Filing a Criminal Complaint in Korea as a Foreign Victim
Being the person who was harmed does not make the process simple. A complaint in Korea is assessed from documents and records, in Korean, and a foreign victim who arrives at the police station with a story but no organised evidence often leaves with a case that is harder than it needed to be.
A complaint is not a conversation — it is a written account with materials attached. What is decided early is not whether you are believed, but whether what happened can be shown: who did what, when, and with what record left behind.
Attorney Doyun Lee represents victims as well as people under investigation, which means the complaint is drafted knowing how the other side will read it and which parts will be tested.
Before you go to the police
Organise the timeline first: what happened, in what order, who was present, and what record exists for each point. Then gather the materials — messages in full rather than cropped screenshots, call logs, photographs with dates, receipts or transfer records, medical records where relevant, and the other person's account details or identifying information if you have them.
Do not delete your own unflattering messages. A complaint that omits context the other side still holds is weaker than one that deals with it, and the omission itself tends to surface later.
The complainant interview
You will be interviewed as the complainant and your statement will be written up in Korean. If you cannot read it, ask for it to be interpreted back before you sign, and ask for corrections then rather than later. Vague time expressions and loosely translated words are the most common source of inconsistencies that get raised afterwards.
Being consistent matters more than being comprehensive. A short account you can hold to is stronger than a long one with edges that move.
After the complaint is filed
The case is investigated and then either closed at the police stage or sent on to a prosecutor, who decides whether to charge. As the complainant you are not simply a spectator: written opinions can be submitted, additional evidence can be added as it emerges, and where a case is closed there are routes to have that revisited. What is possible depends on the stage, which is why knowing where the case stands matters.
Settlement, if it arises, is a decision with consequences — including what it means for any related civil claim. It is worth understanding what is being agreed before agreeing to it.
Real results in similar cases
Results reflect individual cases and do not guarantee the outcome of any similar matter.
Related pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a foreigner file a criminal complaint in Korea?
Yes. Foreign nationals can report a crime and file a criminal complaint in Korea, and can be represented while doing so. The practical barrier is usually language and evidence organisation rather than eligibility.
What should I prepare before going to the police?
A clear timeline, and the records that support each point: full message threads rather than cropped screenshots, call logs, dated photographs, receipts or transfer records, medical records where relevant, and whatever identifies the other person.
The interview is in Korean and I cannot read the statement. What do I do?
Ask for the written statement to be interpreted back to you before you sign, and ask for corrections at that point. A signed statement is treated as your account, and correcting it afterwards is much harder than correcting it then.
My complaint was closed without charges. Is that the end?
Not necessarily. Depending on the stage and the reasons, there are routes to have a decision reviewed, and additional evidence or a written opinion can matter. What is available depends on where the case stands, so it is worth reviewing rather than assuming it is over.
What does having a lawyer actually add for a victim?
The complaint is drafted and the evidence organised with knowledge of how it will be tested, the interview is prepared in advance, communication with the investigator is handled, and the Korean-language record is checked. Attorney Doyun Lee does this directly in English.
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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.