Bar Association Disciplines 9 Lawyers Joined 'Lotok' with Maximum Fine of 3 Million Won

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The Korean Bar Association (KBA) has disciplined nine lawyers who used the legal service platform 'Lotoc'.

According to the legal community on the 18th, the KBA held a disciplinary committee meeting the day before and decided to impose disciplinary measures, including a maximum fine of 3 million KRW, on nine lawyers who joined and were active on Lotoc for 'violation of the association's rules.' This is the first time the KBA has decided to discipline lawyers related to joining Lotoc.

If they do not raise objections, the disciplinary action will be finalized, and if objections are raised, the matter will be referred to the Ministry of Justice's disciplinary committee.

To prevent lawyers from using legal service platforms, the KBA revised its internal advertising regulations in May last year. The regulations include provisions that lawyers should not cooperate with services that reveal business names and connect or advertise lawyers by non-lawyers.

In May, the Constitutional Court ruled that the part of the advertising regulations prohibiting revealing business names and introducing or referring lawyers is constitutional after reviewing its constitutionality. Accordingly, the KBA maintains the position that there is no problem disciplining lawyers who join Lotoc.

Lotoc's operator, Law&Company, issued a statement on the same day, saying, "We strongly condemn the KBA's disciplinary action," emphasizing that it is "an act that ignores all repeated conclusions that 'Lotoc is legal'." They added, "We will support the disciplined lawyers when they file objections with the Ministry of Justice's lawyer disciplinary committee."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.