{"id":331,"date":"2026-01-04T10:10:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T10:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/?p=331"},"modified":"2026-05-03T08:42:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-03T08:42:02","slug":"what-if-your-ex-refuses-child-handover-after-court-order-in-south-korea-enforcement-strategies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/what-if-your-ex-refuses-child-handover-after-court-order-in-south-korea-enforcement-strategies\/","title":{"rendered":"What If Your Ex Refuses Child Handover After Court Order in South Korea? Enforcement Strategies"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!-- ATLAS_HREFLANG_START --><link rel=\"alternate\" hreflang=\"ko\" href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%ec%9c%a0%ec%95%84%ec%9d%b8%eb%8f%84-%ed%8c%90%ea%b2%b0-%ed%9b%84-%ec%83%81%eb%8c%80%eb%b0%a9%ec%9d%b4-%ec%9d%b4%ed%96%89-%ec%95%88-%ed%95%98%eb%a9%b4-%ea%b0%95%ec%a0%9c%ec%a7%91%ed%96%89%ea%b3%bc\/\" \/><link rel=\"alternate\" hreflang=\"en\" href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/what-if-your-ex-refuses-child-handover-after-court-order-in-south-korea-enforcement-strategies\/\" \/><link rel=\"alternate\" hreflang=\"x-default\" href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%ec%9c%a0%ec%95%84%ec%9d%b8%eb%8f%84-%ed%8c%90%ea%b2%b0-%ed%9b%84-%ec%83%81%eb%8c%80%eb%b0%a9%ec%9d%b4-%ec%9d%b4%ed%96%89-%ec%95%88-%ed%95%98%eb%a9%b4-%ea%b0%95%ec%a0%9c%ec%a7%91%ed%96%89%ea%b3%bc\/\" \/><!-- ATLAS_HREFLANG_END --><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"Article\", \"headline\": \"What If Your Ex-Spouse Refuses to Hand Over Your Child After a Court Order in South Korea? Step-by-Step Enforcement Strategies\", \"description\": \"When the other party refuses to comply with a child handover order in South Korea, you can pursue performance orders, administrative fines, detention, direct enforcement, and damages lawsuits. This guide explains step-by-step strategies based on a real case and research by the Judicial Policy Research Institute.\", \"author\": {\"@type\": \"Person\", \"name\": \"Taejin Kim\", \"jobTitle\": \"Managing Partner\", \"worksFor\": {\"@type\": \"LegalService\", \"name\": \"Atlas Legal\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\", \"address\": {\"@type\": \"PostalAddress\", \"addressLocality\": \"Incheon\", \"addressRegion\": \"Songdo\"}}, \"@id\": \"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/taejin-kim\/#person\"}, \"publisher\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"Atlas Legal\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\", \"@id\": \"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/#legalservice\"}, \"datePublished\": \"2025-01-03\", \"dateModified\": \"2025-01-03\", \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\"@type\": \"WebPage\"}, \"@id\": \"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/what-if-your-ex-refuses-child-handover-after-court-order-in-south-korea-enforcement-strategies#article\", \"keywords\": []}<\/script><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n    \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n    \"mainEntity\": [\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"What can I do if my ex-spouse refuses to hand over our child despite a court order in South Korea?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"You can apply for a performance order under Article 64 of the Family Litigation Act, followed by administrative fines (up to KRW 10 million) and detention (up to 30 days) if non-compliance continues. In practice, when indirect enforcement alone proves insufficient, filing a concurrent damages lawsuit to obtain periodic damages has proven to be an effective enforcement measure.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"How much is the administrative fine for violating a performance order in South Korea?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Under Article 67 of the Family Litigation Act, administrative fines of up to KRW 10 million (approximately USD 7,500) can be imposed. In an actual case, the court imposed the maximum statutory amount of KRW 10 million, and fines can be imposed repeatedly for continued non-compliance.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"What are the requirements for applying for detention in child handover cases in South Korea?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"For child handover obligations, the requirements are: (1) the obligor must have received an administrative fine for violating a performance order, and (2) the obligor must still fail to comply within 30 days after receiving the fine (Article 68(1)(2) of the Family Litigation Act). Detention can be ordered for up to 30 days.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"What should I do if indirect enforcement measures fail to compel child handover in South Korea?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Filing a concurrent damages lawsuit is effective. In an actual case, after the court awarded periodic damages of KRW 500,000 per month, the other party voluntarily agreed to comply. Periodic damages continue to accrue until the child is handed over, creating strong economic pressure.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Can I claim damages for non-compliance with a child handover order in South Korea?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Yes, you can. When a custodial parent is prevented from exercising legitimate parental rights and custody, they can claim tort damages under Article 750 of the Korean Civil Code. Courts may award both lump-sum damages and periodic damages.