Press Coverage

In response to rebate regulations across the medical industry, from pharmaceuticals to medical devices, the National Tax Service conducted a tax investigation on 16 pharmaceutical companies that helped evade taxes by providing illegal rebates last year. Controversy arose when it was revealed that the companies under investigation had been paying medical professionals' personal expenses or indirectly providing rebates through sales promotion agencies (CSOs). In this way, 'rebates', contrary to their original purpose of returning excessive amounts to buyers, have recently been abused as a bribe to promote sales. Accordingly, the government has come up with several measures to eradicate rebates. A representative example is the introduction of the ‘double punishment system’ in 2010, which punishes both those who provide illegal rebates and those who receive them. However, as the rebate issue was not easily resolved, the government took out the sword again. The CSO reporting system has been implemented in earnest since October of last year, and starting this year, a system will be implemented to disclose ‘expenditure reports’ containing details of the status of economic benefits provided to medical personnel. As a result, interest in compliance (CP) within the industry, from rebate application targets to investigation response, has increased more than ever. ◆ Linkage of multi-disciplinary groups in medical pharmaceuticals and corporate law… In response to the legal demand for complex pharmaceutical rebate case response, Daeryun Law Firm (Limited) (CEOs Kim Kuk-il and Ko Byeong-jun) has begun strengthening its pharmaceutical rebate response team. Daeryun plans to do its best on rebate-related issues by linking multi-disciplinary groups such as medical pharmaceuticals and corporate legal affairs within the corporation. The pharmaceutical rebate response team, which requires high expertise, includes experts familiar with each field, including pharmacists and fair trade. They were assigned. Advisor Choi Myeong-soon, who worked for about 30 years as deputy director of the National Health Insurance Corporation and head of the Gwangju branch of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service; Kye-jun Son, former secretary of the Fair Trade Commission and head of the corporate law group at the 36th Judicial Research and Training Institute; Lee Seo-hyung, head of the Pharmaceutical, Bio and Healthcare Center, who worked as a senior researcher at the Law Research Institute of Seoul National University and a research professor at Ewha Womans University Life and Medical Law Research Institute; Yun-jeong Choi, a lawyer and pharmacist who holds a pharmacist's license and specializes in medical cases. In addition to holding a license, attorney Lee Il-hyung, who has a long experience as an in-house lawyer at the pharmaceutical company Celltrion, is leading the team. ◆ Collaboration with advisors from the HIRA and experts in fair trade law, and legal consulting to strengthen compliance. Advisor Choi Myeong-soon is a veteran in the field of health insurance policy who has played an important role in establishing the national health insurance system, including review and due diligence of health insurance nursing care benefits and policy establishment. In particular, while working at the Pharmaceutical Management Information Center, he established a national pharmaceutical statistical infrastructure and played an important role in the entire process from production to distribution and management. Advisor Choi plans to collaborate with professional lawyers to review legal risks across pharmaceutical rebates. Group leader Gye-jun Son, who has extensive practical experience in responding to rebates, was in charge of the fair trade field, including collusion and unfair trade practices, while serving at the Fair Trade Commission. He has provided advice on rebates as well as CP compliance management in the pharmaceutical industry, utilizing his ability to respond to actual Fair Trade Commission investigations and deliberations. Attorney Seo-hyung Lee, who heads the Pharmaceutical, Bio, and Healthcare Center, is qualified as a pharmacist and patent attorney, and has successfully resolved rebate-related advice and lawsuits. In particular, he is expected to play an important role within the team as he is a person well-versed in the circumstances of the pharmaceutical industry. Attorney Yoon-Jeong Choi, who is active in the medical pharmaceutical group, has extensive knowledge of related laws and procedures and is able to respond quickly to issues in the pharmaceutical industry. Attorney Il-Hyung Lee, a former in-house lawyer at Celltrion, has been working in-house (Celltrion) on interpretation of fair competition regulations, review of clinical research contracts, and in-house training. In particular, he has experience winning a patent lawsuit against a foreign pharmaceutical company, Company P, and is active in various lawsuits in the medical pharmaceutical field. Managing CEO Kook-il Kim said, “During medical tax investigations, an intense investigation is conducted regarding the existence of rebates. For this reason, explanations must be made quickly, but there were many voices calling for expert help in preparing various materials.” He added, “We provide legal consulting to strengthen compliance of pharmaceutical companies and CSOs as well as responding to cases such as tax investigations and criminal proceedings. “We will become a law firm that provides the best legal services, including suggesting corporate direction,” he said. Meanwhile, Daeryun Medical Pharmaceutical Group plans to hold a seminar on March 7 under the theme of ‘Issues and practices of compliance in the pharmaceutical field.’ Applications for seminar participation can be made through the Daeryun website starting on the 26th. Reporter Park Jun-sik (parkjs@wowtv.co.kr)[View full article] Korea Economic Daily - Daeryun strengthens pharmaceutical rebate response team... Recruitment of veteran medical and fair trade experts (Go here) Dailyan - Daeryun Law Firm strengthens pharmaceutical rebate response team... Deployment of ‘Pharmacist and Fair Trade Expert’ (Go here) Jose Ilbo - Daeryun strengthens pharmaceutical rebate response team... Recruitment of veteran medical and fair trade experts (Go here) Sejeong Ilbo - Daeryun Law Firm strengthens pharmaceutical rebate response team... Looking for a breakthrough in fair trade (link) Segye Ilbo - Daeryun strengthens pharmaceutical rebate response team... Recruitment of veteran medical and fair trade experts (Go here)

A man in his 50s who was accused of engaging in prostitution with someone he met through an anonymous chat application was handed over to the prosecution, but was not indicted. On December 31 last year, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office decided not to indict A, a man in his 50s, who was suspected of violating the law on the punishment of acts such as arranging prostitution (prostitution). In 2022, Mr. A was accused of using a smartphone chat application to meet a woman, B, and engage in prostitution. Mr. A completely denied the charges. He said that due to the nature of his job, he had to use his body a lot, so he just called a visiting masseuse to get a massage. At the same time, he emphasized that because the purpose was to receive a massage, he was not even interested in the massage therapist's personal information. The police who received the case sent Mr. A on the suspicion of prostitution, but the prosecution determined that Mr. A was not guilty. The prosecution said, "As a result of tracking the suspect's cell phone location at the time, the history of cell phone use at the location where the incident occurred was not confirmed." Attorney Park Seong-yoon of Daeryun Law Firm, who represented Mr. A, said, "In order to charge prostitution, evidence is needed that money, lodging, etc. were provided in return for sexual intercourse. At the time of the incident, Mr. A fell asleep while receiving a massage after drinking alcohol and had no recollection of anything other than calling the masseuse." He added, "If Mr. A had intended to engage in illegal prostitution, there would be no trace." “I would have made a cash transaction to avoid that,” he said. Reporter Hwang Jeong-won (jwhwang@mt.co.kr)[View full article] Man in his 50s claims, “I gave money, but it was not prostitution.” Prosecutor's decision of 'non-indictment' (link)

Daeryun Law Firm announced on the 25th that it will strengthen social solidarity through public interest activities and carry out litigation relief, regular sponsorship, and volunteer activities. Daeryun Law Firm established the public interest association ‘Relationship Law’ on the 25th and will begin full-scale public interest activities for the underprivileged who are in the blind spot of the law. ‘Relationship Law’ is a name that combines the ‘relationship’ between people and the ‘law’ of a law firm, and contains the meaning of strengthening social solidarity and realizing public value within the fence of the law. Through this, we plan to help vulnerable groups in desperate need of legal support and contribute to creating a fairer and more just society. In particular, former Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo was appointed as the first chairman of the Relationship Law. Chairman Kim is a member of the legal profession who entered public service as a prosecutor at the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office in 1994 and served as Vice Minister of Justice (61st) and Prosecutor General (44th). Daeryun recently obtained approval to establish a non-profit corporation from the Ministry of Justice, and is currently in the process of being designated as a public interest corporation. After the launch of the public interest corporation, Daeryun plans to provide legal counseling and litigation support activities for vulnerable groups such as single-parent families, the elderly living alone, and the disabled. Going beyond simple legal support, we also plan to provide regular sponsorship and volunteer work, and expand sustainable social contribution activities. In addition, we will strengthen educational support