Check Your Korean Criminal Case Before Traveling to Korea

Are you living overseas and concerned that an old criminal case may still be pending in South Korea?

Perhaps you were questioned by the Korean police many years ago, received a complaint while living in Korea, or left Korea without knowing what ultimately happened to the case.

You may now be wondering:

Do I have a suspended prosecution case in Korea?
Am I wanted by the Korean police or prosecutors?
Is there an old arrest warrant?
Could I have a problem when I enter Korea?
How can I resolve an old Korean criminal case while living overseas?

Attorney Bom Lee assists foreign nationals and individuals living overseas in identifying and addressing old criminal cases in South Korea.

Locating an Old Korean Criminal Case

Even if you do not know the case number, investigating agency, or prosecutor’s office, it may still be possible to locate the case using available identifying information and details about the underlying matter.

Depending on the circumstances, I can assist in determining:

• Whether an old criminal case can be located in Korea
• Which police station or prosecutors’ office handled the matter
• The case number
• The alleged criminal offense
• The complainant or other relevant party, where available
• Whether the case was suspended because the suspect could not be located
• The current procedural status of the case
• Whether additional steps are necessary to determine wanted status or the existence of an arrest warrant

What Is a Suspended Prosecution Case?

In Korea, an investigation may be suspended when the authorities cannot locate or question a suspect. This is commonly referred to as 기소중지 (giso-jungji).

A suspended case does not necessarily disappear simply because many years have passed.

If you left Korea while an investigation was pending, an old case may still need to be addressed before or after you return to Korea.

Importantly, the existence of a suspended case does not automatically mean that you will be arrested at the airport. The consequences depend on the status of the particular case, including whether any wanted-person registration, arrest warrant, or other measure remains in effect.

For this reason, it is advisable to investigate the case before making assumptions about what will happen upon entering Korea.

Resolving the Case

Once the old case has been identified, the next step depends on its status and the underlying allegations.

In an appropriate case, I can assist with reopening the suspended investigation, communicating with the assigned prosecutor or investigator, reviewing whether your personal appearance in Korea is required, and developing a strategy for resolving the matter.

For financial or fraud-related cases, resolution may sometimes involve contacting the complainant, repaying an outstanding amount or reaching a settlement, and presenting those circumstances to the prosecution.

Other cases may require a different approach.

No particular outcome can be guaranteed, but identifying the case before traveling to Korea allows you to understand the situation and consider your options before taking further action.

You Do Not Need to Be in Korea to Start

If you are currently in the United States or another country, you may be able to begin the process through a Korean attorney without first traveling to Korea.

Depending on the case, you may be asked to provide:

• A copy of your passport
• Your full legal name and date of birth
• Any previous Korean or foreign registration number, if applicable
• Your former address or telephone number in Korea
• Approximate dates when you lived in Korea
• Information about any prior police investigation, complaint, loan, business dispute, accident, or other incident
• Any old documents, emails, letters, or notices relating to the matter

You do not need to know your Korean case number before contacting me.

Before You Book a Flight to Korea

If you believe that you may have an unresolved criminal case in Korea, it can be helpful to investigate the matter before entering the country.

An old criminal case does not necessarily mean that you will be arrested upon arrival. At the same time, you should not assume that an old case has disappeared merely because you have not heard from Korean authorities for many years.

The first step is to determine what case exists and what its current status is.

Contact Attorney Bom Lee

I am a Korean attorney based in Seoul and assist foreign nationals and overseas clients with criminal matters in South Korea.

If you are concerned about an old criminal complaint, suspended prosecution, wanted status, or possible arrest warrant in Korea, you may contact me before traveling.

Please provide as much information as you currently have. Even if you have very limited information about the old case, I can first assess whether there is a practical way to identify it.

Attorney Bom Lee
Law Office of Bom Lee
Seoul, Republic of Korea

leebom.lawyer@gmail.com

whatsapp: 82-10-54836226

Korean Criminal Case Check for Overseas Clients
Suspended Prosecution (기소중지) · Old Criminal Cases · Wanted Status · Arrest Warrant Issues · Reopening and Resolution of Criminal Cases