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"What are periodic damages in child handover cases?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Periodic damages are monthly payments ordered to be paid as long as the child handover obligation remains unfulfilled. In an actual case, the court awarded periodic damages of KRW 500,000 per month, which continue until the child is handed over. This effectively creates economic pressure similar to indirect enforcement.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"What is the success rate of direct enforcement for child handover in South Korea?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"According to the Judicial Policy Research Institute, only 25.9% of cases result in successful enforcement, while 48.1% are withdrawn and 24.1% result in enforcement impossibility. The child's refusal to be handed over accounts for 53.8% of impossibility cases, indicating limitations of direct enforcement alone.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"What happens if a non-custodial parent creates documents claiming to be the custodial parent in South Korea?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"This constitutes the crime of forgery of private documents by impersonation of status and use of such forged documents, which are criminally punishable. In an actual case, a person who falsely claimed custodial parent status to create and use documents was referred for prosecution.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Can I file criminal charges in child handover cases in South Korea?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Yes, you can. Criminal complaints can be filed for violations of the Child Welfare Act (child abuse), forgery of private documents by impersonation of status, and related offenses. Criminal complaints can strengthen negotiating leverage, and a comprehensive approach combining civil and family proceedings is effective.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"What are the key changes in the 2025 revised Child Handover Enforcement Regulations in South Korea?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"The main changes include: (1) the child's refusal alone no longer automatically stops enforcement, (2) participation of child-related experts is institutionalized, and (3) enforcement officers' authority is clarified. 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\uc9c1\uac01, \uc605\uc740 \ud68c\uc0c9 \ubc30\uacbd, \uc587\uc740 \uc640\uc778\uc0c9 \uc67c\ucabd \uc904 *\/\n    .author-box {\n        background-color: #f8f9fa;\n        padding: 20px;\n        border-radius: 0;\n        margin-top: 30px;\n        border-left: 2px solid #722f37;\n    }\n    .author-box h3 {\n        margin-top: 0;\n        margin-bottom: 10px;\n        font-size: 20px;\n        color: #2c3e50;\n        font-weight: bold;\n    }\n    .author-box .author-name {\n        font-size: 18px;\n        font-weight: bold;\n        color: #333;\n        margin-bottom: 5px;\n    }\n    .author-box .author-info {\n        font-size: 16px;\n        color: #555;\n        margin-bottom: 5px;\n        line-height: 1.4;\n    }\n    .author-box a {\n        display: inline-block;\n        background-color: #722f37;\n        color: white;\n        padding: 12px 24px;\n        text-decoration: none;\n        border-radius: 6px;\n        font-size: 16px;\n        font-weight: bold;\n        border: 2px solid #722f37;\n        cursor: pointer;\n        box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(114, 47, 55, 0.3);\n        margin-top: 5px;\n    }\n    br {\n        display: none;\n    }\n    \/* \ubaa8\ubc14\uc77c \ubc18\uc751\ud615 *\/\n    @media (max-width: 768px) {\n        body {\n            padding: 10px;\n        }\n        .content-container {\n            padding: 15px;\n        }\n        h2 {\n            font-size: 18px;\n        }\n        h3 {\n            font-size: 17px;\n        }\n        p, li {\n            font-size: 16px;\n        }\n        th, td {\n            font-size: 14px;\n            padding: 8px;\n        }\n    }\n    \/* \uc6cc\ub4dc\ud504\ub808\uc2a4 \ud14c\ub9c8 \uac04\uaca9 \uc870\uc815 *\/\n    .site-container, .content-area, .entry-content {\n        padding: 0;\n        margin: 0;\n    }\n    .entry-content > *:first-child {\n        margin-top: 0 !important;\n    }\n    .entry-content {\n        margin-top: 0px !important;\n    }\n    .kb-row-container, .kb-column-container {\n        margin: 0;\n        padding: 0;\n    }\n    strong {\n        font-weight: bold;\n    }\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"content-container\">\n<div class=\"toc\">\n<h2>Table of Contents<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#section1\">1. What Can You Do When the Other Party Refuses to Comply with a Child Handover Order?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section2\">2. Step 1: How Do You Obtain an Enforcement Title (Final Judgment)?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section3\">3. Step 2: How Do You Apply for a Performance Order?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section4\">4. Step 3: How Are Administrative Fines Imposed?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section5\">5. Step 4: When Can You Apply for Detention?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section6\">6. Step 5: Why Is a Damages Lawsuit Effective?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section7\">7. How Can You Utilize Direct Enforcement and Criminal Proceedings?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section8\">8. Which Strategy Should You Choose?