{"id":348,"date":"2026-01-13T06:54:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T06:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/?p=348"},"modified":"2026-05-03T08:41:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-03T08:41:56","slug":"how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Claim Additional Construction Payment in South Korea?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!-- ATLAS_HREFLANG_START --><link rel=\"alternate\" hreflang=\"ko\" href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%ea%b1%b4%ec%84%a4%ea%b3%b5%ec%82%ac-%ec%b6%94%ea%b0%80%ea%b3%b5%ec%82%ac%eb%8c%80%ea%b8%88-%ec%b2%ad%ea%b5%ac%eb%8a%94-%ec%96%b4%eb%96%bb%ea%b2%8c-%ed%95%98%eb%82%98%ec%9a%94-%ea%b5%ac%eb%91%90\/\" \/><link rel=\"alternate\" hreflang=\"en\" href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\/\" \/><link rel=\"alternate\" hreflang=\"x-default\" href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%ea%b1%b4%ec%84%a4%ea%b3%b5%ec%82%ac-%ec%b6%94%ea%b0%80%ea%b3%b5%ec%82%ac%eb%8c%80%ea%b8%88-%ec%b2%ad%ea%b5%ac%eb%8a%94-%ec%96%b4%eb%96%bb%ea%b2%8c-%ed%95%98%eb%82%98%ec%9a%94-%ea%b5%ac%eb%91%90\/\" \/><!-- ATLAS_HREFLANG_END --><br \/>\n<!--\n============================================================\nAtlas Legal Blog\nTopic: Claiming Additional Construction Work Payment - Are Verbal Contracts Legally Valid?\nAuthor: Soyoung Park, Managing Partner\n============================================================\n--><\/p>\n<p><!-- ===== Schema Markup Start ===== --><\/p>\n<p><!-- Article Schema --><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"Article\", \"headline\": \"How to Claim Additional Construction Work Payment in South Korea? Winning Strategies for Verbal Contract Disputes | Atlas Legal\", \"description\": \"Did your contractor refuse to pay for additional excavation work due to design changes? Verbal contracts are legally enforceable in South Korea. Learn how to claim additional construction payments with a real case study where we won KRW 53 million.\", \"author\": {\"@type\": \"Person\", \"name\": \"Soyoung Park\", \"jobTitle\": \"Representative Attorney\", \"worksFor\": {\"@type\": \"LegalService\", \"name\": \"Atlas Legal\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\", \"address\": {\"@type\": \"PostalAddress\", \"addressLocality\": \"Incheon\", \"addressRegion\": \"Songdo\"}}, \"@id\": \"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/soyoung-park\/#person\"}, \"publisher\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"Atlas Legal\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\", \"@id\": \"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/#legalservice\"}, \"datePublished\": \"2025-01-13\", \"dateModified\": \"2025-01-13\", \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\"@type\": \"WebPage\"}, \"@id\": \"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea#article\", \"keywords\": []}<\/script><\/p>\n<p><!-- FAQ Schema --><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n    \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n    \"mainEntity\": [\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Can I claim additional payment for work done under a verbal contract in South Korea?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Yes, you can. Under Korean Civil Code, construction contracts are not formal contracts, meaning verbal agreements are legally binding. However, securing evidence such as witnesses, recordings, text messages, and emails is crucial to prove the contract terms.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"What is the statute of limitations for construction payment claims in South Korea?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Construction payment claims are subject to a 5-year statute of limitations as commercial claims under Article 64 of the Korean Commercial Code. The period starts from the completion of work or the payment due date, so claims must be filed before expiration.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Who should I claim against when the contractor and building owner are different parties?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"In principle, you should claim against the contracting party. However, if the building owner substantially acted as the employer by directing construction and sharing payment responsibilities, joint and several liability may be imposed on both parties.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"How is additional construction payment calculated in South Korea?