Stalking Crimes and Dating Violence

“Because stalking may not end with a settlement alone, the risks of repeated conduct, perceived threats, and protective orders must be reviewed from the first police interview.”

Overview

Stalking and dating-violence matters can begin as emotionally charged personal conflicts, but once criminal procedures begin, the issues are assessed in a very different framework. Since the repeal of the victim’s non-prosecution provision under Korea’s Stalking Punishment Act, the mere fact that the parties reached a settlement does not automatically close the case.

For a suspect, it may not be enough to say, “I had a reason to contact the other person” or “I did not intend to threaten them.” The number, timing and content of messages, the other party’s refusal, any actual visits, and the point at which contact stopped should be reviewed against objective evidence to assess repetition, continuity, and threatening circumstances.

For a victim, safety comes first. Where there are repeated contacts, visits to a home or workplace, or threatening messages, it may be necessary to consider filing a complaint together with emergency measures, provisional measures, or a no-contact/protective order.

Key Services

• Defense in matters involving alleged violations of the Stalking Punishment Act
• Criminal response in dating-violence, intimidation, assault, and confinement allegations
• Pre-interview statement review and attorney attendance at police interviews
• Organization of objective evidence, including text messages, KakaoTalk messages, call logs, and location records
• Response to emergency measures, provisional measures, and no-contact/protective orders
• Assistance with victim complaints and applications for protective measures
• Review of settlement strategy, permissible contact, and secondary-victimization risks

Representative Matters

• Response in a matter involving alleged stalking based on repeated contact after a breakup
• Response in a dating-violence matter involving concurrent allegations of assault and intimidation
• Representation of a victim seeking no-contact and provisional protective measures
• Response involving reconstruction of facts based on message history and the circumstances of in-person meetings
• Response in a matter involving overlapping allegations of stalking, defamation, and intimidation

Deepfakes and Digital Sex Crimes

“In deepfake and digital sex-crime matters, a claim of mere viewing or possession may not be enough; the creation, storage, transmission history, and forensic response must be organized first.”

Overview

Deepfake and digital sex-crime matters may vary significantly depending on the nature of the content, the age of the victim, whether the material was created, how it was stored, the purpose of any transmission, and the person’s role in a group chat. Where material is suspected to involve minors, searches and seizures, mobile-phone forensics, and summons for questioning may proceed quickly from the earliest stage.

For a suspect, explanations such as “it was a joke,” “I did not distribute it myself,” or “I did not know it was illegal” may not be sufficient. It is important to review, based on evidence, how the material was obtained, whether it was saved or deleted, whether it was transmitted or shared, and whether there was any distribution purpose.

For a victim, removal and prevention of further distribution, preparation of a complaint, prevention of additional harm, and identification of the offender are critical. Because digital materials can spread or disappear quickly, early preservation of evidence is essential.

Key Services

• Response to allegations involving creation, possession, or distribution of deepfake sexual images or videos
• Response in illegal filming, distribution of recordings, and distribution-threat matters
• Advice on mobile-phone forensics and search-and-seizure procedures
• Pre-interview statement review and attorney attendance at police interviews
• Preparation of victim complaints and organization of digital evidence
• Review of procedures to remove or block unlawful material from circulation
• Assistance with settlement, non-punishment submissions, and mitigation materials

Representative Matters

• Response to suspect questioning in a deepfake-image matter
• Response to allegations involving sharing of video material in a group chat
• Assistance to a victim of illegal filming with complaint filing and distribution control
• Response involving stored and transmitted records identified in a mobile-phone forensic review
• Response in a matter involving digital sex-crime allegations together with intimidation and coercion allegations

Stock Price Manipulation and Capital Markets Act Violations

Including stock-advice chatroom fraud

“If you are linked to a stock-advice chatroom or price-manipulation investigation, the first issue is whether you were a mere participant, an operator, or someone who may be viewed as an accomplice based on trading records and chat history.”