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section9\">9. What Do the 2025 Revised Child Handover Enforcement Regulations Mean?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section10\">10. FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<div class=\"related-links\">\n<h3>Related Contents<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/category\/civil\/\">Atlas Legal &#8211; Civil\/Administrative<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<div class=\"story-hook\">\n<p><strong>Real Case:<\/strong> &#8220;I got a performance order, the court imposed a KRW 10 million fine, and I even filed for detention, but my ex-spouse still refuses to hand over our child. What should I do?&#8221; A client came to us after being unable to see their child for over a year despite having a final court judgment. Atlas Legal filed a concurrent damages lawsuit and obtained periodic damages of KRW 500,000 per month. The day after the judgment was rendered, the other party expressed willingness to voluntarily comply.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"direct-answer\">\n        <strong>Key Answer:<\/strong> When you have an enforcement title for child handover but the other party refuses to comply, you can proceed sequentially with a performance order, administrative fine (up to KRW 10 million), and detention (up to 30 days) under the Korean Family Litigation Act. However, in practice, these indirect enforcement measures alone often prove insufficient. <strong>Filing a concurrent damages lawsuit to obtain periodic damages<\/strong> is an effective enforcement measure. Periodic damages continue to accrue monthly until the child is handed over, creating strong economic pressure on the non-complying party.\n    <\/div>\n<div class=\"story-detail\">\n<h3>Why Was Indirect Enforcement Alone Insufficient?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"disclaimer\">\u203b This case is based on an actual case handled by Atlas Legal, with some facts modified for clarity and client confidentiality protected.<\/p>\n<p>In this case, our client A was designated as the parental rights holder and custodian of child C (born 2017) in divorce proceedings. However, ex-spouse B refused to hand over the child even after the judgment became final (October 19, 2023). Despite obtaining a performance order (November 8, 2023), a KRW 10 million administrative fine (April 18, 2024), and filing for detention (July 5, 2024), the situation remained unchanged. According to research by the Judicial Policy Research Institute, only 25.9% of direct enforcement attempts for child handover result in successful completion. Atlas Legal filed a concurrent damages lawsuit under Article 750 of the Korean Civil Code, and the court awarded a lump sum of KRW 20 million plus <strong>periodic damages of KRW 500,000 per month<\/strong>. The day after the judgment was rendered (December 12, 2024), B expressed willingness to voluntarily comply, and the detention application was withdrawn. We will now explain each step and strategy in detail.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section1\">1. What Can You Do When the Other Party Refuses to Comply with a Child Handover Order?<\/h2>\n<h3>Key Answer<\/h3>\n<p>When a creditor with an enforcement title (final judgment, final adjudication, mediation record, settlement record, etc.) ordering child handover faces the obligor&#8217;s non-compliance, the available legal remedies can be broadly categorized into <strong>indirect enforcement<\/strong>, <strong>direct enforcement<\/strong>, and <strong>civil damages claims<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3>Framework of Enforcement Measures<\/h3>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Category<\/th>\n<th>Measure<\/th>\n<th>Legal Basis<\/th>\n<th>Effect<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"3\">Indirect Enforcement<\/td>\n<td>Performance Order<\/td>\n<td>Family Litigation Act Art. 64<\/td>\n<td>Order to comply within specified period<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Administrative Fine<\/td>\n<td>Family Litigation Act Art. 67<\/td>\n<td>Up to KRW 10 million<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Detention<\/td>\n<td>Family Litigation Act Art. 68<\/td>\n<td>Up to 30 days&#8217; confinement<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Direct Enforcement<\/td>\n<td>Child Handover Enforcement<\/td>\n<td>Enforcement Regulations<\/td>\n<td>Enforcement officer physically transfers child<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Damages<\/td>\n<td>Damages Claim<\/td>\n<td>Civil Code Art. 750<\/td>\n<td><strong>Periodic damages available<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<div class=\"key-point\">\n<p><strong>Key Lesson:<\/strong> The most important lesson from this case is that indirect enforcement measures under the Family Litigation Act alone may be insufficient to compel compliance with child handover obligations. <strong>Filing a concurrent damages lawsuit to obtain periodic damages<\/strong> can be an effective enforcement measure.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section2\">2. Step 1: How Do You Obtain an Enforcement Title (Final Judgment)?<\/h2>\n<h3>Key Answer<\/h3>\n<p>The first step in child handover enforcement is obtaining an <strong>enforcement title<\/strong>. An enforcement title is a document that provides the legal basis for compulsory enforcement, such as a final judgment, settlement record, or mediation record.<\/p>\n<h3>Case Progress<\/h3>\n<p>Our client A filed a lawsuit seeking divorce and custody designation at the Incheon Family Court.