English-Speaking Criminal Defense Lawyer in Korea
Facing a police investigation, arrest, or criminal charge in Korea? You communicate directly with the Korean criminal defense attorney handling your case — in English, not through an interpreter or an intake team. Attorney Doyun Lee is a Korean Bar Association-certified criminal law specialist in Seoul who represents foreign nationals nationwide, from the first police interview through prosecution, trial and appeal.
- ·KBA-certified criminal law specialist (대한변호사협회 등록 형사전문변호사)
- ·You speak directly with the attorney handling your case — in English
- ·Police interviews · digital evidence and forensics · sexual offense allegations · fraud
- ·Nationwide representation · fully remote retainer · published fee schedule
A brief initial email describing your matter is free. Detailed legal advice or evidence review is a paid advisory service (KRW 550,000). Email is available in English and Chinese.
Before You Fly to Korea
Planning to enter Korea and worried about an existing criminal matter?
Don't search for a lawyer after you're arrested at the airport. Have your Korean criminal defense attorney in place before you fly, with a Provisional Retainer arranged remotely in advance.
Pre-Entry Criminal Risk Review →If the police have already contacted you
- Do not give a statement before speaking to a lawyer. In Korea you have the right to counsel during police questioning.
- Do not delete messages, reset your phone, or contact the other party to smooth it over. Deletion is itself read as a fact in a Korean investigation.
- Write down the timeline while it is fresh, and keep the summons, case number, police station name and interview date together.
- Email that summary to dylee@newlawyer.co.kr with URGENT in the subject line. A brief initial email is free.
What Attorney Doyun Lee handles in English
Also defended in English
Speak directly with the attorney handling your case
Attorney Doyun Lee reviews your case, advises on your statement strategy, and can attend a police interview with you. You can discuss those decisions directly with the lawyer responsible for your defense.
You communicate directly with the Korean criminal defense attorney handling your case — in English, not through an interpreter or an intake team. An interpreter can translate a question. Only the lawyer defending you can decide which facts are decisive, where a Korean-language record is inaccurate, and what should not be said at all.
Published fees, not “contact us for pricing”
Reference fees in Korean won. The final scope and fee are confirmed in writing before any retainer.
| Brief Initial Email | Free |
| Phone Consultation in English | KRW 110,000 / 30 min |
| In-Person Consultation in English | KRW 550,000 / 30 min |
| Legal Analysis / Evidence Review | KRW 550,000 |
| Investigation-Stage Criminal Defense | KRW 7,700,000~11,000,000 |
| Criminal Trial Defense | KRW 8,800,000~13,200,000 |
| Criminal Complaint Representation | KRW 6,600,000~9,900,000 |
| Settlement Negotiation | KRW 2,200,000~5,500,000 |
Real outcomes, explained in English
See all case results in English →
Results reflect individual cases and do not guarantee the outcome of any similar matter.
Also handled for foreign residents
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an English-speaking criminal defense lawyer in Korea I can speak with directly?
Yes. Attorney Doyun Lee is a Korean Bar Association-certified criminal law specialist at Newlawyer Law Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, who consults with foreign clients in English directly, rather than routing them through an interpreter or intake staff. A brief initial email describing your matter is free: dylee@newlawyer.co.kr.
I received a police summons in Korea as a foreigner. What should I do first?
Do not give a statement before consulting a lawyer, and do not delete messages or reset your phone. In Korea you have the right to counsel during police questioning. Write down the timeline while it is fresh, keep the summons with the case number, police station name and interview date, and email that summary marked URGENT to dylee@newlawyer.co.kr.
Can a foreigner hire a Korean criminal lawyer without visiting the office?
Yes. Cases are accepted entirely remotely and nationwide. After the first email, the retainer is signed electronically and work begins immediately, so you do not need to travel to Seoul to retain counsel.
How much does a criminal defense lawyer in Korea cost for a foreigner?
Published reference fees: a brief initial email is free; a 30-minute phone consultation in English is KRW 110,000; a 30-minute in-person consultation in English is KRW 550,000; legal analysis or evidence review is KRW 550,000; investigation-stage criminal defense is KRW 7,700,000–11,000,000; criminal trial defense is KRW 8,800,000–13,200,000; criminal complaint representation is KRW 6,600,000–9,900,000. Consultation fees are waived if you retain the office for the matter. The full schedule is published at koreacriminalattorney.com/en/legal-fees.
Will a criminal case in Korea cancel my visa or get me deported?
It can, depending on the charge and the final disposition. An active investigation can also trigger a travel ban before any decision is made. Because of this, the criminal defense and the immigration consequence should be reviewed together from the start rather than handled by two separate offices.
Is the interpreter provided at the police station enough?
No. An interpreter translates the questions asked; they do not review the case file, decide what should not be said, or check whether the Korean-language statement you are asked to sign matches what you actually said. Those are defense decisions, and they belong to your lawyer.
What kinds of criminal cases does Attorney Doyun Lee handle for foreigners?
Sexual offense allegations and digital sex crimes (illegal filming, obscene communication, deepfake and CSEM allegations), false accusation defense, fraud and voice-phishing allegations, assault, threats and stalking, DUI and drug allegations, and victim-side criminal complaints. Attorney Doyun Lee represents both people under investigation and victims filing complaints.
Can I leave Korea while a criminal investigation is ongoing?
Not always. A travel ban (출국금지) can be imposed during an active investigation, particularly for serious charges, and leaving without confirming your status can create additional legal problems. Confirm with a lawyer before booking a flight.
I was sexually assaulted in Korea as a foreigner. Can a Korean lawyer represent me as a victim?
Yes. Under Article 27 of the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, a victim of a sexual violence crime and the victim legal representative may appoint a lawyer in the criminal proceedings, and a victim lawyer can attend the victim interview and state opinions. If you have no lawyer, the prosecutor may appoint a state-appointed victim lawyer. Attorney Doyun Lee, a Korean Bar Association-certified criminal law specialist, handles victim complaint representation for foreign nationals, in English and, by email, in Chinese. Details: https://koreacriminalattorney.com/en/victim-lawyer-korea
English legal guides for foreigners in Korea
Practical explainers on police summons, the right to remain silent, phone submission and forensics, prosecutor referral, settlement, and visa consequences — written for foreign nationals dealing with a Korean case.
Browse the English legal guides →Contact
Tell me what happened.
Send the charge or allegation, the police station and case number if you have them, your interview date, and a short timeline. That is enough for a first read.
Use the consultation chat on this website to submit your case summary, contact details, and preferred consultation time. Attorney Doyun Lee will contact you using the information you provide.
Phone consultation in English: 30 minutes, KRW 110,000. In-person consultation in English: 30 minutes, KRW 550,000.
The consultation fee is waived if you retain Attorney Doyun Lee for the matter.
Advertising Attorney: Doyun Lee, KBA-certified criminal law specialist, Newlawyer Law Office, 11F Seyoung J-Tower, 525 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul. This page is attorney advertising and general legal information, not legal advice for an individual case. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and emailing this office alone does not create an attorney-client relationship.