for future legal professionals. We plan to contribute to the spread of a culture of public interest in the legal profession by operating mentoring, supporters, and internship programs for law school students and law school students. Previously, Daeryun was selected as the ‘2024 Best Job Creation Company’ by the Credit Guarantee Fund in recognition of its efforts to realize various public interests, such as regular hiring of women with (interrupted) careers, creation of jobs for the disabled, and activation of parental leave. With the establishment of this ‘Relationship Act’, Daeryun will pursue more systematic and continuous public interest activities. It is planned. Kim Kook-il, CEO of Daeryun Management, said, “The role of a truly large law firm is not to limit legal services to business, but to utilize them to create social value.” He added, “Through the establishment of this public interest corporation, we will provide practical help to all those who need the benefits of the law and contribute to the realization of a fair and just society.” Reporter Park Jun-sik (parkjs@wowtv.co.kr)[View full article] Korea Economic Daily TV - Daeryun promotes the establishment of an incorporated association, ‘Kinyeonbeop’… Former Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo as Chairman of the Board (Shortcut) Legal News - Daeryun establishes ‘Inyeonbeop’ as an incorporated association… Former Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo as the first chairman (link) Korea Economic Daily - Kim Oh-soo appointed as the first chairman of Daeryun Law Firm's public interest corporation 'Relationship Law' (Click here) Sejeong Ilbo - Daeryun Law Firm establishes public interest corporation ‘因緣Court’… ‘Former Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo’ appointed as first chairman of the board (link) Aju Economy - [Law Firm Lounge] Daeryun promotes the establishment of a corporation, ‘Kinyeonbeop’… Former Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo as Chairman of the Board (Shortcut) Roishu - Daeryun, pushes for the establishment of an incorporated association, ‘Relationship Law’… Former Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo as Chairman of the Board (Shortcut) Edaily - Daeryun promotes establishment of public interest corporation... Former Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo as Chairman of the Board (Click here)

Oullim Medicom (CEO Kim Han-seong), a comprehensive advertising and public relations agency that is making progress in the public sector, signed a legal advisory MOU (business agreement) with Daeryun Law Firm on the 21st. At the business agreement ceremony held at Daeryun headquarters, key officials from each company, including Oullim Medicom CEO Kim Han-seong and Daeryun CEO Kim Kuk-il, attended. Oullim Medicom has been working with various public institutions and agencies for 14 years, starting in 2011. It is a professional agency that provides corporate PR solutions. Through this MOU, Oullim Medicom plans to add legal stability to the progress of the project by preventing legal problems that may arise in work such as public relations, consulting, video production, and promotion. An official from Daeryun Law Firm (Limited) said, “We will work with the advertising and public relations industry, including Oullim Medicom, and continue to communicate through specialized lawyers in fields such as entertainment, intellectual property rights, and administration.” “In particular, we will continue our close relationship with Oullim Medicom by jointly resolving legal issues such as criminal, civil, and administrative issues that may arise in the field,” said Kim Han-seong, CEO of Oullim Medicom. “We have made it our top priority to produce content that communicates with the public and convey the value of information to more people. Through this MOU, we will focus on providing useful content by incorporating Daeryun’s legal expertise, which Oullim Medicom does not have.” Oh Seok-ju said. Reporter (seokju5@gmail.com)[View full article] Daily Economy - Oullim Mediacom signs legal advisory MOU with Daeryun Law Firm (Click here) News Road - Oullim Mediacom and Daeryun Law Firm conclude MOU for legal advice (Click here)

“AI Rogirl Tech‘ Stand tall in the global market through specialization”The secret to shortest growth…Legal advice blind spot 中企Centered quality serviceM&A, serious disaster, patent infringement, pharmaceutical bio, Recruitment of a large number of legal tech lawyers with a focus on health fields, etc. Expansion of branch network in major cities around the world “Change and innovation are the only way to survive.” Kim Kuk-il ’Daeryun Law Firm‘ Representative lawyers have learned how to survive in the legal market where uncertainty prevails. ’little giant‘am. He constantly changes and innovates, Achieved the goal with a challenging spirit. ’Daeryun Law Firm‘is founded 9Korea for the first time in years 10Standing tall as a major law firm.2024The performance of appointments as of the end of the year proves this.. It is a remarkable record achieved in the shortest period of time even in the growth statistics of the law firm industry.. A miraculous new record was set..CEO Kim “It's only the beginning. Broader legal market without complacency, We will focus our passion on globalization beyond the domestic market.”He said emphatically. “AIEven in the legal market in this era AIthe wind is strong“as “AI We have recruited a large number of professional lawyers who will lead Legal Tech.2 We will solidify the foundation for leap forward”I promised.Daeryun Law Firm‘ I met with Representative Attorney Kim and had a short period of time. 10We heard about their passion for entering a major law firm and their future vision on how to break through the barriers to globalization..