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"The amount agreed upon by the parties takes precedence. If there is no agreement or the amount is disputed, the court appoints an appraiser to calculate the appropriate amount using standard cost estimation methods or actual cost accounting.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Can I claim construction payment even if the work was suspended?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Yes, you can claim payment based on the percentage of work completed. However, if the suspension was due to the subcontractor's fault, damages may be offset against the claim, so it is important to clarify the reasons and circumstances of the suspension.\"\n            }\n        }\n    ]\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><!-- LocalBusiness Schema --><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n    \"@type\": \"LocalBusiness\",\n    \"name\": \"Atlas Legal\",\n    \"image\": \"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/logo.png\",\n    \"url\": \"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\",\n    \"telephone\": \"+82-32-864-8300\",\n    \"address\": {\n        \"@type\": \"PostalAddress\",\n        \"streetAddress\": \"323 Incheon Tower-daero, B-dong 2901 (Songdo-dong, Centroad)\",\n        \"addressLocality\": \"Incheon\",\n        \"addressRegion\": \"Yeonsu-gu, Incheon\",\n        \"addressCountry\": \"KR\"\n    },\n    \"priceRange\": \"$$\",\n    \"openingHoursSpecification\": {\n        \"@type\": \"OpeningHoursSpecification\",\n        \"dayOfWeek\": [\n            \"Monday\",\n            \"Tuesday\",\n            \"Wednesday\",\n            \"Thursday\",\n            \"Friday\"\n        ],\n        \"opens\": \"09:00\",\n        \"closes\": \"18:00\"\n    }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><!-- ===== CSS \uc2a4\ud0c0\uc77c ===== --><\/p>\n<style>\n    body {\n        font-family: Georgia, serif;\n        line-height: 1.6;\n        max-width: 1000px;\n        margin: 0 auto;\n        padding: 20px;\n        background-color: #f9f9f9;\n    }\n    .content-container {\n        background-color: white;\n        padding: 20px;\n        margin: 0;\n    }\n    h2 {\n        font-size: 22px;\n        color: #2c3e50;\n        margin-top: 30px;\n        margin-bottom: 10px;\n    }\n    h3 {\n        font-size: 20px;\n        color: #34495e;\n        margin-top: 20px;\n        margin-bottom: 10px;\n    }\n    p, li {\n        font-size: 18px;\n        color: #333;\n        margin-bottom: 10px;\n        margin-top: 0;\n    }\n    ul, ol {\n        padding-left: 25px;\n        margin: 10px 0;\n    }\n    li {\n        margin-bottom: 5px;\n    }\n    \/* \ud14c\uc774\ube14 \uc2a4\ud0c0\uc77c *\/\n    table {\n        width: 100%;\n        border-collapse: collapse;\n        margin: 15px 0;\n    }\n    th, td {\n        border: 1px solid #ddd;\n        padding: 10px;\n        text-align: left;\n        font-size: 16px;\n    }\n    th {\n        background-color: #f5f5f5;\n        font-weight: bold;\n    }\n    \/* \ubaa9\ucc28 - \uc9c1\uac01, \uc605\uc740 \ud68c\uc0c9 \ubc30\uacbd *\/\n    .toc {\n        padding: 15px;\n        border-radius: 0;\n        margin-bottom: 20px;\n        background-color: #f5f5f5;\n    }\n    .toc h2 {\n        font-size: 20px;\n        margin-top: 0;\n        margin-bottom: 10px;\n    }\n    .toc ul {\n        list-style-type: none;\n        padding-left: 0;\n        margin: 0;\n    }\n    .toc ul li {\n        margin-bottom: 5px;\n    }\n    .toc a {\n        text-decoration: none !important;\n        color: #3498db;\n        border-bottom: none !important;\n    }\n    .toc a:hover {\n        text-decoration: underline;\n    }\n    \/* \uc2a4\ud1a0\ub9ac \ud6c5 - \uc9c1\uac01, \uc605\uc740 \ud68c\uc0c9 \ubc30\uacbd *\/\n    .story-hook {\n        padding: 15px 20px;\n        margin-bottom: 15px;\n        border-radius: 0;\n        background-color: #f5f5f5;\n    }\n    .story-hook p {\n        font-style: italic;\n        color: #555;\n        line-height: 1.6;\n        font-size: 17px;\n        margin: 0;\n    }\n    \/* \ud575\uc2ec \ub2f5\ubcc0 - \uc9c1\uac01, \uc605\uc740 \ud68c\uc0c9 \ubc30\uacbd *\/\n    .direct-answer {\n        padding: 15px;\n        border-radius: 0;\n        margin-bottom: 20px;\n        font-weight: 500;\n        background-color: #f5f5f5;\n    }\n    \/* \uc2a4\ud1a0\ub9ac \uc804\uac1c - \uc9c1\uac01, \uc605\uc740 \ud68c\uc0c9 \ubc30\uacbd *\/\n    .story-detail {\n        padding: 20px;\n        