<\/p>\n<h3>The Court&#8217;s Judgment<\/h3>\n<p>After deliberation, the court rendered the following judgment:<\/p>\n<div class=\"court-decision\">\n        &#8220;A is designated as the parental rights holder and custodian of child C.&#8221;<br \/>\n        &#8220;B shall hand over C to A.&#8221;\n    <\/div>\n<p>B appealed the first instance judgment, but the appeal was dismissed. Since B did not file a further appeal to the Supreme Court, the judgment became <strong>final on October 19, 2023<\/strong>, and A obtained an enforcement title ordering child handover.<\/p>\n<div class=\"warning-box\">\n<p><strong>Practical Note:<\/strong> The enforcement title must explicitly state <strong>&#8220;hand over the child&#8221;<\/strong>. If the judgment only designates parental rights or custody without an explicit handover order, a separate application for a child handover adjudication may be necessary.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section3\">3. Step 2: How Do You Apply for a Performance Order?<\/h2>\n<h3>Legal Basis<\/h3>\n<p>Article 64 of the Family Litigation Act (Performance Order) provides:<\/p>\n<div class=\"court-decision\">\n        &#8220;When an obligor who is required to perform obligations such as payment of money or property, <strong>handover of a child<\/strong>, or permitting visitation with a child pursuant to a judgment, adjudication, mediation record, decision in lieu of mediation, or child support payment record fails to perform such obligations without justifiable cause, the family court may, upon application of the parties, order the obligor to perform the obligation within a specified period.&#8221;\n    <\/div>\n<h3>Case Progress<\/h3>\n<p>When B failed to hand over C even after the judgment became final (October 19, 2023), A applied for a performance order at the Incheon Family Court.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Case Number:<\/strong> Incheon Family Court 2023Jeugi-xxxxx Performance Order<\/li>\n<li><strong>Decision Date:<\/strong> November 8, 2023<\/li>\n<li><strong>Service Date:<\/strong> December 2, 2023 (served on B)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>The Court&#8217;s Decision<\/h3>\n<div class=\"court-decision\">\n        <strong>Disposition<\/strong><br \/>\n        &#8220;1. The respondent (B) shall, in performance of the obligation under the final judgment in Incheon Family Court Case No. 2021Deuhap-xxxxx Divorce and Custody Designation, hand over child C to the applicant (A) within <strong>one month<\/strong> from the date of receiving notice of this performance order.<br \/>\n        2. The respondent shall bear the costs of this application.&#8221;\n    <\/div>\n<p>The decision also included the following <strong>warning<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<div class=\"warning-box\">\n<p>&#8220;If you violate this order without justifiable cause, you may be subject to an <strong>administrative fine of up to KRW 10 million<\/strong>, and if you fail to perform the child handover obligation and still do not comply within 30 days after receiving an administrative fine, you may be subject to <strong>detention for up to 30 days<\/strong>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h3>Service and Effect<\/h3>\n<p>The performance order was served on B on <strong>December 2, 2023<\/strong>. Therefore, B was obligated to hand over C to A by January 2, 2024.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section4\">4. Step 3: How Are Administrative Fines Imposed?<\/h2>\n<h3>Legal Basis<\/h3>\n<p>Article 67 of the Family Litigation Act (Administrative Fine) provides:<\/p>\n<div class=\"court-decision\">\n        &#8220;When a person who is required to perform an obligation pursuant to a performance order under Article 64 violates the performance order without justifiable cause, the family court may impose an <strong>administrative fine of up to KRW 10 million<\/strong> by decision.&#8221;\n    <\/div>\n<h3>Case Progress<\/h3>\n<p>B failed to hand over C even after the performance order was served. A applied for an administrative fine at the Incheon Family Court based on the violation of the performance order.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Case Number:<\/strong> Incheon Family Court 2024Jeongdeu-xxxx Performance Order Violation (Administrative Fine)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Decision Date:<\/strong> April 18, 2024<\/li>\n<li><strong>Service Date:<\/strong> April 22, 2024 (served on B)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>The Court&#8217;s Decision<\/h3>\n<div class=\"court-decision\">\n        <strong>Disposition<\/strong><br \/>\n        &#8220;The obligor (B) is hereby ordered to pay an administrative fine of <strong>KRW 10,000,000<\/strong>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>        <strong>Reasoning<\/strong><br \/>\n        &#8220;The obligor violated the performance order of this court (2023Jeugi-xxxxx) without justifiable cause, and therefore this application is granted as stated in the disposition.&#8221;\n    <\/div>\n<div class=\"key-point\">\n<p><strong>Practical Significance:<\/strong> The court imposed the <strong>maximum statutory fine of KRW 10 million<\/strong>, indicating that B&#8217;s violation of the performance order was clear and serious. This served as important grounds for the subsequent detention application.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section5\">5. Step 4: When Can You Apply for Detention?