▶my2The criteria for recruiting competent talent for a leap forward are:?= Daeryun places importance on being able to develop customer-centered thinking while possessing expertise and creativity.. In various positions at home and abroad AI As legal tech expands, including the introduction, the legal market needs to change accordingly., We need talented people who can lead Legal Tech.. Domestic and international corporate consulting, M&A, fair trade, Talented individuals with outstanding expertise in fields such as medicine,, Talent with creative thinking who can predict and respond to new legal tech technologies or market changes, Accurately understand the diverse needs of customers, We are looking for talent who can provide the optimal solution accordingly..▶If you have a differentiation strategy for customers?= Compared to other law firms, Daeryun's top priority is to strengthen customized legal services for customers.. By forming a professional team that can respond to the diverse needs of customers, we, To ensure that you receive the same level of high-quality service in any field ‘One-stop service’ We are expanding the system. in other words, Rather than just providing solutions that customers need,, We aim to be a customer-centered law firm that puts our customers' needs first, including by operating a customer management center that regularly communicates with customers and listens for areas for improvement..▶2013Compared to last year's sales, last year's sales were about 60% I have grown. of sales 1What field are you contributing to??= The most notable field is the corporate legal team.. While existing large law firms provide legal advice mainly to large corporations,, Daeryun is a small and medium-sized business that is in the blind spot of legal advice., In particular, we focus on providing high-quality legal advisory services to companies outside the metropolitan area..Mergers and acquisitions of these companies over the past year(M&A), serious disaster, In addition to patent infringement,, criminal related to this, We also provided legal advice in the field of tax administration.. In addition, we believe that the key to our growth is that we have continuously strengthened our professional areas by reorganizing our medical and pharmaceutical group and expanding our business areas to the pharmaceutical, bio, and health fields..▶It is said that the introduction of advanced law firm systems such as those in the U.S. was highly appealing to customers., I am curious about the system that is highly preferred in benchmarking.. Please be specific..= Anglo-American(英美圈) Among the systems of global law firms, the core element benchmarked by Daeryun is the establishment of offices that visit customers., This can be said to be the introduction of legal technology that provides sufficient information to customers..English-speaking law firms have established offices in various overseas countries to provide customized services to clients in each country., Daeryun is also benchmarking this and establishing offices not only in Korea but also in major cities around the world, prioritizing customer accessibility.. In addition, it goes beyond setting up an office like this and provides solutions that can meet customer needs. AI We are striving to provide optimal solutions to our customers by developing our own legal technology..▶Plan to become a global law firm?=As the domestic legal market is no longer growing and is stagnating, Daeryun's overseas expansion is a natural choice to overcome the current situation and is an important vision for Daeryun.. Currently in New York, USA, washingtonDCThe process of setting up an office in Tokyo, Japan and recruiting local lawyers is in progress., beijing china, Field research has also been conducted in Shanghai.. Southeast Asia in the future, We aim to expand the competitiveness of the Korean legal market internationally by strengthening Daeryun's position as a global law firm beyond Europe and around the world..▶This year’s key projects and goals?=The main business focus is the expansion of Legal Tech, and the goal is the completion of customer-centricity.. As mentioned earlier, in order to become a global law firm, consulting is required., advisory, In general business areas such as marketing, AI While providing legal services based on Legal Tech,, Recruiting experts who can meet the diverse needs of domestic and international customers, We aim to strengthen communication with customers by focusing on improving systems and manuals and implementing a customer management center..