Overview

Stock price manipulation, market manipulation, use of material non-public information, and stock-advice chatroom fraud may begin as investment-loss disputes but can expand into criminal allegations under the Capital Markets Act, fraud, and illegal fundraising laws. Operators, marketing staff, investment solicitors, junior employees, and investors may all face scrutiny depending on their actual role and the benefit structure.

In these matters, it may not be enough to say, “I was only in the chatroom” or “I only followed instructions.” It is necessary to objectively organize who issued buy or sell instructions, what was explained to investors, how profits were shared, and how the actual trading data was formed.

LK PARTNERS’ Criminal Practice Group reviews chatroom conversations, solicitation messages, account flows, trading records, promotional materials, and profit-sharing structures to evaluate defense strategy in Capital Markets Act, fraud, and aiding-and-abetting allegations.

Key Services

• Defense in matters involving alleged violations of the Capital Markets Act
• Response to allegations of stock price manipulation, market manipulation, and use of material non-public information
• Investigation response for stock-advice chatroom operators, marketing personnel, and employees
• Review of investment-solicitation messages, chatroom materials, and promotional content
• Analysis of trading records, account flows, and profit-sharing structures
• Response to searches, seizures, and requests for financial records
• Preparation of victim complaints and organization of investment-loss evidence

Representative Matters

• Response in a fraud matter involving operation of a stock-advice chatroom
• Response for marketing personnel or employees identified as alleged accomplices
• Response involving the relationship between investment-solicitation messages and claimed investment losses
• Response in a matter requiring distinction between suspected manipulation and ordinary investment activity
• Response in a complex economic-crime matter involving both Capital Markets Act and fraud allegations

Telegram and Dark-Web Drug Offenses

“In Telegram drug cases, even first-time offenders may face detention and criminal-record risks, so use, possession, purchase, brokerage, and sale issues should be distinguished before the first interview.”

Overview

Drug matters involving Telegram, the dark web, or non-face-to-face transactions often move quickly through searches and seizures, emergency arrest, urine and hair testing, and mobile-phone forensics. Even for a first-time offender, the intensity of the investigation and the potential penalty may vary depending on whether the allegation concerns simple use, purchase, storage, sale, or brokerage.

The key is to determine which stage of conduct is actually at issue. Remittance records, chat logs, delivery and receipt circumstances, actual use, prior history, treatment intent, and relapse-prevention planning may all be reviewed.

LK PARTNERS’ Criminal Practice Group organizes the facts based on test results and digital evidence and supports each stage of the matter, including the scope of cooperation, detention-warrant response, treatment and rehabilitation planning, and mitigation materials.

Key Services

• Defense in matters involving alleged violations of the Narcotics Control Act
• Response to Telegram and dark-web drug-purchase allegations
• Advice on urine and hair testing and forensic procedures
• Response to searches and seizures, emergency arrest, and detention-warrant proceedings
• Review of the distinction between simple use or possession and sale or brokerage allegations
• Preparation of treatment, rehabilitation, and mitigation materials
• Procedural advice considering concerns over family or workplace exposure

Representative Matters

• Response in a matter involving alleged drug purchase through Telegram
• Preparation of treatment and rehabilitation materials in a simple-use matter
• Response in a matter where allegations expanded to sale or brokerage and the actual degree of involvement was disputed
• Response to search-and-seizure and mobile-phone forensic procedures
• Response in investigation and trial proceedings involving a repeat drug-use allegation

Virtual Asset Investment Fraud and Illegal Fundraising

“If you are identified as an accomplice in a coin-investment or illegal-fundraising matter, deception, fund flows, and your level of promotional involvement must be separated and reviewed first.”

Overview

Virtual asset investment fraud and illegal fundraising matters may target not only project operators, but also marketing personnel, community managers, stock-advice or investment chatroom participants, and referral-marketing participants. Investors may allege that they were promised high returns, exchange listing, or principal protection, or that risk of loss was not properly explained.

