Filing and Answering a Small Claim in a Korean District Court
The page format a Korean district court expects from a self-filed small claim, the 30-day answer period, and the corrections courts most often order.
Republic of Korea (national: district courts and 시·군법원)
How it works
- File as a small claim where the value in dispute is 30,000,000 won or less; above that the case goes before a single judge in the ordinary civil procedure.
- Set out the parties' names, addresses and contact details exactly as entered, plaintiff first.
- State the claim (청구취지) as the outcome you want, and the grounds (청구원인) as numbered paragraphs in date order.
- Number the evidence continuously from 1 and attach an index of attachments; affix the revenue stamps for the value in dispute.
- Sign the complaint, file it at the court or through the electronic filing service, and keep the receipt and a copy.
Next
What is the small claims limit in Korea?
A small claim is a civil case with a value in dispute of 30,000,000 won or less; it uses the court's simplified form and legal representation is not compulsory.
What happens if the defendant does not answer?
Under Civil Procedure Act article 271 an answer is due, and if none is filed or the claim is admitted the court may give judgment without pleading.
Does the complaint have to be in Korean?
Yes. The complaint is written in Korean, and evidence in another language is filed together with a translation.
Format requirements for this court
| A small claim is a civil case with a value in dispute of 30,000,000 won or less. | 소액사건심판법 (Small Claims Act) |
| The defendant files an answer within 30 days of receiving the copy of the complaint. | 민사소송법 (Civil Procedure Act), 제256조 (내용), 제271조 (답변서), 제257조 (무변론 판결), 제150조 (자백간주) |
| If no answer is filed or the claim is admitted, judgment may be given without pleading. | 민사소송법 (Civil Procedure Act), 제256조 (내용), 제271조 (답변서), 제257조 (무변론 판결), 제150조 (자백간주) |
| A complaint identifies the parties and states the claim and its grounds (Civil Procedure Act article 256). | 민사소송법 (Civil Procedure Act), 제256조 (내용), 제271조 (답변서), 제257조 (무변론 판결), 제150조 (자백간주) |
| The document uses A4 paper, 2.5 cm margins, 12 point type, 1.5 line spacing and paragraphs numbered from 1. | 대법원: 민사 서식 모음 (complaint, attachments and answer forms) |