Finance Litigation
Overview
HANBYOL LAW, LLC has handled securities-related litigation such as market manipulation, stock price manipulation, and trading entrustment, as well as derivative financial product-related litigation such as futures options, and Daewoo bonds and non-Daewoo bonds repurchase-related litigation.
Track Record
KB Kookmin Bank Insurance Claim Case Reversed and Remanded
Obtained a reversal and remand from the Supreme Court in an insurance claim between KB Kookmin Bank (Plaintiff) and KB Insurance et al. (Defendant) (2025Da207128)
9/11/2025
Shinhan Bank Guarantee Debt Case Partially Reversed and Remanded
Obtained a partial reversal and remand from the Supreme Court in a guarantee debt claim between Shinhan Bank (Plaintiff) and Korea Housing & Urban Guarantee Corporation (Defendant) (2023Da244871)
5/29/2025
NongHyup Bank Damages Case Partially Reversed and Remanded
Obtained a partial reversal and remand from the Supreme Court in a damages claim against NongHyup Bank Co., Ltd. (2018Da221867)
3/26/2020
Court "Compensate Stay-at-Home Moms for Losses from High-Risk Investments" - Rae-Hyuk Kang
The Seoul Central District Court ruled that Kookmin Bank must pay about KRW 150 million to Ms. Lee (65, a full-time housewife) and her family, finding that the bank recommended a high-risk fund with significant principal-loss potential without adequately explaining the risks. However, the court limited the bank’s liability to 70% of the damages because the plaintiffs also failed to carefully review the product’s profit-loss structure and risks; they bought the funds in 2007 and suffered losses of KRW 4 million to 110 million when redeeming in 2008 (they had sought KRW 230 million), and the plaintiffs’ lawyer said the ruling confirms banks’ responsibility when selling high-risk products to unsuitable customers.
8/25/2015
Samhwa Savings Bank Case: Dispute Mediation and Trial by the Financial Services Commission
Investors in Samhwa Savings Bank’s subordinated bonds obtained a 70% compensation award in court—higher than the roughly 30% they had received via the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) dispute mediation—because the court found Samhwa had falsified securities disclosures and its BIS capital ratio. The FSS mediation addressed only mis-selling (suitability and duty-to-explain breaches) and left allegations of false disclosures or capital-ratio manipulation to be pursued separately in court due to its limited authority. Victims can choose to accept mediation or sue for additional compensation, and court rulings can, in some cases, convert subordinated bonds into damage claims that receive higher repayment priority.
2/25/2014
Symposium on Securities Class Action Litigation: The Way Forward
At a 2014 symposium on revising the securities-related class action law, experts concluded that since the law’s 2005 enactment there have been very few cases and that inherent scope limits, procedural inefficiencies, and legislative and practical shortcomings have reduced its effectiveness. They emphasized that the law’s restriction to listed securities, lengthy proceedings, and courts’ and practitioners’ unfamiliarity delay victim relief, so victims in cases like the Dongyang affair should carefully consider whether to join class actions and that systemic reform is needed.
2/24/2014
Litigation related to the Orient Express
Hanbyeol Law Office (Ltd.) announced that it filed a first complaint at the Seoul Central District Court on October 22, 2013, on behalf of investors harmed by the Dongyang scandal and is preparing to file a second complaint for additional victims. Hanbyeol says it has secured meaningful judgments in past mis-selling cases against various banks and securities firms, is currently pursuing damages claims against Kookmin Bank and Woori Bank, has provided two briefings on litigation matters, and plans to hold a litigation information session for affected investors.
