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10-Month Prison SentenceCriminal
Cryptocurrency Hacking Complaint Representation – 10-Month Prison Sentence in KRW 156 Million Loss Case
The client had worked closely with the offender in operating a business and, due to their longstanding relationship of trust, had shared certain authentication information when necessary for business purposes. The client later discovered that their mobile phone was missing and that a substantial amount of money had been transferred out of a bank account in the client’s name. Further investigation revealed that the offender had repeatedly transferred funds from the client’s bank account, used those funds to purchase cryptocurrency, and then moved the virtual assets to wallets controlled by the offender. During the investigation and trial, the total amount involved was determined to be KRW 156 million across eight transactions. The case also involved repeated unauthorized access to the client’s cryptocurrency exchange account and the taking of the client’s mobile phone.
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Legal Review Memorandum ProvidedCorporate & Biz
Pre-Launch Legal Review for a Mobile App: Privacy, AI, and In-App Payment Compliance
The client was preparing to launch a mobile application featuring image analysis and AI-based functionality. The app processed user account information as well as user-specific images and analytical data. Certain data was also intended to be used for AI model improvement and service enhancement. The service further included paid subscriptions and a separate credit-based payment system, requiring legal review not only of personal data processing but also of payment, subscription, cancellation, and refund structures. Before launching the app, the client engaged Decent Law Firm to review whether its actual user interface, service structure, Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy were aligned with applicable legal requirements in Korea and to identify any necessary revisions.
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Suspended SentenceCriminal
Illegal Filming in a Women’s Restroom in Korea: 3-Year Suspended Sentence Client Information
The client was prosecuted after entering a women’s restroom and using a mobile phone camera to secretly film other individuals. The case involved multiple incidents rather than a single act. As a result, the client faced charges involving both illegal filming using a camera or similar device and entering a public-access facility for a sexual purpose under Korea’s Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes. Because the conduct was repeated, the court could consider the seriousness of the offenses and the need to prevent reoffending as significant aggravating factors. Facing the possibility of imprisonment and other consequences arising from a sexual offense conviction, the client retained Decent Law Firm to develop a structured sentencing strategy and present mitigating circumstances to the court.
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KRW 20 Million Settlement RecoveredCriminal
Settlement Representation for Victims of Threats Involving Intimate Videos — KRW 20 Million Recovered
The clients were threatened by a person they had previously known, who claimed that intimate videos would be distributed unless money was paid. The other party repeatedly contacted the clients through KakaoTalk and social media and also approached their family members, referring to the videos while making demands for money. The clients retained Decent Law Firm to file a criminal complaint regarding the threats involving intimate footage and to represent them in subsequent settlement negotiations with the other party.
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Delivery of Revised NDACorporate & Biz
NDA Review for an Investment Information Company: Protecting Member Data and Internal Materials
The client operates an investment information service and requested a legal review of a non-disclosure agreement to be executed alongside an employment agreement with an external expert. The existing employment agreement combined confidentiality obligations, non-solicitation provisions, and intellectual property ownership in a single clause. This made it difficult to determine the scope of each obligation and assess potential breaches in the event of a dispute. The client therefore needed a more detailed agreement that would protect proprietary information, including its member database and CRM data, without unnecessarily restricting the expert’s pre-existing knowledge, experience, and analytical skills.
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Legal Review Memorandum DeliveredCorporate & Biz
Legal Review of Liability for Personal Information Protection Act Violations: Corporate and Employee Liability and Exemption Requirements
The client is a company that processes the personal information of customers and employees. It requested a legal review of how liability would be allocated between the company and its employees if a violation of Korea’s Personal Information Protection Act occurred during business operations. The client specifically sought advice on the following issues: ▪️ The civil and criminal liability of the company, as the personal information controller, and its employees, as personal information handlers ▪️ The legal relationship between a personal information controller and a personal information handler ▪️ Whether the company could avoid or limit liability where an employee acted outside the scope of authority ▪️ Whether an employee could avoid or limit liability where the violation resulted primarily from the company’s inadequate management or supervision Rather than requesting a lengthy formal legal opinion, the client asked for issue-specific legal conclusions and practical guidance.
