English-Speaking Korean Attorney · Seoul · KCAB Arbitrator

Lawyer
Near
Me.

Visa troubles, wrongful dismissal, criminal proceedings, business disputes — whatever your legal challenge in Korea, you deserve counsel who understands both the law and your world.

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10+
Years of legal practice across IP, entertainment, civil and criminal matters
2
Qualifications — Korean Bar Attorney and Registered Patent Attorney
Active Arbitrator — Korea Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB)
Legal Advisor — Arts Council Korea (한국문화예술위원회)
New Media, London School of Economics (LSE)
Former Producer — KBS Sports & Entertainment
Law Firm SANM (법무법인 산음), Seoul
Zoom & in-person consultations by appointment
All communications in English
KCAB certified arbitrator — international disputes
Attorney & Patent Attorney (변호사·변리사)
Practice Areas

Legal matters we handle
for foreign nationals

Whether you are an expat employee, a foreign entrepreneur, a tourist facing an unexpected legal situation, or a foreign national in a family dispute — Korean law can feel opaque and overwhelming. Attorney HAN provides direct, English-language representation across the areas that matter most to the foreign community in Korea.
01
Visa & Immigration
Most common
Visa refusals, cancellations, overstay consequences, change-of-status, and re-entry bans. We navigate the Immigration Control Act and liaise directly with immigration authorities.
02
Employment Law
Expat employees
Wrongful dismissal, unpaid wages, employer visa threats, and contract disputes. Foreign workers hold full protections under the Labor Standards Act — and we enforce them.
03
Criminal Defense
Urgent cases
Summoned, investigated, or arrested — you need a lawyer immediately. Bilingual criminal defense from the first 48 hours through trial, including consular coordination and bail hearings.
04
Business & Contracts
Foreign founders
Company registration, shareholder agreements, IP ownership clauses, and commercial disputes. We advise foreign entrepreneurs on structuring Korean businesses that protect your interests.
05
Family & International
Binational families
International divorce, child custody, spousal property division, and the Hague Child Abduction Convention. Korean family court jurisdiction in cross-border situations requires specialist knowledge.
06
IP & Content Law
Creators & brands
Copyright protection, content licensing, K-content contracts, trademark disputes, and platform takedowns. Whether creating in Korea or licensing Korean IP abroad, we protect your rights.
The Attorney

한상훈 · Sanghoon HAN

Sanghoon HAN
변호사 · 변리사 · 중재인
Attorney HAN brings an unusually broad foundation to legal work for foreigners in Korea. A dual-qualified attorney and patent attorney (변호사·변리사), he holds a background in New Media from the London School of Economics and spent a decade as a producer at KBS before transitioning to law — giving him fluency in both Korean institutional culture and the international outlook his foreign clients need.

He previously served at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and led the overseas copyright protection team at the Korea Copyright Protection Agency (한국저작권보호원). As an active arbitrator at KCAB and legal advisor to Arts Council Korea, he brings a rare combination of cultural industry expertise and rigorous legal practice to every case.
2026– Attorney, Law Firm SANM (법무법인 산음) · Arbitrator, KCAB · Legal Advisor, Arts Council Korea (한국문화예술위원회)
2025 Research Report on Copyright Distribution in the Performing Arts Sector — Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism (문화체육관광부)
2024–26 R&D Project Planning Committee, Korea Creative Content Agency / KOCCA — AI, Character & Copyright fields
2023– Legal Consultant, Korea Startup Agency (창업진흥원) · Advisory Panel, Seoul SME & Startup Bureau
2018–21 Subcommittee Member, Performing Arts Division — Korea Media Rating Board (영상물등급위원회)
Prev Head, Overseas Copyright Protection — Korea Copyright Protection Agency · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea
Prev Producer, KBS Sports & Entertainment (~10 years) · New Media, London School of Economics (LSE)
Attorney HAN also teaches media content law and entrepreneurship at Sungkyunkwan University, Soongsil University, and Myongji University.
Blog

Korean law, written
for people, not lawyers

See all posts
Korean Law Info
Laws & Court Precedents
Plain-English breakdowns of Korean statutes, landmark Supreme Court decisions, and what they mean for foreign nationals living and working in Korea.
[Q&A] 해외 자회사 설립 시 외국환거래법상 해외직접투자 신고는 어떻게 하나요?
Trademark Registration in Korea: Protecting Your Brand as a Foreign Founder
Who Owns the Content?: A Copyright Guide for Korea-Based Founders
 Stories
Real Cases & Scenarios
Accounts of real situations faced by foreign nationals in Korea — and illustrative composite cases — that bring Korean law to life beyond the statute book.
 Q & A
Questions Answered
Real questions from foreign residents in Korea, answered directly by Attorney HAN. Submit your own for consideration in an upcoming post.
Get in Touch

Book a consultation

Every legal situation is different.
Let's talk through yours.
Initial consultations are available by Zoom or in person at our Seoul office. Attorney HAN personally reviews every inquiry and responds within one to two business days.
Emaillawyernearme.kr@gmail.com
OfficeLaw Firm SANM (법무법인 산음), Seoul
MeetingsZoom · In-person (by appointment)
LanguagesEnglish · Korean
This form does not establish an attorney-client relationship. All submissions are confidential. For urgent matters, email directly: lawyernearme.kr@gmail.com