The Hague Service Convention, also known as the Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters, is an international treaty that provides for the service of judicial and extrajudicial documents between countries. South Korea is a signatory to the Hague Service Convention, which means that documents must be served between South Korea and other signatory countries according to the provisions of the Convention. For another related article please see: Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Korea.
Under the Hague Service Convention, documents must be served in South Korea through the Central Authority designated by the South Korean government. In South Korea, the Central Authority for the Hague Service Convention is the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea. The Ministry of Justice shall receive incoming requests for service of process from other countries and arrange for service to be made in accordance with South Korean law. No private service is allowed in the Republic of Korea. If you are trying to serve documents on a party in South Korea, contact a lawyer in Korea that is aware of and works with lawyers in others countries and understands the process under the Hague Service Convention.
Overall, the Hague Service Convention provides a useful and efficient framework for the service of documents in civil and commercial matters between signatory countries, including South Korea. By working with the Central Authorities designated under the Convention, parties can ensure that documents are served in accordance with the requirements of the Convention and the laws of the country where service is being made.
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