Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye: "Legal Platform 'Lotok' Does Not Violate the Attorney-at-Law Act"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Amid the conflict between the operator of the legal platform 'Lotok,' which advertises lawyers, and the Korean Bar Association, it has been reported that Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice, stated that "Lotok does not violate the Attorney-at-Law Act," sparking controversy.

According to the legal community on the 15th, Minister Park reportedly made this remark during a meeting with startup representatives at the Ministry of Justice Government Gwacheon Complex the previous day.

At the meeting, Minister Park was quoted as saying, "For an act to violate the Attorney-at-Law Act, there must be a specific act of connecting a lawyer to a particular case and receiving compensation for it, but Lotok does not fall under this."

Lotok receives a fixed monthly fee from lawyers and provides advertising services on its internet site, connecting clients with lawyers. It is reported that about 4,000 lawyers use Lotok.

In response, the Korean Bar Association stated that Lotok violates the Attorney-at-Law Act, which prohibits non-lawyers from receiving money and referring lawyers, and amended the lawyer advertising regulations to completely ban promotion through platforms.

Additionally, they plan to implement regulations in August that will discipline members who request advertisements on platforms that connect lawyers and consumers or promote lawyers in exchange for economic compensation.

In opposition, Lotok's operator, 'Law&Company,' filed a constitutional complaint last month. Recently, they also reported the Korean Bar Association to the Fair Trade Commission for violations of the Fair Trade Act and the Act on Labeling and Advertising.