10/21/2013
Related Members
Raehyok Kang
Managing Partner
Sangwon Jo
Managing Partner
Wonjung Kim
Senior Advisor
Byounghan Ahn
Planning Attorney
Myungjoo Kang
Attorney
Sunhey Kang
Attorney
Sungrae Kang
Attorney
Jungjae Kang
Attorney
Hyerim Kang
Attorney
Ryujin Ko
Attorney
Hyejung Ko
Attorney
Jaryong Koo
Attorney
Mihyun Kim
Attorney
Sungmin Kim
Attorney
Seongwoo Kim
Attorney
Suhyun Kim
Attorney
Yongdae kim
Attorney
Taeyoung Kim
Attorney
Ujin Noh
Attorney
Hyewon Kim
Attorney
Dongkyun Park
Attorney
Sejun Bak
Attorney
Wooyoung Park
Attorney
Jaewan Park
Attorney
Jongkwan Park
Attorney
Jongchul Park
Attorney
Hyeoncheol Park
Attorney
Kiwon Song
Attorney
Soohyun Song
Attorney
Abyss and
Attorney
Saejoon Ahn
Attorney
Geasung Yang
Attorney
Younghwa Yang
Attorney
Jongyeol Yang
Attorney
kyungjae Yoo
Attorney
Sunjin Yi
Attorney
Sungwoo Lee
Attorney
Seungho Lee
Attorney
Hyunsung Lee
Attorney
Daegyum Jang
Attorney
Youngho Jung
Attorney
Sangyoung Chung
Attorney
Jungkwan Cho
Attorney
Sangmin Han
Attorney
Changwook Han
Attorney
Jongsun Heo
Attorney
Minhye Hwang
Attorney
Related News
Second Application for Personal Rehabilitation: Is There Any Way to Stop "Debt Collection Calls"?
Hanbyol Attorney Kim Yong-dae explains that injunctions are typically dismissed in second personal rehabilitation cases
7/9/2026
A mysterious debt demand letter after my father's death... Is it a "collect tomorrow" ultimatum...
Attorney Yong Dae Kim (Hanbyol Law LLC) recommends applying for a special modification if your debts exceed your estate.
4/8/2026
[Attorney Lee Sung-woo] Koryo Zinc Shareholder Litigation
Law firm Hanbyeol (attorney Lee Seong-woo) announced on the 5th that it will pursue damages lawsuits against Korea Zinc’s CEO and directors who led decisions on the company’s share buyback and rights offering. The firm said alleged illicit trading led shareholders who relied on the buyback to suffer losses and is preparing suits focused on investors who bought shares between the 5th and the 29th of last month—those covered under the Capital Markets Act’s damages provision—and will consider suing Mirae Asset Securities and KB Securities if the Financial Supervisory Service’s on-site investigations confirm wrongdoing.
11/6/2024
[Attorney Sungwoo Lee] Outstanding Lawyer at Law, Sanghoon Kim, Hyunggeol Ban, Soo Won Oh, and Lee...
Attorney Lee Seong-woo pioneered litigation after the 2011 savings-bank crisis, filing suits based on manipulated BIS ratios and accounting fraud to establish a precedent that subordinated bond investors could receive dividends on par with other creditors in bankruptcy. He also represented hundreds of investors in the 2013 Dongyang case and in multiple mass‑plaintiff suits against Value Invest Korea (VIK) and others, achieving many victories including the sole Supreme Court win. From 2016 to 2022 he served as a mediation commissioner for the Seoul Bar Association, facilitating numerous settlements, and in 2021 he chaired its External Cooperation Committee.
11/13/2023
'Dongyang Securities' Victims Sued for Class Damages (Law Firm Hanbyul)
Ordinary investors harmed by the Dongyang Securities scandal are filing collective damage claims. Eighty victims in Daejeon have sued Dongyang Securities in Seoul Central District Court for roughly 4 billion won, alleging the firm falsified investor information forms to sell high‑risk products, and 24 farmers in Chungnam have filed separate suits. Prosecutors have sought arrest warrants for the current chairman and three key executives on charges including issuing fraudulent corporate bonds and CP and illicitly supporting affiliated firms, with a warrant hearing set for January 13.
8/25/2015
"Small Fund Agricultural Special Tax, Incomplete Sale Possession" (Attorney Ahn Byung Han)
An agricultural and fishery special tax equal to 20% of the income tax refund was levied on sojang fund refunds without being disclosed to investors, reducing expected refunds and prompting allegations of incomplete sales due to the lack of notice in sales materials and terms. With about 230,000 subscribers and a potential total tax of up to KRW 16.1 billion (161억), some investors are considering class action lawsuits and the industry is seeking exemption, but the government says any exemption requires legislative procedures and its acceptance is uncertain.
8/24/2015
Court says stay-at-home mom must pay for losses on high-risk investments
The Seoul Central District Court partially ruled for the plaintiffs and ordered Kookmin Bank to pay about 150 million won to Ms. Lee (65) and her family, finding that the bank recommended a high‑risk fund with potential principal loss without adequately explaining the risks. However, the court limited the bank’s liability to 70% of the damages because the investors also failed to carefully review the product and their intentions were reflected in the fund selection.
7/18/2012