Question
Where can I get free legal aid as a foreigner in Korea?
As of · sources retrieved from official Korean authorities
You can receive free legal counseling through the Village Lawyer Program at your local town‑ship office or by calling the Korea Legal Aid Corporation hotline 132, and additional multilingual help is available via the immigration center (1345) and labor office (1350) hotlines. Full details below.
The rule this rests on
Article 47 (2) shall apply to foreigners who have committed offenses outside the Republic of Korea: Provided , That this shall not apply to cases where such offenses do not constitute criminality according to the law of the place of the offenses, or the prosecution or the execution of sentences is exempted. | Article 52 (Confiscation and Punitive Additional Collection) | Money, valuables, and other interests which have been exploited by any person who has committed offenses referred to in Articl
Article 2 (Preparation for Establishment of Corporation) | (1) | The Minister of Justice shall commission five or fewer members for the Establishment Committee within six months from the enforcement date of this Act, and have them conduct activities concerning the establishment of the Corporation. | | (2) | The members of the Establishment Committee shall prepare the articles of association of the Corporation and obtain authorization of the Minister of Justice. | | (3) | The members of the Estab
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Village Lawyer Program for Foreigners
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Right: Free legal counseling under the Ministry of Justice’s Village Lawyer Program.
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How: Find the village lawyer for your eup, myeon, or dong office and contact them by phone, fax, or e‑mail using the counseling card provided at the local office; in‑person visits may be arranged if needed.
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Korea Legal Aid Corporation (KLAC)
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Right: Free legal aid services for foreigners.
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How: Call the legal‑counseling hotline 132 (054‑810‑0132) on weekdays 09:00–11:50 and 13:00–17:50 for English advice; you can also visit the KLAC office at 39660 Gyeongbuk Kimcheon‑si Innovation 2‑ro 26 for in‑person help.
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Additional Support Hotlines (English‑available staff)
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**Immigration Contact Center – ** 1345 (multilingual immigration counseling).
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**Labor Office – ** 1350 (workplace‑related disputes).
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**Multicultural Family Support Center – ** 1577‑1366 (broader living‑issue counseling).
These resources provide free legal assistance to foreign residents, including international students, throughout Korea.
Sources fetched 2026-09-19 · Korean laws change — verify with the issuing authority before acting.