Intensified Drug Crackdowns
Targeting Korean Travelers
Mr. A, who was staying in Thailand, was recently detained by local police on drug-related charges. While he was locked up in a detention center, a Korean interpreter approached him, claiming, "I will help you get legal assistance." Believing these words, Mr. A's family transferred several million won, but the promised lawyer never appeared in court. As in Mr. A's case, so-called "broker law firms"-a form of legal scam targeting Koreans entangled in legal trouble in Thailand-are on the rise, especially as the country has recently intensified its crackdown on drugs. Extra caution is strongly advised.
On June 26, 2025, Thai police are passing by a marijuana shop on Khaosan Road in Bangkok. Photo by Yonhap News
A "broker law firm" refers to an illegal legal brokerage run by a broker (known as a "samujang") who does not have a law license. These brokers, who speak Korean, approach expatriates or travelers, take on their cases, and then pass the case to a cheap local lawyer after pocketing a portion of the legal fee. The remainder is taken by the broker. Jeon Hyunhwan, the managing attorney at MegaX Law Office, who operates legal offices in both Korea and Thailand and passed the 7th bar exam, warned, "Some travel agencies familiar with the situation in Thailand are setting up fake law firms to target Korean tourists."
Yoo Junghoon, an attorney at DLG Law Firm and an expert on Southeast Asia (32nd class of Judicial Research and Training Institute), also noted, "There is demand for legal services in Thailand, but very few Korean law firms have entered the Thai market," adding, "Brokers are filling this gap." Yoo explained, "In many cases, brokers assign cases to underqualified lawyers in order to maximize their own profits."
There are three main reasons why travelers to Thailand should be especially wary of this issue. First, the Thai government re-criminalized marijuana in June and has significantly intensified its crackdown on drugs. Second, Thailand is a popular destination for Koreans, with more than 1.8 million visiting annually, making the pool of potential victims large. Lastly, Thailand's judicial system is extremely strict. Attorney Jeon emphasized, "If you do not respond properly in the early stages of a case, you may only be released after being tried while in detention," adding, "Discipline is so strict that detainees must even have their hair cut short when held in a detention center."
Experts advise that, to avoid falling victim when faced with unexpected legal trouble, the most important thing is how you find a lawyer. The safest way is to search online in advance for established Korean law firms operating locally, or to obtain contact information for trustworthy local lawyers through the embassy or other official channels before your trip. Attorney Yoo cautioned, "Advertisements you see on social media or in magazines for the Korean community are unverified and are often broker law firms," urging people not to trust them blindly.
Park Seongdong, Legal Times Reporter
※This article is based on content supplied by Law Times.
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