Offer free legal, tax, real estate and labour help every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 2 – 5 p.m.
* Web site: http://global.seoul.go.kr/

Online Resources:

EFL-Law - http://www.efl-law.com/
Know Your Rights – a must read - http://atek.or.kr/ETG2K/ETG2K-Chapter%206.pdf
Korea Law - http://www.korealaw.com/
Korea Law Blog - http://www.korealawblog.com/
National Laws on Labour, Social Security and Related Human Rights - http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/WEBTEXT/46401/65062/E97KOR01.htm#a1
TESOL Law - http://www.tesol-law.com/