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Suspended SentenceCriminal
Joint Extortion and Related Charges: Suspended Sentence After Demonstrating Limited Participation and Meaningful Victim Compensation
The client was prosecuted for allegedly participating with several acquaintances in arranging a housing deposit loan under the victim’s name and obtaining financial benefits worth tens of millions of Korean won through violence and intimidation. In addition to joint extortion charges under Korea’s Act on Punishment of Violent Acts, Etc., the client also faced charges related to obstruction of the exercise of rights and controlled substances. Given the client’s prior criminal history, there was a substantial risk of an immediate custodial sentence and detention following the judgment.
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Review of the PG Settlement Management Service Agree...Corporate & Biz
Review of a PG Settlement Management Service Agreement: Payment Suspension and Cybersecurity Liability
The client was preparing to adopt an external solution designed to consolidate settlement data generated through payment gateway providers and support the allocation and transfer of settlement funds. The proposed service agreement included provisions concerning restrictions on settlement payments in the event of unpaid service fees, liability for cybersecurity incidents, limitations on damages, service suspension, and the handling of data following termination. Before signing the agreement, the client asked Decent Law Firm to assess whether the service provider had been granted overly broad authority and whether liability for potential incidents could be unfairly shifted to the client.
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Judgment Fully in Favor of the PlaintiffCivil
Jeonse Deposit Return Lawsuit: Plaintiff Prevails Against New Owner After Property Transfer
The client entered into a jeonse, or lump-sum deposit lease, for a residential property. After paying the deposit, the client moved into the property, completed resident registration, and obtained a fixed date stamp on the lease agreement. The lease was later renewed once. However, even after the extended lease term expired, the original landlord failed to return the jeonse deposit. The client obtained a tenant registration order and registered the leasehold interest on the property’s registry. The client then filed a jeonse deposit return lawsuit against the original landlord and obtained a favorable judgment. During the proceedings, however, it was discovered that ownership of the property had been transferred to a family member of the original landlord. The client retained Decent Law Office to pursue the return of the jeonse deposit from the current owner.
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Police Non-Referral DecisionCrypto
Fraud Allegations Involving a Crypto Trading Signal Room and Referral Program — Case Closed Without Referral to Prosecutors
The client worked for a company that provided cryptocurrency-related information and was responsible for assisting prospective members with registration and access to an overseas crypto exchange. After receiving guidance from the client, the complainant joined a Telegram-based crypto trading signal room and opened an account with an overseas exchange in their own name. The complainant then conducted leveraged futures trading and transferred tens of millions of Korean won to third-party accounts to purchase USDT for use in those trades. After suffering trading losses, the complainant filed a criminal complaint for fraud. The complainant alleged that the client had guaranteed the principal and investment returns and had conspired with the USDT sellers to obtain the funds under false pretenses. As a result, the client was investigated on suspicion that introducing the signal room and connecting the complainant with a USDT seller formed part of a fraudulent scheme.
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Employment Agreement Review CompletedCorporate & Biz
Employment Agreement for a Quasi-Investment Advisory Expert: Clarifying the Scope of Duties and Allocation of Liability
The client operates a quasi-investment advisory business in Korea, providing investment-related content to an unspecified number of subscribers. The company planned to hire an experienced professional with relevant investment qualifications as a team leader or senior manager. The professional would be responsible for preparing and reviewing investment reports, appearing in video content, and managing content quality. However, the role was not intended to include individualized investment advice or direct sales activities. The client asked Decent Law Firm to review and revise the employment agreement so that it would clearly define the professional’s scope of duties, use of professional credentials and likeness, compensation structure, and liability for contractual violations.
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Delivery of the Final English Sponsorship AgreementCrypto
USDT Sponsorship Agreement Review and Successful Contract Execution with an Overseas Participant
The client was preparing a digital asset industry event in Korea and planned to enter into booth operation and sponsorship agreements with domestic and overseas exchanges, projects, and other participating companies. The sponsorship package included booth space, speaking sessions, logo placement, media exposure, and other promotional benefits. The sponsorship fee was structured to be paid in USDT, while Korean value-added tax was to be invoiced and paid separately in KRW. Before circulating the agreement to potential participants, the client requested a legal review of the USDT payment structure, wallet transfer risks, VAT conversion method, control over unlawful promotional content, and the refund and cancellation terms applicable to sponsors.
