Small Claims

Yes, you may appeal a small claims court decision in South Korea within 14 days to the district court, but only on points of law—not factual disputes.

Yes, you may be represented by a lawyer or an immediate family member (spouse, parent, child, sibling) in South Korean small claims hearings under strict conditions.

File your small claims case at the district court (or branch) with jurisdiction over the defendant's residence or place of business in South Korea.

Yes, you can sue your neighbor for property damage or nuisance in South Korea’s small claims court (Summary Proceedings) if the claim is ≤ ₩30 million and meets procedural requirements.

South Korea does not have a 'motion to vacate judgment' in small claims court; instead, parties may file an 'objection to a default judgment' or appeal under strict statutory deadlines.

No, corporations cannot sue in small claims court in South Korea; only natural persons may file small claims under the Small Claims Procedure Act.

Small claims cases in South Korea are filed at no filing fee under the Small Claims Procedure Act, applicable to disputes up to ₩30 million.

In South Korea, enforce a small claims judgment by filing an application for compulsory execution with the competent court within 10 years of the judgment's finality.

Yes, you can sue your landlord for unpaid security deposit in South Korea’s small claims court (up to ₩30 million) within 2 years of lease termination.

Yes, you can sue for breach of an oral contract in South Korea’s small claims court (up to ₩30 million), but proving its existence and terms is your burden.

If the defendant fails to appear at a small claims hearing in South Korea without justifiable cause, the court may issue a default judgment in favor of the plaintiff.

Yes, you may transfer a small claims case to a regular civil court in South Korea before the first hearing date, provided the claim exceeds ₩30 million or you request transfer for procedural fairness.

Yes, you can use South Korea's small claims court for car accident claims if the amount claimed is ₩30 million or less and liability is clear.

Bring original or certified copies of contracts, payment records, text/email correspondence, witness statements, and photos/videos directly proving your claim — all in Korean or with certified translations.

No, mediation is not mandatory before filing in South Korea's small claims court, but courts strongly encourage or may refer parties to voluntary mediation at any stage.

In South Korea small claims, the defendant may file a counterclaim (반소) in the same case if it arises from the same facts and is within the ₩30 million limit.

You can enforce the judgment through court-ordered seizure of the defendant's assets, wage garnishment, or bank account levy under South Korea's Civil Execution Act.

In South Korea, service in small claims cases is typically done by certified mail (registered mail with delivery confirmation) via the court, or in person by a court bailiff if the defendant’s address is unknown or mail fails.

No, you cannot sue a government agency in South Korea's small claims court (Summary Proceedings) because sovereign immunity and statutory exclusions bar such claims from this simplified procedure.

A small claims case in South Korea typically concludes within 1–3 months from filing, with most judgments issued after one or two hearings.