▶ CEO Kook-il Kim’s motto?= "Change and innovation are the only ways to live", This is my motto. Change is always uncertain and challenging, I believe that taking this as an opportunity and maintaining an attitude of constant innovation is the driving force behind Daeryun's growth.. Daeryun will not settle for the stagnant domestic legal market but will become a pioneering law firm that leads change and achieves innovation in the rapidly changing global legal market..▶ Who is CEO Kook-il Kim??=1991Graduated from Seoul National University College of Law and34episode(1992) After taking the bar exam 1995Judicial Research and Training Institute(24energy)Completed. 1998After entering the legal profession as a prosecutor at the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office, the Busan District Prosecutors' Office, After working as a prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office,, Gwangju Prosecutor's Office, He served as chief prosecutor of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office..Afterwards, starting with the head of the Namwon Branch of the Jeonju Prosecutor's Office, the head of the Mokpo Branch of the Gwangju Prosecutor's Office, He served consecutively as the head of the Goyang branch of Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office and worked hard to establish a prosecutorial image that works with citizens., While working as a professor at the Judicial Research and Training Institute, he worked to cultivate upright lawyers..2020Attorney Kim, who took off his legal uniform and entered the legal profession in 2018, is a member of the Innovation Advisory Board of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.,Osan-si, Gyeonggi-do, Gyeonggi Housing and Urban Corporation, He served as legal advisor to the Korea Sports Council and promoted innovation in the public sector., 2023Since joining Daeryun as chief general counsel in 2018, 2024In 2018, he was appointed as CEO of overall management and is leading Daeryun from the front line..Reporter Jeong Young-cheol(jyc6131@sejungilbo.com) [View full article] [Interview] ‘Daeryun’ becomes a top 10 law firm 9 years after its founding… ‘No. 1 Contributor’ Representative Kim Kuk-il (Shortcut)

Bank owner's union responds by selecting a large law firm GS and HDC claim about 54 billion won in loans, damages, etc., and will pay tens of millions of won in contributions if union members lose. Bank Jugong Apartment in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, which completed selecting a construction company last month, has entered into a lawsuit this time. Last year, the existing construction company, GS E&C and HDC Hyundai Development Company consortium, began responding to a lawsuit filed for damages due to termination of the contract. Union members are paying close attention to the size of the additional contribution that will be determined based on the outcome of future lawsuits. According to the maintenance industry on the 24th, the Bank Main Construction Reconstruction Union held a representative meeting to select a law firm to respond to lawsuits from existing construction companies on the 21st and selected Daeryun Law Firm. It is known that Daeryun is forming a team dedicated to bank construction, mainly composed of lawyers from large law firms and large construction companies. This litigation battle arose in April last year when the bank construction contractor union terminated the construction contract with the GS Engineering & Construction and HDC Hyundai Development Company consortium. The union and the construction group were unable to reach an agreement on increasing construction costs and extending the construction period, leading to termination. Accordingly, the construction team requested the return of the bid deposit (loan money) and compensation for damages for construction profits. The construction group appointed Yulchon Law Firm. A member of the bank owner's union said, "Proposals were received from six law firms, and Daeryun had the largest number of lawyers, and there were also attorneys with backgrounds in construction and reconstruction." He added, "This lawsuit is important as tens of millions of won in additional contributions per household are involved." Delay damages were claimed. The union sees late interest and compensation for damages as issues rather than the return of the loan. In particular, it is pointed out that at the construction company selection general meeting in December 2018, the construction group promised to build a 35-story building, but did not keep it, and was selected as the construction company by deceiving the union. The loan can be repaid with POSCO E&C's bid deposit (KRW 35 billion). Daeryun emphasized that the important reason for selecting the construction company for the union was the other party's unreasonable promise, and proposed a response strategy to dismiss all claims by the other party by acknowledging that the contract was terminated due to the other party's