border-radius: 0;\n        margin: 20px 0;\n        background-color: #f5f5f5;\n    }\n    .story-detail h3 {\n        margin-top: 0;\n        font-size: 19px;\n        color: #2c3e50;\n    }\n    .story-detail p {\n        line-height: 1.8;\n        color: #444;\n    }\n    .disclaimer {\n        font-size: 15px;\n        color: #666;\n        font-style: italic;\n        margin-bottom: 15px;\n    }\n    \/* FAQ \uc139\uc158 - \uc9c1\uac01, \uc605\uc740 \ud68c\uc0c9 \ubc30\uacbd *\/\n    .faq-section {\n        padding: 20px;\n        border-radius: 0;\n        margin: 30px 0;\n        background-color: #f5f5f5;\n    }\n    .faq-item {\n        margin-bottom: 20px;\n    }\n    .faq-question {\n        font-weight: bold;\n        color: #2c3e50;\n        margin-bottom: 8px;\n        font-size: 18px;\n    }\n    .faq-answer {\n        color: #555;\n        font-size: 17px;\n        line-height: 1.6;\n    }\n    \/* \uc800\uc790 \uc18c\uac1c - \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<p><!-- ===== Main Content Start ===== --><\/p>\n<div class=\"content-container\">\n<p>    <!-- Table of Contents --><\/p>\n<div class=\"toc\" style=\"padding: 15px; border-radius: 0; margin-bottom: 20px; background-color: #f5f5f5;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size: 20px; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 10px;\">Table of Contents<\/h2>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: none; padding-left: 0; margin: 0;\">\n<li><a href=\"#section1\">1. When Can You Claim Additional Construction Payment?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section2\">2. Are Verbal Contracts Legally Valid in South Korea?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section3\">3. Who Should You Claim Against When the Contractor and Building Owner Differ?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section4\">4. How is Additional Construction Payment Calculated?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section5\">5. What are the Key Issues in Additional Payment Litigation?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section6\">6. FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p>    <!-- Story Hook --><\/p>\n<div class=\"story-hook\" style=\"padding: 15px 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; border-radius: 0; background-color: #f5f5f5;\">\n<p><strong>Real Case:<\/strong> A subcontractor working on excavation at a building construction site in Incheon, South Korea faced a difficult situation. The excavation depth, originally contracted at 4 meters, was changed to 10.32 meters and then to 13.5 meters due to design modifications\u2014but the project owner refused to pay for the additional work. Can payment for verbally agreed additional work be legally recovered?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    <!-- Direct Answer --><\/p>\n<div class=\"direct-answer\" style=\"padding: 15px; border-radius: 0; margin-bottom: 20px; font-weight: 500; background-color: #f5f5f5;\">\n        <strong>Key Answer:<\/strong> Under Article 664 of the Korean Civil Code, construction contracts are valid even when concluded verbally rather than in writing. When additional work arises due to design changes, the subcontractor has the right to claim additional payment. In a similar case, we successfully obtained full recognition of additional construction payment through court appraisal.\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <!-- Story Detail --><\/p>\n<div class=\"story-detail\" style=\"padding: 20px; border-radius: 0; margin: 20px 0; background-color: #f5f5f5;\">\n<h3>Why Did the Project Owner Refuse to Pay?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"disclaimer\">\u203b This case is based on a judgment from the Incheon District Court handled by Atlas Legal. Some facts have been modified for clarity, and client information has been protected.<\/p>\n<p>The project owner in this case argued that &#8220;the amended contract amount of KRW 138 million covered all work, and since KRW 103 million had already been paid, no additional payment was owed.&#8221; The key issue was whether the excavation work changed from 10.32m to 13.5m was included in the amended contract. Our legal team proved the existence and scope of additional work through handwriting analysis of the standard subcontract agreement, fact-finding through appraisers, and examination of on-site witnesses. Ultimately, we secured a winning judgment of approximately KRW 53.3 million. Below, we explain the legal issues and winning strategies in detail.