Cost Guide
How Much Does a Lawyer or Attorney Cost?
In Korea, going to court has three separate costs. The first is the court filing fee (인지액), set by statute as a share of the amount you claim: ₩50,000 for a ₩10 million claim, ₩230,000 for ₩50 million and ₩455,000 for ₩100 million, with a notice of appeal paying 1.5 times that and an appeal to the Supreme Court twice that. The second is your own lawyer's fee (변호사 보수), which has no official schedule and is set by contract. The third is the other side's costs: the loser pays the winner's costs, but the lawyer's fee a court orders repaid is capped by a Supreme Court table, for example ₩4.4 million for a ₩50 million claim at each court level, and by what the winner actually paid. Ask any lawyer for a written fee agreement that says what it covers.
Typical rates
Court filing fee (인지액)
₩50,000–₩2,055,000
For claims of ₩10 million to ₩500 million. Under ₩10 million it is 0.5% of the claim; from ₩10 million to under ₩100 million, 0.45% plus ₩5,000; from ₩100 million to under ₩1 billion, 0.4% plus ₩55,000; from ₩1 billion, 0.35% plus ₩555,000. Examples: ₩230,000 for ₩50 million, ₩455,000 for ₩100 million, ₩2,055,000 for ₩500 million.
Appeal and final appeal filing fees
1.5× and 2× the first-instance fee
A notice of appeal pays 1.5 times the first-instance fee and a notice of final appeal to the Supreme Court pays twice. For a ₩100 million claim that is ₩455,000, then ₩682,500 and ₩910,000.
Lawyer's fee the loser can be ordered to repay (per court level)
₩300,000–₩13,400,000+
₩300,000 for a claim up to ₩3 million, ₩2 million for ₩20 million, ₩4.4 million for ₩50 million, ₩7.4 million for ₩100 million and ₩13.4 million for ₩500 million. This is a reimbursement ceiling, not a lawyer's price: it cannot exceed what the winner paid, and it is halved when the defendant admits the whole claim or does not contest.
Your own lawyer's fee
Set by contract
There is no official fee schedule. Ask for a written agreement that says what is included, such as each court level and any success fee.
What Factors Affect the Cost?
- Amount claimed — the filing fee and the repayable lawyer's fee both rise with the claim, at falling rates as the claim grows
- Court level — each level is charged separately: an appeal pays 1.5 times the first-instance filing fee and the Supreme Court twice, and the repayable lawyer's fee is worked out for each level
- Outcome — in principle the loser pays the winner's costs, but the lawyer's fee is repaid only up to the table amount, so any fee above it stays with the person who hired the lawyer
- Whether the case is contested — the repayable lawyer's fee is halved when the defendant admits the whole claim or does not contest
- Your own lawyer's fee — it is set by contract, so compare what each quote covers, not only the headline figure
What you get at each price level
Claims up to ₩10 million
Filing fee up to ₩50,000
Typical for: Repayable lawyer's fee up to ₩1,000,000 per court level
Best for: Unpaid invoices, deposits and other small money claims
₩10 million to ₩100 million
Filing fee ₩50,000–₩455,000
Typical for: Repayable lawyer's fee ₩1,000,000–₩7,400,000 per court level
Best for: Business disputes and larger money claims where a lawyer's fee is a real share of the amount
Over ₩100 million
Filing fee from ₩455,000
Typical for: Repayable lawyer's fee from ₩7,400,000 per court level, rising by 0.5% to 4% of the claim above each band
Best for: Large commercial disputes and claims that may go through all three court levels
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Key Terms
Fiduciary
A fiduciary is a person or organization legally and ethically obligated to act in another party's best interest. Financial advisors, attorneys, trustees, and corporate directors are common examples of fiduciaries — they must prioritize their client's interests above their own.
Retainer Fee
A retainer fee is an upfront payment made to a professional — most commonly an attorney or consultant — to secure their availability and future services. The retainer is typically held in a trust account and drawn against as work is performed.
Contingency Fee
A contingency fee is a legal fee arrangement in which an attorney is paid only if the case is won or settled — typically a percentage (25–40%) of the recovered amount. If the case is lost, the client generally owes no attorney fees.
Power of Attorney (POA)
A Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal document that authorizes one person (the agent) to act on behalf of another person (the principal) in legal, financial, or medical matters. The scope and duration depend on the type of POA and how it is drafted.
Indemnification
Indemnification is a contractual obligation by one party (the indemnitor) to compensate another (the indemnitee) for specified losses, damages, or liabilities. Indemnification clauses are ubiquitous in commercial contracts and determine who bears the financial risk if something goes wrong.
Breach of Contract
A breach of contract occurs when one party to a valid agreement fails to fulfill their contractual obligations without a legally valid excuse. The non-breaching party may seek damages, specific performance, or contract rescission depending on the type and severity of the breach.
Writ
A writ is a formal written order issued by a court or other legal authority, commanding a person or entity to perform or refrain from performing a specific act.
Subpoena
A subpoena is a formal legal document that compels a person to testify (subpoena ad testificandum) or produce documents and evidence (subpoena duces tecum) in a legal proceeding. Ignoring a subpoena can result in contempt of court.
Deposition
A deposition is a formal, out-of-court sworn testimony given by a witness or party during the discovery phase of litigation. The testimony is recorded and can be used at trial. Depositions allow attorneys to gather information, assess witness credibility, and lock in testimony before trial.
Discovery
Discovery is the pretrial process where parties exchange documents, written answers, testimony, and other evidence relevant to a legal dispute.
Motion
A motion is a formal request asking a court to issue an order or ruling before, during, or after a legal proceeding.
Tort
A tort is a civil wrong — an act or omission that causes harm to another person, giving the injured party the right to sue for damages. Torts are distinct from criminal offenses (prosecuted by the government) and from contract breaches (which require a pre-existing agreement).
Liability
Liability is legal responsibility for a debt, obligation, injury, or loss, often resulting in a duty to pay damages or perform a required action.
Negligence
Negligence is a legal concept describing the failure to exercise reasonable care, resulting in harm to another person. It is the most common basis for civil lawsuits, including personal injury, medical malpractice, and professional liability claims.