For a suspect, it is important to distinguish the actual business structure, use of investment funds, whether promotional language was drafted or approved, what was said to investors, decision-making authority, and whether any benefit was received. The key issue may be whether the person merely assisted with promotion or office work, or whether they designed the investment structure or managed funds.

For a victim, it is important to secure white papers, promotional materials, chatroom messages, remittance records, consultation recordings, and other materials that affected the investment decision.

Key Services

• Defense in coin-investment fraud matters and representation of victims filing complaints
• Investigation response in illegal-fundraising allegations
• Review of virtual-asset project structures
• Legal review of white papers, promotional materials, and chatroom messages
• Analysis of investment-fund flows and profit-distribution structures
• Response to criminal risks involving chatrooms and referral marketing
• Review of aiding-and-abetting, joint-principal liability, and mere promotional involvement issues

Representative Matters

• Response for a promotional staff member of a coin project investigated as an alleged fraud accomplice
• Response in a virtual-asset investment chatroom fraud matter
• Review of an investment-solicitation structure where illegal-fundraising issues were raised
• Response where differences between white-paper statements and actual project progress were at issue
• Response in criminal procedures following multiple investor complaints in a coin-related matter

Voice Phishing Cash Collector Involvement

“If you are suspected of acting as a cash collector in a voice-phishing scheme, it is more important to organize job ads, instruction messages, and travel routes than simply saying you did not know.”

Overview

Individuals involved as cash collectors, delivery personnel, withdrawal personnel, or account holders in voice-phishing matters often explain that they believed they were taking a high-paying part-time job, collecting debts, or running errands. Investigators, however, may assess possible criminal awareness based on the level of pay, work method, instructions, method of cash delivery, and identity-checking process.

Preparation before the first interview is critical. The relevant job posting, who contacted whom, what instructions were given, how the travel route and cash delivery were arranged, and how compensation was paid should be organized using objective materials.

LK PARTNERS’ Criminal Practice Group analyzes job postings, messenger conversations, account records, travel routes, and cash collection and delivery methods to review response strategies for fraud aiding-and-abetting, Electronic Financial Transactions Act violations, and detention-warrant proceedings.

Key Services

• Response in voice-phishing cash-collector and delivery-person cases
• Defense in fraud aiding-and-abetting and Electronic Financial Transactions Act allegations
• Organization of evidence, including job postings, messenger conversations, and work instructions
• Pre-interview statement review and attorney attendance at police interviews
• Response to detention-warrant hearings
• Review of settlement and victim-recovery procedures
• Preparation of victim complaints and support during investigation procedures

Representative Matters

• Response where the client performed cash-delivery work after believing it was a high-paying part-time job
• Response for a delivery person who received instructions from a voice-phishing organization
• Response in a matter involving account provision and cash withdrawal activity
• Response where criminal awareness was disputed based on messenger conversation records
• Representation of victims in a voice-phishing matter involving multiple victims

Defense in Organized Jeonse Fraud Accomplice Allegations

“If you are identified as an accomplice in a jeonse fraud matter, your actual role as a title lender, broker, or sales-agency employee and the alleged intent not to return deposits must be reviewed separately.”

Overview

Organized jeonse fraud matters may involve investigations not only of landlords, but also title lenders, real-estate brokers, sales-agency employees, consulting companies, and financing participants. Even where a person’s role was limited, the overall structure of the matter may lead investigators to suspect accomplice liability.

For a suspect, it is important to distinguish whether they knew about the possibility of non-return of deposits, whether they designed the lease structure, what explanations were made during contract execution, whether they merely provided a name, and whether they received any actual benefit. Mere brokerage or clerical support should be distinguished from planning or directing conduct.

For a victim, the complaint strategy should be built on lease agreements, registry records, explanations provided by brokers, deposit remittance records, and communications with landlords and brokers.