fault. If the union loses this lawsuit, it is expected that additional contributions of 10 to 20 million won per household will be made depending on the amount of damages. In addition to bank construction, an increasing number of reconstruction and redevelopment sites have replaced construction companies due to the recent surge in construction costs. The Seoul High Court is scheduled to issue a ruling in April on the lawsuit claiming damages filed by DL E&C against the redevelopment association in Sindang District 8, Jung-gu, Seoul. In June of last year, both DL E&C and the union objected to the results of the first trial, and the trial was transferred to the High Court. In the first trial, a ruling was issued requiring the union to compensate DL E&C about 8 billion won. Some of the land owned by the association was also put up for auction. The 3rd block reconstruction association in Banpo Jugong Complex 1, Seocho-gu is continuing a lawsuit against HDC Hyundai Development Company, the previous construction company, for damages. Here too, due to a conflict between specialized design and construction costs, the main contract was not concluded and Samsung C&T was selected as the new construction company. The second trial is currently in progress, and the union lost in the first trial. Last month, the Bangbae District 5 Reconstruction Association, where Hyundai Engineering & Construction is the construction company, paid 52.5 billion won in compensation to the previous construction company, the GS Engineering & Construction Consortium (GS Engineering & Construction, POSCO E&C, and Lotte Engineering & Construction). It has been 7 years since the construction contract was canceled in 2017. An industry official said, "If the union reflects the burden and compensation due to litigation costs in the sale price, the sale price will inevitably rise, and the damage will fall on union members and general sellers." Reporter Hwang Jun-ik (plusik@tf.co.kr)[View full article] Contractor cancellation boomerang… Bank Jugong enters litigation with GS and HDC (Click here)

After the contractor's construction insurance expires, the developer's loss coverage insurance contract legal expert says, "Constructor's responsibility is greater"... Construction company says, “Insurance has nothing to do with compensation for survivors.” Attention is focused on the legal responsibility of the construction company and the developer regarding the fire accident at the new construction site of the Busan Banyan Tree, in which 6 people died and 27 were injured. According to the Busan Police Agency on the 24th, Samjeong Enterprise, the construction company of the Busan Banyan Tree, exceeded the construction company's responsibility completion deadline in November last year and received approval for use of the building on December 19 of the same year. After receiving approval for use equivalent to completion. Until the accident, two months later, about 780 workers from 35 subcontractors belonging to the constructor and developer were carrying out large-scale work simultaneously at the site. Interior materials piled up here and there acted as kindling at the time of the fire and spread the flames in an instant, making firefighting and rescue operations difficult. The police have been conducting a large-scale investigation, including search and seizure of the constructor, developer, and subcontractors immediately after the accident, but the cause of the fire is still unknown. The responsible party was not clearly identified. The scale of human casualties, including the death of six people in this fire, is high, and construction is delayed, so it is expected that a huge cost burden will be incurred in handling the accident. According to the industry, the site received approval for use from the Gijang County Office in December of last year, and the construction insurance purchased in 2022 expired. As the construction insurance was automatically canceled, the developer, Rupentis, is known to have signed up related insurance to compensate for damage due to facility loss or fire accidents. However, the construction was completed. As opinions differ over who will manage the building, it is unclear whether insurance will be paid. The legal community predicts that the contractor who managed and supervised the construction site will be held more responsible for this fire accident. Park Dong-il, CEO of Daeryun Law Firm, said, "In this case, the legal judgment is expected to vary depending on whether the contractor and developer fulfill their safety management obligations." “There is a high possibility that the construction company that managed and supervised it will be pointed out as the main responsible party,” he predicted. Attorney Lim Byeong-jin of Taesol Law Firm, who is the legal representative of one bereaved family, also said, “Based on the scale of the accident and related statements, it seems difficult for the construction company to avoid responsibility.” He added, “Keeping in mind the possibility that the main contractor (Samjeong Enterprises) may evade responsibility by cutting its tail using