<\/h2>\n<h3>Legal Basis<\/h3>\n<p>Article 68 of the Family Litigation Act (Detention) provides:<\/p>\n<div class=\"court-decision\">\n        &#8220;The family court may, upon application of the rights holder, order the obligor to be detained for up to 30 days by decision in any of the following cases:<br \/>\n        2. When a person who received a performance order under Article 64 regarding <strong>child handover<\/strong> <strong>fails to perform the obligation without justifiable cause within 30 days after receiving an administrative fine pursuant to Article 67<\/strong>.&#8221;\n    <\/div>\n<h3>Requirements for Detention<\/h3>\n<p>The following requirements must be met for a detention application to be granted:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Requirement<\/th>\n<th>Met in This Case<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Existence of performance order<\/td>\n<td>\u2713 2023Jeugi-xxxxx<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Administrative fine imposed<\/td>\n<td>\u2713 2024Jeongdeu-xxxx (KRW 10 million)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>30 days elapsed after fine<\/td>\n<td>\u2713 30+ days after April 22, 2024 service<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Non-compliance without justifiable cause<\/td>\n<td>\u2713 B&#8217;s continued refusal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Case Progress<\/h3>\n<p>B still refused to hand over C even after receiving the administrative fine decision. When non-compliance continued for more than 30 days after the fine decision was served (April 22, 2024), A applied for detention at the court.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Case Number:<\/strong> Incheon Family Court 2024Jeongdeu-xxxx Obligation Violation (Detention)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Prayer for Relief<\/h4>\n<div class=\"court-decision\">\n        &#8220;The respondent (B) received service of a decision imposing an administrative fine of KRW 10,000,000 in Incheon Family Court Case No. 2024Jeongdeu-xxxx Performance Order Violation (Administrative Fine) on April 22, 2024, but has failed to perform the obligation without justifiable cause to date. We seek a decision ordering <strong>detention<\/strong>.&#8221;\n    <\/div>\n<h3>Limitations of Detention<\/h3>\n<p>Detention means confining the obligor in a police detention facility or prison, and it is the strongest indirect enforcement measure. However, even with a detention order, if the obligor has hidden the child or entrusted the child to a third party, it may not lead to actual child handover. In this case as well, the detention application alone was insufficient to change B&#8217;s attitude.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section6\">6. Step 5: Why Is a Damages Lawsuit Effective?<\/h2>\n<h3>Legal Basis<\/h3>\n<p>When a custodial parent is prevented from exercising legitimate parental rights and custody, this constitutes a tort, and damages can be claimed under Article 750 of the Korean Civil Code.<\/p>\n<div class=\"court-decision\">\n        <strong>Article 750 of the Korean Civil Code (Tort Liability)<\/strong><br \/>\n        &#8220;A person who causes damage to another person by an unlawful act, intentionally or negligently, shall be liable to compensate for such damage.&#8221;\n    <\/div>\n<h3>Case Progress<\/h3>\n<p>A filed a damages lawsuit against B. A also filed a damages claim on behalf of C, acting as C&#8217;s legal representative.<\/p>\n<h3>The Court&#8217;s Judgment<\/h3>\n<div class=\"court-decision\" style=\"background-color: #e8f5e9;\">\n        <strong>Disposition<\/strong><br \/>\n        &#8220;1. The defendant (B) shall:<br \/>\n        a. Pay to plaintiff A <strong>KRW 15,000,000<\/strong> and to plaintiff C <strong>KRW 5,000,000<\/strong>, plus delay damages, and<br \/>\n        b. Pay to plaintiff A <strong>KRW 500,000 per month<\/strong> from the day after service of the complaint until the day plaintiff C is handed over to plaintiff A, or the day plaintiff A loses custody of plaintiff C, or the day plaintiff C reaches the age of majority, whichever comes first.<br \/>\n        2. Paragraph 1 is provisionally enforceable.&#8221;\n    <\/div>\n<h3>Reasoning of the Judgment<\/h3>\n<p>In its reasoning, the court stated:<\/p>\n<div class=\"court-decision\">\n        &#8220;The defendant was obligated to hand over plaintiff C to plaintiff A, who was designated as the parental rights holder and custodian of plaintiff C pursuant to Incheon Family Court Case No. 2021Deuhap-xxxxx, but failed to do so. As a result, plaintiff A&#8217;s legitimate exercise of parental rights and custody was infringed. Furthermore, the defendant prevented plaintiff C from seeing plaintiff A since around July 2020, instilled negative thoughts about plaintiff A, and thereby inflicted or allowed emotional abuse on plaintiff C.&#8221;\n    <\/div>\n<h3>Key Point of the Judgment &#8211; Periodic Damages<\/h3>\n<p>Notably, the court awarded <strong>periodic damages<\/strong> (KRW 500,000 per month). This is designed to compensate for the ongoing psychological harm caused by continued non-compliance with the child handover obligation, and represents a highly exceptional decision in practice.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Item<\/th>\n<th>Amount<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Lump-sum damages for A<\/td>\n<td>KRW 15,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Lump-sum damages for C<\/td>\n<td>KRW 5,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Periodic damages for A<\/td>\n<td><strong>KRW 500,000\/month<\/strong> (continues until handover)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Indirect Enforcement Effect of Damages Judgment<\/h3>\n<p>Since periodic damages <strong>continue to accrue at KRW 500,000 per month<\/strong> as long as the child handover obligation remains unfulfilled, B faced an accumulating economic burden if the child was not handed over. This economic pressure was a crucial factor in B&#8217;s decision to voluntarily comply.