Archive by category Law & Cases

Court Upholds Airline’s Pilot Layoffs During Pandemic, Citing Economic Hardship

Court Upholds Airline’s Pilot Layoffs During Pandemic, Citing Economic Hardship

SEOUL, Jul. 1 (Korea Bizwire) – A South Korean court has ruled that an airline’s decision to lay off pilots during the COVID-19 pandemic was justified, given the severe economic challenges faced by the aviation industry. The Seoul Administrative Court recently dismissed a lawsuit filed by 29 pilots who were laid off from Airline A in [...]

South Korean Court Rules Against Students in COVID-19 Tuition Refund Case

South Korean Court Rules Against Students in COVID-19 Tuition Refund Case

SEOUL, Jun. 28 (Korea Bizwire) – In a significant legal decision, the Seoul Central District Court has ruled against national university students seeking tuition refunds for classes moved online during the COVID-19 pandemic. The verdict, delivered on June 27, marks another setback for students claiming their right to education was infringed upon due to the shift [...]

Law Automatically Pardoning Property Crimes Against Family Members Declared Unconstitutional

Law Automatically Pardoning Property Crimes Against Family Members Declared Unconstitutional

SEOUL, June 27 (Korea Bizwire) – The Constitutional Court on Thursday struck down the criminal code that automatically pardons property crimes committed against immediate family members, saying it infringes upon victims’ rights to seek punishment of those crimes. Under a clause of the Criminal Act, property crimes committed against immediate family members, including parents, children [...]

South Korean Firms Sue Government Mint Over Failed Deposit Program for Disposable Cups

South Korean Firms Sue Government Mint Over Failed Deposit Program for Disposable Cups

DAEJEON, Jun. 27 (Korea Bizwire) – In a contentious legal battle, three South Korean companies have filed a lawsuit against the state-run Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation (KOMSCO), seeking 7.5 billion won in damages. The dispute stems from a scrapped government initiative to implement a deposit system for disposable cups.  The deposit system required coffee [...]

Supreme Court Reverses Acquittal of Former Samsung Supplier Employee in Technology Leak Case

Supreme Court Reverses Acquittal of Former Samsung Supplier Employee in Technology Leak Case

SEOUL, June 25 (Korea Bizwire) – The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the retrial of a former employee of a Samsung Electronics subcontractor who was acquitted by a lower court despite having been indicted for stealing the manufacturing method of the waterproof adhesive used in Samsung mobile phones. The top court overturned the acquittal of [...]

Custody Battle Over Pet Dog Exposes Legal Ambiguities in South Korea

Custody Battle Over Pet Dog Exposes Legal Ambiguities in South Korea

SEOUL, Jun. 21 (Korea Bizwire) – A dispute over the ownership of a pet dog has revealed conflicting rulings in South Korean courts, leaving the final determination to the nation’s Supreme Court. On June 20, according to legal sources, the Seoul High Court Civil Division overturned a lower court’s ruling in a lawsuit filed by Mr. [...]

Samsung Faces Legal Battle Over Game Optimization Feature in Galaxy S22

Samsung Faces Legal Battle Over Game Optimization Feature in Galaxy S22

SEOUL, Jun. 21 (Korea Bizwire) – Samsung Electronics is embroiled in a legal dispute over allegations that it failed to disclose a game optimization service (GOS) that could limit the performance of devices in the Galaxy S22 series. On June 20, the Seoul Central District Court held the first hearing in a damages lawsuit filed by [...]

Samsung Insiders Accused of Leaking Tech Secrets to Patent Troll

Samsung Insiders Accused of Leaking Tech Secrets to Patent Troll

SEOUL, Jun. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – Federal prosecutors in South Korea have charged former Samsung Electronics employees with stealing corporate secrets and funneling sensitive information to a shell company run by an ex-executive, in a case that exposes potential vulnerabilities at one of the world’s largest technology firms. The allegations center on Ahn Seung-ho, Samsung’s former [...]

Supreme Court Calls for Updated Sentencing Guidelines on Animal Abuse Cases

Supreme Court Calls for Updated Sentencing Guidelines on Animal Abuse Cases

SEOUL, June 18 (Korea Bizwire) – A Supreme Court commission has decided to put together sentencing guidelines on animal abuse crimes that judges can refer to when delivering verdicts on such cases amid heightened social interest in animal welfare, officials said Tuesday. The Sentencing Commission reached the decision during a meeting Monday, officials said. The [...]

Volunteer Fighter for Ukraine Gets Suspended Jail Term for Illegal Entry to War-stricken Nation

Volunteer Fighter for Ukraine Gets Suspended Jail Term for Illegal Entry to War-stricken Nation

SEOUL, Jun. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — Rhee Keun, a South Korean volunteer fighter for Ukraine, was sentenced on Tuesday to a suspended jail term on charges of illegally entering Ukraine, defying a state travel ban to the war-stricken country. The Navy SEAL-turned-YouTuber entered Ukraine to join the Russia-Ukraine war as a volunteer fighter in March [...]