Learning Korean

Korean Law & Justice: Key Rules and Terms

Choi Eun-jung
5 min read
Explore all the fundamental rules and terms related to law and justice in Korean. Gain in-depth knowledge of the Korean legal language.
Lang1Lang2Pronunciation
Table with 0 rows and 3 columns
Scroll horizontally to view all columns →
법률 Laws

English: 법률 Laws

정의 Justice

English: 정의 Justice

법률체계 Legal System

English: 법률체계 Legal System

법원 Court

English: 법원 Court

법관 Judge

English: 법관 Judge

검사 Prosecutor

English: 검사 Prosecutor

변호사 Attorney/Lawyer

English: 변호사 Attorney/Lawyer

형법 Criminal Law

English: 형법 Criminal Law

민법 Civil Law

English: 민법 Civil Law

상법 Commercial Law

English: 상법 Commercial Law

헌법 Constitution

English: 헌법 Constitution

재판 Trial

English: 재판 Trial

소송 Litigation

English: 소송 Litigation

판결 Judgment/Verdict

English: 판결 Judgment/Verdict

형사소송법 Criminal Procedure Law

English: 형사소송법 Criminal Procedure Law

민사소송법 Civil Procedure Law

English: 민사소송법 Civil Procedure Law

증거 Evidence

English: 증거 Evidence

증인 Witness

English: 증인 Witness

주거 Defendant

English: 주거 Defendant

원고 Plaintiff

English: 원고 Plaintiff

항소 Appeal

English: 항소 Appeal

상고 Supreme Court Appeal

English: 상고 Supreme Court Appeal

법의 지배 Rule of Law

English: 법의 지배 Rule of Law

인권 Human Rights

English: 인권 Human Rights

사법 Judiciary

English: 사법 Judiciary

사법부 Judicial Branch

English: 사법부 Judicial Branch

헌법재판소 Constitutional Court

English: 헌법재판소 Constitutional Court

대법원 Supreme Court

English: 대법원 Supreme Court

고등법원 High Court

English: 고등법원 High Court

지방법원 District Court

English: 지방법원 District Court

형사정책 Criminal Policy

English: 형사정책 Criminal Policy

내란죄 Insurrection

English: 내란죄 Insurrection

반역죄 Treason

English: 반역죄 Treason

무죄추정 Presumption of Innocence

English: 무죄추정 Presumption of Innocence

공정거래 Fair Trade

English: 공정거래 Fair Trade

권리 Rights

English: 권리 Rights

의무 Duties/Obligations

English: 의무 Duties/Obligations

손해배상 Compensation for Damages

English: 손해배상 Compensation for Damages

부당이득 Unjust Enrichment

English: 부당이득 Unjust Enrichment

소유권 Ownership

English: 소유권 Ownership

계약 Contract

English: 계약 Contract

법인 Corporation

English: 법인 Corporation

사법시험 Judicial Examination

English: 사법시험 Judicial Examination

범죄 Crime

English: 범죄 Crime

처벌 Punishment

English: 처벌 Punishment

형사정의 Criminal Justice

English: 형사정의 Criminal Justice

선고 Sentencing

English: 선고 Sentencing

민사정의 Civil Justice

English: 민사정의 Civil Justice

자유권 Civil Liberties

English: 자유권 Civil Liberties

양심의 자유 Freedom of Conscience

English: 양심의 자유 Freedom of Conscience

Have you ever wondered how legal terms in Korean reflect everyday life and core values? During my time in Seoul, I realized that 법 (beop), or law, is not just about rules but also about preserving ++사회적 질서 (sahoejeok jilseo)++, which means social order. When you delve into words like 인권 (inkwon) for human rights, you see how individuals’ fundamental liberties are protected by statutes. Similarly, 평등 (pyeongdeung) highlights the importance of treating everyone equally before the law, and 자유 (jayu) celebrates personal freedom as a significant foundation of society. Every time I discover a new term, I’m wonderfully reminded of just how closely language and culture are intertwined.

In my early days of studying Korean, I found it exciting to learn everyday phrases that contain legal concepts. For instance, you might hear the phrase 법적 책임 (beopjeok chaegim), or legal responsibility, when discussing business matters. Another example is 민법 (minbeop), which refers to civil law and might arise when talking about contracts or property. These terms can feel daunting at first, but they slowly become more essential as you see how closely they’re connected to day-to-day life.

I remember one moment that truly showcased the relevance of legal terms. A friend and I were planning to open a small café, so we wrote down a numbered list of steps to keep track:

  1. Obtain the 사업자 등록증 (saeopja deungnokjeung), or business registration license

  2. Complete ++법적 절차 (beopjeok jeolcha)++, meaning all legal procedures

  3. Follow any additional 규정 (gyujeong), or regulations, required by local authorities

This experience taught me how responsible documentation and a basic grasp of the law go hand in hand with entrepreneurial success. Before that, I’d never realized these terms could become a central part of my everyday vocabulary.

• Learning about ++형사 재판 (hyeongsa jaepan)++, or criminal trials, helped me appreciate how society upholds order. • Reading news articles about 헌법 (heonbeop), the constitution, revealed the weight of civic duties. • Hearing legal references in K-dramas made me curious about people’s rights and obligations. • Observing how locals talk about ++거래 (georae)++, which means trade or transaction, showed me how law shapes economic interactions.

Everything feels connected in a way that is both fascinating and deeply humane. Each term carries traces of history, ethics, and the collective spirit of Korean society.

Conclusion

Understanding Korean law-related vocabulary provides fresh insight into how community life is structured. It not only heightens your language skills but also broadens your cultural lens. Every new word or phrase reveals a layer of values and social responsibility. So, if you find yourself intrigued by Korean language, don’t hesitate to explore legal expressions as part of your journey. You might be surprised at how quickly these terms become a natural part of your everyday conversations.

References - Lee, J., & Kim, S. (2019). Korean Law and Society. Seoul Publishing. - Park, H. (2020). Understanding the Korean Legal System. Han River Press. - Choi, M. (2018). The Role of Justice in Korean Culture. Journal of Korean Studies. - Kore Anayasa Mahkemesi Resmi Web Sitesi. (Erişim Tarihi: 2023)