<\/p>\n<div class=\"key-point\">\n<p><strong>Result:<\/strong> The day after the damages judgment was rendered, B contacted A&#8217;s side and expressed <strong>willingness to voluntarily comply with the child handover obligation<\/strong>. A received the child and withdrew the detention application.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section7\">7. How Can You Utilize Direct Enforcement and Criminal Proceedings?<\/h2>\n<h3>Direct Enforcement (Child Handover Compulsory Enforcement)<\/h3>\n<p>In this case, B expressed willingness to voluntarily comply before the direct enforcement stage was reached. However, if indirect enforcement measures had failed to compel compliance, direct enforcement could have been applied as a last resort.<\/p>\n<p>According to research by the Judicial Policy Research Institute, the success rate of direct enforcement for child handover is not high. Among 54 minor child handover enforcement cases filed between 2013 and 2024, the outcomes were as follows:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Outcome<\/th>\n<th>Number of Cases<\/th>\n<th>Percentage (%)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Concluded by withdrawal<\/td>\n<td>26<\/td>\n<td>48.1%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Enforcement completed<\/td>\n<td>14<\/td>\n<td>25.9%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Enforcement impossible<\/td>\n<td>13<\/td>\n<td>24.1%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>In progress<\/td>\n<td>1<\/td>\n<td>1.9%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"font-size: 15px; color: #666;\">Source: Shim Byung-jun, &#8220;Study on Child Handover Enforcement,&#8221; Judicial Policy Research Institute, 2025, p. 61.<\/p>\n<p>Among the reasons for enforcement impossibility, <strong>child&#8217;s refusal to be handed over<\/strong> (53.8%) was the most common. However, under the revised Child Handover Enforcement Regulations (revised in January 2025 with content nearly identical to the Hague Child Return Enforcement Regulations), the child&#8217;s refusal alone no longer stops enforcement, and participation of child-related experts has been institutionalized.<\/p>\n<h3>Utilizing Criminal Proceedings<\/h3>\n<p>In this case, A filed criminal complaints against B and B&#8217;s mother D for violations of the Child Welfare Act (child abuse), forgery of private documents by impersonation of status, and use of forged private documents with the police.<\/p>\n<h4>Investigation Results<\/h4>\n<p>B&#8217;s act of creating and using documents while falsely claiming custodial parent status was recognized as subject to criminal punishment. Criminal complaints can strengthen negotiating leverage, and a comprehensive approach combining civil and family proceedings is effective.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section8\">8. Which Strategy Should You Choose?<\/h2>\n<h3>Importance of a Comprehensive Approach<\/h3>\n<p>The resolution of this case demonstrates the need for a <strong>multi-layered, comprehensive approach<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Procedure<\/th>\n<th>Role<\/th>\n<th>Outcome in This Case<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Performance Order<\/td>\n<td>Legal demand for compliance<\/td>\n<td>Non-compliance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Administrative Fine<\/td>\n<td>Economic sanction to compel compliance<\/td>\n<td>KRW 10 million imposed, non-compliance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Detention Application<\/td>\n<td>Psychological pressure through threat of confinement<\/td>\n<td>Filed, non-compliance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Damages Lawsuit<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Imposition of ongoing economic burden<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>KRW 500,000\/month periodic damages \u2192 Voluntary compliance<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Criminal Complaint<\/td>\n<td>Additional pressure through threat of criminal punishment<\/td>\n<td>Referred for prosecution<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Recommended Step-by-Step Strategy<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Step 1 &#8211; Apply for Performance Order:<\/strong> Apply for a performance order immediately after the judgment becomes final to legally demand compliance<\/li>\n<li><strong>Step 2 &#8211; Apply for Administrative Fine:<\/strong> Apply for administrative fine upon violation of performance order<\/li>\n<li><strong>Step 3 &#8211; Apply for Detention:<\/strong> Apply for detention if non-compliance continues for 30 days after the fine<\/li>\n<li><strong>Step 4 &#8211; File Concurrent Damages Lawsuit:<\/strong> File for periodic damages concurrently with indirect enforcement<\/li>\n<li><strong>Step 5 &#8211; Direct Enforcement + Criminal Complaint:<\/strong> Apply for direct enforcement and file criminal complaints as needed<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"key-point\">\n<h4>Key Lessons<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Indirect enforcement measures under the Family Litigation Act (performance order, administrative fine, detention) alone may be insufficient to compel compliance with child handover obligations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Filing a concurrent damages lawsuit to obtain periodic damages<\/strong> can be an effective enforcement measure.<\/li>\n<li>Filing concurrent criminal complaints can also strengthen negotiating leverage.