subcontracting relationships, etc., we plan to respond by applying the Serious Accident Punishment Act so that the responsible party can take legal responsibility.” Depending on who it is, a legal battle may continue in the future over whether insurance money will be paid. If the insurance company pays the insurance premium first to resolve the accident, the insurance companies can later claim the right to compensation from the person who caused the fire. However, Samjeong Enterprises' position is that the insurance does not affect compensation for the bereaved families. An official from Samjeong Enterprises said, "The operator of the completed building is the developer." “We signed a contract with a company and were inspecting it,” he explained. He added, “Insurance and industrial accident compensation and other bereaved family compensation will be paid regardless of whether or not they are insured, and Samjeong plans to fulfill its responsibility to the bereaved families as the subject of construction.” Separately, the bereaved families are guaranteed about 25 to 43 million won in insurance costs through the Citizen Safety Insurance, which citizens and residents are automatically enrolled in. In addition, according to the Disaster Relief Act, funeral expenses can be supported up to a maximum of 15 million won. Meanwhile, the police expect that a report on the forensic results will be released within this week, and plan to brief the results of the interim investigation, including the cause of the fire, next week. Reporter Jo Ah-seo (aseo@news1.kr)[View full article] News 1 - Is the construction company or the developer responsible for the Busan Banyan Tree fire during ‘post-completion construction’? (Shortcut) Newsis - Responsibility for the Busan Byanyan Tree fire: construction company or implementation company (link)

The victim underwent surgery for an orbital fracture. The victim's side said, "It is a disability that is close to blindness, which hinders the future... The perpetrator shows no remorse." A college student in his 20s, who caused his friend to lose his eyesight by hitting him in the face during an argument and causing him to lose his eyesight, was sentenced to prison. The 11th Criminal Division of the Suwon District Court sentenced Mr. A, who was put on trial on charges of serious bodily injury in December of last year, to one year in prison. Mr. A is a roommate in a university dormitory located in Gyeonggi-do in March 2023. He is accused of hitting Mr. B in the face and causing serious injury during an argument. As a result of this accident, Mr. B was diagnosed with an orbital fracture and underwent emergency surgery. Afterwards, the visual acuity of the operated left eye fell below 0.02, resulting in permanent vision impairment close to blindness. Immediately after the incident, it was revealed that Mr. A was only focused on evading the situation by ordering Mr. B to “walk around as usual and (if anyone) asks, just give a quick answer.” At the trial, Mr. B appealed for severe punishment for Mr. A. Mr. B's side emphasized, "The victim, who was a promising college soccer player, suffered permanent disability and had to give up his dream due to this incident, but the perpetrator is not showing any serious attitude of remorse." The court found that the degree of damage suffered by Mr. B due to Mr. A's assault was serious and sentenced him to prison. The court stated the reason for sentencing, saying, “The defendant inflicted serious injuries on the victim that caused permanent loss of vision, so the crime is not good,” and “The victim is at risk of not being able to continue living as an athlete, which she has worked hard to do for a long time. In addition, the victim is appealing for a severe punishment commensurate with the defendant’s guilt.” Attorney Jeong Seok-hyun of Daeryun Law Firm, who is the legal representative of person B, said, “Mr. “It is reasonable to say that there was intent, even if only vaguely, and that there was a possibility of foreseeing the serious injury of blindness,” he said. “Considering that Mr. B is currently in a serious condition, about to be diagnosed with blindness in his left eye, Mr. A should be punished appropriately.” He added, “In this case, compensation for damages is also in progress,” and “Based on this ruling, we will do our best to help Mr. B achieve a favorable result.” Reporter Kim Jong-cheol (jckim99@sportsseoul.com)[View full article] College student who caused blindness by hitting friend sentenced to 1 year in prison (link)