Key Services

• Defense in jeonse fraud accomplice allegations
• Response for title lenders, brokers, and sales-agency employees
• Analysis of lease agreements, registry records, and fund flows
• Review of intent regarding non-return of deposits and alleged conspiracy
• Response to fraud, document-forgery, and criminal-organization-related allegations
• Representation of victims filing complaints and review of recovery procedures
• Response in jeonse fraud matters involving both civil and criminal procedures

Representative Matters

• Response where a title lender was investigated as an alleged jeonse fraud accomplice
• Response where a broker’s duty to explain and alleged conspiracy were at issue
• Response for a sales-agency employee alleged to have aided fraud
• Response in an organized jeonse fraud matter involving claims by multiple tenants
• Assistance to victim tenants with complaint preparation and criminal procedures

Drunk-Driving Hit-and-Run and Driver Concealment Accidents

“Drunk-driving flight or driver switching may involve detention, license, and criminal-record risks, making immediate post-accident statements and evidence organization critical.”

Overview

Drunk-driving flight, hit-and-run, and driver-concealment matters may not end as ordinary drunk-driving cases. Failure to take post-accident measures, dangerous driving resulting in injury, harboring an offender, or destruction of evidence may also be alleged. If the driver left the scene or another person was presented as the driver, investigators may suspect concealment.

Important facts include the time of the accident, the time of drinking, the time of driving, the time of alcohol testing, passenger statements, dashcam footage, CCTV footage, and call records. Where the Widmark formula is applied, the underlying facts may significantly affect the assessment of blood alcohol concentration.

LK PARTNERS’ Criminal Practice Group reviews police-interview strategy, post-accident measures, settlement possibilities with victims, detention-warrant response, and license-related administrative sanctions in an integrated manner.

Key Services

• Response in drunk-driving and Road Traffic Act matters
• Response in failure-to-take-measures, hit-and-run injury, and dangerous-driving injury matters
• Response to driver switching and harboring-offender allegations
• Review of blood alcohol concentration and Widmark-formula issues
• Analysis of evidence, including dashcam footage, CCTV footage, and call records
• Attorney attendance at police interviews and statement strategy review
• Response to license cancellation or suspension and related administrative sanctions

Representative Matters

• Response in a matter involving departure from the scene after a drunk-driving accident
• Response where driver-switching statements led to added harboring-offender allegations
• Response where the gap between driving time and alcohol-testing time was at issue
• Response involving review of accident circumstances based on dashcam and CCTV footage
• Response in a matter involving both criminal drunk-driving procedures and license-related administrative sanctions

Obscene Acts Using Communications Media

“Game-chat and open-chat complaints should be reviewed not only by the problematic words themselves, but also by the full conversation and whether a sexual purpose can be established.”

Overview

Obscene-communications cases frequently arise in online games, open chatrooms, social media, online communities, and messenger conversations. A particular expression may appear unfavorable when viewed in isolation, but the actual matter may require review of the full context, the relationship between the parties, the purpose of the statement, the conversation before and after, and any settlement-demand process.

For a suspect, explanations such as “I said it out of anger” or “there was no sexual purpose” should not remain as bare assertions; the conversation flow and surrounding circumstances should be organized as evidence. For a victim, screenshots, original conversation records, account information, repeated conduct, and details of harm should be preserved.

LK PARTNERS’ Criminal Practice Group analyzes communication records to review defense or complaint strategy and evaluates investigation response, settlement issues, and the risk of additional disputes.

Key Services

• Defense in allegations of obscene acts using communications media
• Response in matters involving sexual statements in online games, chats, or social media
• Analysis of full conversation context and screenshot evidence
• Pre-interview statement review and attorney attendance at police interviews
• Review of settlement requests, settlement amounts, and non-punishment procedures
• Preparation of victim complaints and organization of evidence
• Integrated response where insult, defamation, or intimidation allegations are also raised

Representative Matters

• Response to a complaint based on sexual comments made during an online game
• Response where open-chat messages were alleged to constitute an obscene-communications offense
• Representation of a victim in a matter involving sexual social-media direct messages
• Response in a matter where additional disputes arose during settlement-demand discussions
• Response in a matter involving obscene-communications allegations together with insult and intimidation allegations