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section9\">9. What Do the 2025 Revised Child Handover Enforcement Regulations Mean?<\/h2>\n<h3>Key Answer<\/h3>\n<p>In 2024, the Supreme Court of Korea enacted the &#8220;Regulations on Enforcement of Child Return Cases under the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction&#8221; (Special Rule 2024-1), and from February 2025, the &#8220;Regulations on Enforcement of Judgments Ordering Child Handover&#8221; (Special Rule 2024-3) applying the same standards to domestic cases came into effect.<\/p>\n<h3>Key Revisions<\/h3>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Before Revision<\/th>\n<th>After Revision<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Required confirmation of child&#8217;s refusal<\/td>\n<td><strong>Obligation to confirm child&#8217;s intent deleted<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Unclear enforcement officer authority<\/td>\n<td><strong>Enforcement officer authority clarified<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>No provisions for expert participation<\/td>\n<td><strong>Participation of child-related experts institutionalized<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"font-size: 15px; color: #666;\">Source: Shim Byung-jun, supra, pp. 88-93.<\/p>\n<h3>Practical Significance<\/h3>\n<p>Previously, enforcement was often stopped when the child refused to be handed over. However, under the revised regulations, the child&#8217;s refusal alone no longer stops enforcement, and enforcement can proceed with the assistance of child psychology experts. This represents an improvement toward increasing the effectiveness of enforcement.<\/p>\n<h3>Need for Legislative Improvements<\/h3>\n<p>The Judicial Policy Research Institute&#8217;s research report proposes the following legislative improvements:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Revision of Family Litigation Act:<\/strong> Establish explicit provisions on minor child handover enforcement; introduce a pre-approval system by the family court before direct enforcement<\/li>\n<li><strong>Revision of Civil Execution Act:<\/strong> Codify minor child handover enforcement procedures; establish legal basis for enforcement officer authority and expert participation<\/li>\n<li><strong>Review of criminal punishment provisions:<\/strong> Consider introducing criminal punishment for violation of child handover orders, as in Germany and France<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Country<\/th>\n<th>Sanctions<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>France<\/td>\n<td>Fine of 15,000 euros and 1 year imprisonment for abduction of up to 5 days<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Germany<\/td>\n<td>Coercive fine (Ordnungsgeld), coercive detention (Ordnungshaft)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>South Korea<\/td>\n<td>Administrative fine, detention (no criminal punishment provisions)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"font-size: 15px; color: #666;\">Source: Shim Byung-jun, supra, p. 141.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section10\">10. FAQ<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq-section\">\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q1. What can I do if my ex-spouse refuses to hand over our child despite a court order in South Korea?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. You can apply for a performance order under Article 64 of the Family Litigation Act, followed by administrative fines (up to KRW 10 million) and detention (up to 30 days) if non-compliance continues, along with direct enforcement and indirect enforcement in parallel. In practice, when indirect enforcement alone proves insufficient, filing a concurrent damages lawsuit to obtain periodic damages has proven to be an effective enforcement measure.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q2. How much is the administrative fine for violating a performance order in South Korea?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. Under Article 67 of the Family Litigation Act, administrative fines of up to KRW 10 million (approximately USD 7,500) can be imposed. In an actual case handled by Atlas Legal, the court imposed the maximum statutory amount of KRW 10 million.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q3. What are the requirements for applying for detention in child handover cases in South Korea?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. For child handover obligations, the requirements are: (1) the obligor must have received an administrative fine for violating a performance order, and (2) the obligor must still fail to comply within 30 days after receiving the fine (Article 68(1)(2) of the Family Litigation Act). Detention can be ordered for up to 30 days. It is important to note that an administrative fine must precede the detention application.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q4. What should I do if indirect enforcement measures fail to compel child handover in South Korea?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. Filing a concurrent damages lawsuit is effective. In an actual case, after the court awarded periodic damages of KRW 500,000 per month, the other party voluntarily agreed to comply. Periodic damages continue to accrue until the child is handed over, creating strong economic pressure.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q5. Can I claim damages for non-compliance with a child handover order in South Korea?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. Yes, you can. When a custodial parent is prevented from exercising legitimate parental rights and custody, they can claim tort damages under Article 750 of the Korean Civil Code. Courts may award both lump-sum damages and periodic damages.