A man in his 70s, who was handed over to the prosecution on charges of trespassing and searching the temple's main office, was cleared of charges. According to Daeryun Law Firm on the 24th, the Suncheon Branch of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office decided not to indict a man in his 70s, Mr. He is accused of trespassing with his family into the temple office where Mr. He explained, “The religious office was a place where believers could visit freely at the time,” and “From the CCTV footage, it appears that the complainant did not specifically restrain the suspect from entering.” The charge of searching the residence was also considered insufficient evidence. The prosecution said, “Looking at the CCTV footage, the suspect stayed in the religious office for only 20 seconds, so it is difficult to say that every corner of the house was searched.” He added, “No video was filmed inside the room, and the complainant did not directly witness what the suspect did.” Oh Sang-wan, a lawyer at the Daeryun Law Firm who represented Mr. A, explained, "The principle is that whether or not it constitutes a trespass in a residential trespass case is judged based only on the objective and external actions at the time of entry." He continued, "It appears that the non-indictment decision was made taking into account the fact that the door to the incident location was not locked and that Mr. B did not block the entry." Reporter Shin Min-ji (sourminjee@ikbc.co.kr)[View full article] A man in his 70s was acquitted on charges of trespassing into a temple office (link)

When representing a lawsuit, there are cases where the plaintiff and the defendant reach an extreme confrontation, but then reach a dramatic agreement during the trial, ending the trial through mediation or reconciliation. Mediation is a process of resolving the dispute by a neutral third party intervening between the parties to the dispute and reaching an agreement, while reconciliation refers to an agreement between the plaintiff and the defendant to end the lawsuit by gradually giving in to each other's claims. Recently, even in criminal cases, criminal disputes are resolved amicably at the prosecutor's stage and victims are harmed. Criminal mediation is actively being carried out to achieve substantial recovery. If the feelings toward the other party have worsened too much, there are some who want to conclude with the court's ruling, but as the litigation process progresses, the emotional wounds may grow beyond control due to written attacks on each other, or the desired result may not be obtained as expected. Therefore, the above dispute resolution plan can be very effective if mutual concessions are made in a win-win way. Let me tell you about a divorce mediation case that I remember. In a case where it was thought that mediation would be established without much difficulty as issues such as property division were not major issues, the respondent (husband) began attacking the applicant (wife) for her mistakes, leading to mutual slander, and mediation was not established, turning it into a divorce suit. As the lawsuit continued for nearly two years and both sides' emotions reached their peak, the plaintiff and defendant reached a dramatic agreement, and the lawsuit was ended through a mediation report. I later checked with the client to see how the agreement was reached. It is said that the daughter's earnest request was for her mother and father to stop fighting. Although the plaintiff and the defendant will become separated through divorce, I remember saying that as the daughter's parents, they made a very wise decision considering their relationship that will remain forever. Among various school violence cases, we often see cases where very close friends become estranged by hurtful words toward each other and verbal violence and other incidents are reported. In these cases, I, as a parent raising children, am also very saddened. In particular, there is no opportunity for serious conversation or voluntary reconciliation between the two students. In cases where there has not been one, we first create an opportunity for dialogue and try to find a point of agreement, because no one wants measures to be taken while leaving only scars on both students' minds. Accordingly, the author has observed that the issue was resolved on its own without holding a school violence committee through an agreement reached between the parties a day before the school violence committee was held. As I watch my children, who are elementary school students, have different opinions and fights break out every morning, I feel that it is impossible to expect conflicts and disputes to completely disappear from human life. This is especially true because the history of mankind is called the history of war, as there have been numerous wars since mankind opened the horizon of history. On the other hand, we also know the history of many countries in which individuals and communities have been restored through forgiveness and reconciliation in the ruins of war, and have achieved remarkable development. Numerous conflicts and disputes can occur frequently, broadly between political groups and social classes, and narrowly between family members and acquaintances who meet each other in everyday life, and there are many ways to resolve them. However, in order to minimize unnecessary emotional expenditure and focus on one's precious life rather than conflict and move toward a better future, it is better to solve problems through mediation and reconciliation. It may be a more reliable shortcut.[View full article] [Monday Column] An era in which adjustment and reconciliation are necessary (Shortcut)