South KoreaFiling a Small Claims Case in South Korea
File a written complaint at the competent district court's small claims division; no lawyer required; claim limit is ₩30 million under the Civil Procedure Act.
What the Law Says
South Korea’s small claims procedure is governed by Chapter 12-2 (Articles 308–315) of the Civil Procedure Act (민사소송법) and the Enforcement Rules thereof. It applies exclusively to monetary claims not exceeding ₩30 million, designed for speed, simplicity, and accessibility without mandatory legal representation.
Under Article 308(1) of the Civil Procedure Act, a plaintiff may file a small claims action in the district court with jurisdiction over the defendant’s residence or place of business. The court must hold a hearing within seven days of filing (Art. 310), and the judgment is typically rendered orally on the same day or within three days (Art. 312).
Appeals are restricted: only appeals on points of law (not fact) to the High Court are permitted, and only if the claim exceeds ₩10 million — and even then, only upon permission from the district court (Art. 315).
Statutory TextA small claims action may be filed for a claim of money not exceeding thirty million won.
— Civil Procedure Act (Act No. 8491), Art. 308(1), effective June 1, 2007 (amended most recently by Act No. 19650, Feb. 14, 2023)
What to Do
Prepare a written complaint (소장) stating names/addresses of parties, factual background, claim amount, and supporting evidence (e.g., contract, receipt, text messages); use the official form available at courts or www.courts.go.kr.
Submit the complaint and filing fee (₩10,000 as of 2024, per the Court Fees Act, Art. 2-2) to the small claims division of the competent District Court — either in person or via the Electronic Litigation System (www.e-court.go.kr).
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Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-10-03.