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A, who was staying in Thailand, was recently arrested by local police over a drug-related issue. While he was being held in detention, a Korean interpreter approached him, saying, “I’ll help you receive legal assistance.” A’s family trusted the interpreter and transferred several million won, but the promised attorney never appeared in court.

As in A’s case, legal scams in the form of “broker-run law firms” targeting Koreans who become involved in legal trouble in Thailand have recently become rampant, particularly as drug enforcement in the country has been significantly strengthened. Extra caution is therefore required.

A “broker-run law firm” refers to an illegal legal brokerage business operated by a broker, or office manager, who is not licensed as an attorney. The typical method involves a Korean-speaking broker approaching Korean residents or travelers, taking on the case, handing it over to a low-cost local attorney after keeping a portion of the fee, and pocketing the rest.

Chon Hyeong Hwan, Managing Partner at Mega-X Law Office, which operates law offices in both Korea and Thailand, warned, “Some travel agencies familiar with local conditions in Thailand even set up fake law firms and target Korean travelers.”

Source: Law Times, Reporter Park Sung-dong, “‘We’ll Appoint a Lawyer for You’… Warning Over ‘Broker-Run Law Firms’ in Thailand,” September 24, 2025.
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