If the Korean police want to question you as a suspect, an interpreter can help you understand the language. An interpreter, however, is not your defense lawyer.
Attorney Doyun Lee provides direct criminal-defense consultations in English and Chinese, preparation before questioning, attendance during police interviews, and review of the Korean interview record before signature.
An interpreter and a defense lawyer perform different roles. The interpreter conveys questions and answers between languages. A defense lawyer explains the legal significance of the questions, protects the suspect's procedural rights, checks whether the answer was interpreted accurately, and reviews whether the Korean interview record reflects what the suspect actually said.
Korean law permits a suspect to receive assistance from counsel during questioning, subject to the rules governing counsel's participation. A suspect must also be allowed to review the interview record or have it read aloud and may request additions or changes, raise objections, or state an opinion if it does not accurately reflect the statement.
The details and wording in this example have been adjusted to protect client confidentiality.
During a Korean police interview, my client said:
“I tagged the person to mention them.”
The interpreted answer added a different idea:
“I wanted many people to know.”
The allegation involved defamation under Korea's Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, commonly called the Information and Communications Network Act.
The added phrase did not, by itself, prove a purpose to defame or establish the allegation. It could nevertheless affect how the investigator understood the client's awareness of the post's public reach, the anticipated scope of distribution, or the alleged purpose behind the post.
I asked the investigator to pause, confirmed the client's intended meaning directly in Chinese, and requested that the interpretation be corrected. I then reviewed whether the final Korean interview record accurately reflected the original answer and the correction.
In a criminal investigation, a small difference in wording may affect how the authorities understand a person's knowledge, intent, purpose, relationship with another person, or sequence of events.
Common interpretation risks include:
Not every imperfect translation changes the outcome of a case. The important question is whether the interpreted answer and the Korean written record accurately preserve the substance of what the suspect actually said.
| Interpreter | Defense lawyer |
|---|---|
| Conveys spoken language | Gives legal advice and protects procedural rights |
| Interprets the investigator’s questions | Explains why a question may matter legally |
| Interprets the suspect’s answers | Checks whether the answer was conveyed accurately |
| Does not represent the suspect | Represents the suspect’s legal interests |
| Does not decide the defense strategy | Advises on a lawful, fact-based response |
| Is not responsible for legal advocacy | May raise an objection or state an opinion within the permitted procedure |
The lawyer must not answer in place of the client or induce a false or predetermined statement. The client answers based on personal memory and knowledge. The lawyer's role is to provide legal assistance and respond when the questioning, interpretation, or written record does not accurately preserve the client's statement or procedural rights.
Preparation is not the creation of a script or a false account. Its purpose is to help the client understand the questions and answer truthfully without losing important context through language or cultural differences.
If Korean police have contacted you, first confirm:
Do not delete, alter or fabricate evidence. Do not guess about facts that you do not remember. Obtain case-specific legal advice before deciding how to respond to questioning or requests for devices and documents.
Foreign nationals may face additional practical concerns because the investigation is conducted in Korean and may affect employment, study, family life or immigration status. The legal and immigration consequences depend on the allegation, the person's status and the final disposition; they should not be assumed from the fact that an investigation has begun.
Attorney Doyun Lee assists foreign clients in criminal matters including:
No lawyer can guarantee a particular investigation or court result. Advice and strategy must be based on the specific facts, evidence and procedural stage of each case.
Yes. A suspect may seek legal advice and request counsel’s participation in questioning. Whether the interview date should be adjusted and how counsel will participate should be discussed promptly with the investigator and the lawyer.
No. The suspect gives the answers. A defense lawyer must not answer in the client’s place or induce a false statement. Counsel may provide legal assistance, object to an improper method of questioning, and state an opinion in accordance with the applicable procedure.
If you cannot adequately communicate in Korean, interpretation should be arranged. Confirm the language and interpretation arrangements before the interview. A bilingual lawyer can also check whether the interpreted answer preserves the meaning of what you actually said.
It is the Korean written record of the suspect’s questioning and answers. The suspect must be given an opportunity to review it or have it read aloud. If it does not accurately reflect the statement, the suspect may request additions or changes, raise an objection, or state an opinion before signing.
State immediately that the interpretation does not reflect your answer and ask for the question and answer to be clarified. Your lawyer can also request a correction and check whether it appears accurately in the final record.
Write down the exact question, your original answer, the interpreted answer and the disputed wording in the record as soon as possible. Preserve any relevant materials and obtain legal advice promptly. The appropriate response depends on the stage of the investigation and the available record of what occurred.
No. An investigation is not a conviction. Criminal and immigration consequences depend on the alleged offense, evidence, case outcome and the person’s immigration status. They require an individualized assessment.
Yes. Direct consultations, police-interview preparation and case communication are available in English and Chinese.
Consultation
Early preparation allows time to identify the allegation, organize the facts, understand your rights, confirm interpretation arrangements and review the issues likely to arise during questioning.
When requesting a consultation, provide:
dylee@newlawyer.co.kr
Or book through Lawtalk · Tel +82-10-5821-7759
Case-specific advice is provided only after review of the relevant facts and materials.
This page provides general information about Korean criminal procedure and does not constitute legal advice for a specific matter. The example has been anonymized and partially reconstructed to protect client confidentiality. Past experience does not guarantee a similar outcome. Korean law and procedure may change, and the advice appropriate for a case depends on its facts and procedural stage.
Legal references: Korean Criminal Procedure Act, Articles 243-2 and 244; Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, Article 70.