Korean Criminal Law Terms, Explained
Police notices, court papers and text messages in a Korean criminal case use terms that do not translate neatly. Find the Korean word, then read what it means for you.
Agencies
| Korean | Romanization | Term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 경찰# | gyeongchal | Police | Handles the investigation of most criminal cases from the first interview onward. |
| 공소청# | gongsocheong | Prosecution Service | Since October 2, 2026, decides whether to charge, applies for warrants and conducts trials. It replaced the former Prosecutors' Office (검찰청). |
| 중대범죄수사청# | jungdaebeomjoesusacheong | Serious Crimes Investigation Office | Since October 2, 2026, investigates a defined list of serious crimes such as major corruption and large-scale financial crime. |
| 검찰청# | geomchalcheong | Prosecutors' Office (former) | The agency abolished on October 2, 2026. Older documents and websites still use this name. |
People and status
| Korean | Romanization | Term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 피의자# | piuija | Suspect | A person under investigation who has not been charged. |
| 피고인# | pigoin | Defendant | A person who has been charged and whose case is before a court. |
| 고소인# | gosoin | Complainant | The alleged victim (or legal representative) who filed a criminal complaint. |
| 참고인# | chamgoin | Witness (interviewed) | A person questioned as a witness, not as a suspect. Status can change, so confirm it before the interview. |
| 국선변호인# | gukseonbyeonhoin | Court-appointed lawyer | A lawyer appointed by the court in defined situations, for example at a detention hearing when you have no lawyer. |
Investigation
| Korean | Romanization | Term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 출석요구# | chulseokyogu | Summons to appear | A request to come to the police station for questioning. The date can often be discussed with the investigator. |
| 피의자신문조서# | piuijasinmunjoseo | Suspect interview record | The Korean-language written record of your questioning. Review it carefully before signing. |
| 진술거부권# | jinsulgeobugwon | Right to remain silent | The right to refuse to answer questions, in whole or in part. |
| 압수수색# | apsususaek | Search and seizure | Seizing items or data under a warrant, or in limited situations without one. Phones are commonly seized in digital-crime cases. |
| 포렌식# | porensik | Digital forensics | Extraction and analysis of data from a phone or computer. You can ask to take part in selecting relevant data. |
| 체포# | chepo | Arrest | Short-term custody. Within 48 hours, investigators must apply for a detention warrant or release the person. |
| 구속# | gusok | Detention (pre-trial) | Longer custody ordered by a judge after a hearing, based on factors such as flight risk or risk of destroying evidence. |
| 영장실질심사# | yeongjangsiljilsimsa | Detention warrant hearing | The hearing where a judge decides whether to issue a detention warrant. |
| 출국정지# | chulgukjeongji | Exit ban | An order preventing a person from leaving Korea while a case is pending. |
Decisions after investigation
| Korean | Romanization | Term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 송치# | songchi | Referral to prosecution | Police send the case to the Prosecution Service for a charging decision. |
| 불송치# | bulsongchi | Non-referral (police closure) | Police close the case without sending it for charges. The complainant can object, generally within three months of notice. |
| 불기소# | bulgiso | Non-prosecution decision | The Prosecution Service decides not to charge. Grounds include insufficient evidence (혐의없음). |
| 기소유예# | gisoyuye | Suspended prosecution | The case is not charged even though the offense is considered established, in light of the circumstances. It is not a conviction, but it is recorded. |
| 구약식 / 약식명령# | yaksingmyeongnyeong | Summary fine order | A fine imposed through a paper procedure without a trial hearing. You can request a formal trial within 7 days of receiving it. |
| 기소# | giso | Indictment (charge) | The formal filing of charges with a court. |
Court and outcomes
| Korean | Romanization | Term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 선고유예# | seongoyuye | Suspension of sentence | The court finds guilt but withholds the sentence. If two years pass without incident, it is treated as if no conviction occurred. |
| 집행유예# | jiphaengyuye | Suspended sentence | A prison sentence is imposed but not carried out unless the suspension is revoked. It is a conviction. |
| 벌금형# | beolgeumhyeong | Fine | A criminal fine. It is a criminal conviction, unlike an administrative penalty. |
| 무죄# | mujoe | Acquittal (not guilty) | The court finds the charge not proven. |
Victims and settlement
| Korean | Romanization | Term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 합의# | hapui | Settlement | An agreement between suspect and victim, often including compensation. It can strongly affect the outcome but does not automatically end every case. |
| 처벌불원서# | cheobeolburwonseo | Letter of non-punishment | A victim's written statement that they do not want the offender punished. For some offenses it ends the case; for others it is a mitigating factor. |
| 공탁# | gongtak | Court deposit | Depositing compensation with the court when a direct settlement is not reached. |
| 피해자 국선변호사# | pihaeja-gukseonbyeonhosa | State-appointed victim's lawyer | Victims of certain crimes, such as sexual offenses, can receive a lawyer appointed by the state. |
Received a Korean notice you don't understand? Email a short summary to Attorney Doyun Lee in English.
dylee@newlawyer.co.kr
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General legal information as of October 2026, not legal advice for your specific case. Attorney advertising — Attorney Doyun Lee, Newlawyer Law Office, Seoul.