Read the full current text of Korean statutes one article per page, with an unofficial line-by-line English translation for the most-read laws, plus guides to everyday legal questions in Korea.
With law, the text comes before commentary. The statute book carries current Korean legislation from the Ministry of Government Legislation unchanged, and article references inside the text link straight to the cited article. Nothing here is legal advice; for a specific case, ask a lawyer or a public legal aid service such as the Korea Legal Aid Corporation.
Below the Constitution are Acts passed by the National Assembly. Details an Act delegates are set by Presidential Decrees (enforcement decrees) and by Prime Minister's or Ministry ordinances (enforcement rules). So when an Act says 'as prescribed by Presidential Decree', the actual standard is in the decree. The statute book lists each type separately so you can follow these layers.
An article (Article 1) divides into paragraphs (1), paragraphs into subparagraphs (1.), and subparagraphs into items (a). An article such as 'Article 3-2' was inserted between existing numbers by an amendment. References chain these units, as in 'Article 3 (1) 2'.
Laws change often, and the date a law takes effect often differs from the date it was promulgated. When and how it applies is set out in the addenda, so for any date-sensitive question check the addenda and the reference date first.
No. The English is an unofficial translation made by this site from the Korean, for study and understanding; only the Korean text has legal effect.
No. The site provides the original text and general steps to check. For a specific matter, consult a lawyer or a public legal aid service.