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q6. What are periodic damages in child handover cases?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. Periodic damages are monthly payments ordered to be paid as long as the child handover obligation remains unfulfilled. In an actual case, the court awarded periodic damages of KRW 500,000 per month, which continue until the child is handed over (or until the custodial parent loses custody or the child reaches the age of majority, whichever comes first). This effectively creates economic pressure similar to indirect enforcement and played a decisive role in inducing voluntary compliance from the other party.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q7. What is the success rate of direct enforcement for child handover in South Korea?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. According to the Judicial Policy Research Institute, only 25.9% of cases result in successful enforcement, while 48.1% are withdrawn and 24.1% result in enforcement impossibility. The child&#8217;s refusal to be handed over accounts for 53.8% of impossibility cases, indicating limitations of direct enforcement alone (Source: Shim Byung-jun, supra, p. 61). Therefore, a comprehensive approach including concurrent damages lawsuits is effective.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q8. What happens if a non-custodial parent creates documents claiming to be the custodial parent in South Korea?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. This constitutes the crime of forgery of private documents by impersonation of status and use of such forged documents, which are criminally punishable. In an actual case, a person who falsely claimed custodial parent status to create and use documents was referred for prosecution.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q9. Can I file criminal charges in child handover cases in South Korea?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. Yes, you can. Criminal complaints can be filed for violations of the Child Welfare Act (child abuse), forgery of private documents by impersonation of status, and related offenses. Criminal complaints can strengthen negotiating leverage, and a comprehensive approach combining civil and family proceedings is effective. In this case, B was referred for prosecution and D was referred to child protection proceedings.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q10. What are the key changes in the 2025 revised Child Handover Enforcement Regulations in South Korea?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. The main changes include: (1) the child&#8217;s refusal alone no longer automatically stops enforcement, (2) participation of child-related experts is institutionalized, and (3) enforcement officers&#8217; authority is clarified. These changes were applied to domestic cases following the implementation of the Hague Child Abduction Convention Enforcement Regulations (Special Rule 2024-1) in 2024 (Source: Shim Byung-jun, supra, pp. 88-93).<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Atlas Legal provides step-by-step legal remedies including performance orders, administrative fines, detention, direct enforcement, indirect enforcement, and damages lawsuits to ensure the effective enforcement of child handover orders and realize our clients&#8217; rights. As demonstrated in the case introduced in this article, when indirect enforcement alone proves insufficient, we have experience in successfully securing effective enforcement by filing concurrent damages lawsuits for periodic damages. We provide comprehensive and strategic approaches based on our extensive experience in professional consultation and litigation representation for complex family matters including custody disputes and visitation disputes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"disclaimer\" style=\"margin: 20px 0;\">\u203b The case introduced in this article is based on an actual case handled by Atlas Legal, with some facts modified for clarity and client confidentiality protected.<\/p>\n<div class=\"author-box\">\n<h3>About the Author<\/h3>\n<div class=\"author-name\">Soyoung Park | Managing Partner<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-info\">Judicial Research and Training Institute, 33rd Class<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-info\">Korea University, LL.B.<\/div>\n<p>        <a href=\"https:\/\/        \n\n<div class=\"author-info\">Atlas Legal | Incheon Songdo, South Korea<\/div>\n<p>        atlaw.kr&#8221; target=&#8221;_blank&#8221; rel=&#8221;noopener noreferrer&#8221;>Visit Atlas Legal Website<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents 1. What Can You Do When the Other Party Refuses to Comply with a Child Handover Order? 2. Step 1: How Do You Obtain an Enforcement Title (Final Judgment)? 3. Step 2: How Do You Apply for a Performance Order? 4. Step 3: How Are Administrative Fines Imposed? 5. Step 4: When&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[325,328,327,331,330,332,329,326],"class_list":["post-331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-civil","tag-child-custody-enforcement","tag-child-handover-enforcement","tag-custody-dispute-korea","tag-indirect-enforcement","tag-korean-family-litigation-act","tag-parental-rights-korea","tag-periodic-damages","tag-south-korea-family-law"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What If Your Ex Refuses Child Handover After Court Order in South Korea? 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