Korean Payment Order Procedure for Foreign Creditors
A payment order (지급명령, jigeup myeongryeong) is a documents-only court procedure for collecting a clear, undisputed debt from a debtor in Korea. It can be quicker and cheaper than a lawsuit, but it only works if the debtor can actually be served in Korea.
A Korean payment order (jigeup myeongryeong) is a documents-only court procedure, with no hearing, for collecting a clear, undisputed debt. It only works if the debtor can actually be served in Korea; service by public notice is not available, and the court may transfer the case to an ordinary lawsuit. If the debtor objects after service, the case becomes an ordinary lawsuit. A final payment order can be used for compulsory execution against the debtor’s assets in Korea.
Many overseas creditors hear that Korea has a fast route for unpaid invoices and loans, then lose time because the debtor cannot be served or objects. Knowing the limits before you file saves both money and months.
Attorney Doyun Lee, a KBA-certified attorney, consults with foreign clients directly in English and handles matters remotely nationwide. The fees below are the published reference fees; no other prices are implied.
What a payment order is
A payment order is decided on paper at the Korean court, with no hearing. You file an application with the claim and your evidence, and the court orders the debtor to pay. It suits debts that are undisputed and backed by clear evidence, such as an invoice, a loan or an unpaid service fee.
The debtor must be served in Korea
The order has to be actually delivered to the debtor in Korea. Service by public notice is not available for a payment order, and if the debtor cannot be served the court may transfer the case to an ordinary lawsuit. If you do not have a usable Korean address, tell us at the start, because it changes the options.
If the debtor objects
If the debtor files an objection within two weeks of service, the case becomes an ordinary lawsuit. That lawsuit is a separate engagement. If there is no objection, the order becomes final.
After the order becomes final
A final payment order can be used for compulsory execution against the debtor’s assets in Korea. Knowing early where the debtor holds bank accounts, receivables or property helps you decide whether this route is worth taking.
Documents to prepare
The most useful documents are the contract or IOU, bank transfer records, messages in which the debtor acknowledges the debt, the debtor’s name and Korean address, and the business registration details if the debtor is a company.
Do I need to come to Korea?
Foreign creditors can often proceed through a Korean attorney without travelling to Korea, working by email and video or phone. Whether that is possible depends on your case, and no outcome can be guaranteed.
Published fees
Payment order application, drafted and filed: KRW 2,200,000~3,300,000. A demand letter beforehand, where useful: KRW 1,650,000. If the case turns into a lawsuit, the civil first instance is a separate engagement at KRW 5,500,000~8,800,000. A first review is KRW 550,000 and is credited against the retainer if you retain the firm. Court fees and postage are charged separately.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Korean payment order?
A court procedure decided on documents only, with no hearing, for debts that are undisputed and backed by clear evidence. The court orders the debtor to pay.
Can a payment order be served by public notice?
No. The debtor must be actually served in Korea, and if that fails the court may transfer the case to an ordinary lawsuit.
What happens if the debtor objects?
If the debtor objects within two weeks of service, it becomes an ordinary lawsuit, which is a separate engagement.
Do I have to travel to Korea?
Often not. Foreign creditors can frequently proceed through a Korean attorney remotely, but this depends on the case and nothing is guaranteed.
What does it cost?
The published fee for a payment order application is KRW 2,200,000~3,300,000. A demand letter is KRW 1,650,000 and a civil first instance, if needed, is KRW 5,500,000~8,800,000 as a separate engagement. A first review is KRW 550,000, credited against the retainer. Court fees and postage are extra.
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Last reviewed: October 2026 · Attorney Doyun Lee (KBA-certified criminal law specialist)
Advertising Attorney: Doyun Lee, KBA-certified criminal law specialist, Newlawyer Law Office. This page is general legal information and does not guarantee any specific result.