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    <!-- Main Sections --><br \/>\n    <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section1\">1. When Can You Claim Additional Construction Payment?<\/h2>\n<h3>Key Answer<\/h3>\n<p>When work exceeding the original contract scope occurs due to the employer&#8217;s request or design changes after the construction contract is signed, the subcontractor can claim additional payment. The critical factor is proving that the additional work was performed under the employer&#8217;s instructions or consent.<\/p>\n<h3>Requirements for Additional Payment Claims<\/h3>\n<p>Courts examine the following requirements to approve additional payment claims. First, the scope of the original construction contract must be established. Second, the existence and scope of additional work performed must be specified. Third, it must be proven that the additional work was performed with the employer&#8217;s explicit or implied consent. In this case, it was confirmed through appraisal that excavation exceeded the 10.32m depth specified in the standard subcontract agreement, reaching 13.5m. Witness testimony also proved that the employer directly requested the additional excavation.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section2\">2. Are Verbal Contracts Legally Valid in South Korea?<\/h2>\n<h3>Key Answer<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, they are valid. Construction contracts are not formal contracts under Korean law, so they do not need to be in writing. Verbal agreements alone create binding contracts, and both parties bear rights and obligations according to the contract terms.<\/p>\n<h3>How to Prove Verbal Contracts<\/h3>\n<p>The biggest challenge with verbal contracts is proving their contents. In this case, the original contract was a verbal agreement for 4m excavation and temporary facility work for KRW 87 million. Later, a written amended contract set the price at KRW 138 million. The issue was whether another verbal agreement existed to expand the work scope and increase payment after the written amended contract. The court recognized the existence and contents of this verbal contract based on witness testimony and the overall context of the proceedings.<\/p>\n<h3>Evidence Available for Verbal Contract Disputes<\/h3>\n<p>In practice, evidence that can be used to prove verbal contracts includes witness testimony, text messages and KakaoTalk conversations between parties, emails, recordings, bank transfer records, quotations, and work logs. In this case, handwriting analysis of the standard subcontract agreement was also used as crucial evidence.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section3\">3. Who Should You Claim Against When the Contractor and Building Owner Differ?<\/h2>\n<h3>Key Answer<\/h3>\n<p>In principle, claims should be made against the contracting party (the contractor). However, if the building owner substantially acted as the employer by directing construction and participating in payment, joint and several liability can be imposed on the building owner as well.<\/p>\n<h3>Grounds for Joint Liability in This Case<\/h3>\n<p>In this case, Contractor A not only concluded the verbal contract with the plaintiff but also signed the amended contract under Building Owner B&#8217;s name. Building Owner B, who was Contractor A&#8217;s son, was not only the building owner but was also listed as the employer in the amended contract. The project owner&#8217;s side directed the plaintiff regarding construction and additional work through the site manager and shared payment of construction costs and additional costs with the plaintiff.<\/p>\n<h3>Legal Effects of Joint and Several Liability<\/h3>\n<p>Considering these circumstances, the court determined that the project owner&#8217;s side agreed to jointly pay construction costs and additional costs to the plaintiff. When joint and several liability is recognized, the creditor (subcontractor) can demand full payment from any of the joint debtors, which is advantageous for debt recovery.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section4\">4. How is Additional Construction Payment Calculated?<\/h2>\n<h3>Key Answer<\/h3>\n<p>Additional construction payment is primarily determined by agreement between the parties. If there is no agreement or the amount is disputed, the court appoints an appraiser to calculate the appropriate amount using standard cost estimation or actual cost accounting methods. In this case, the appraiser&#8217;s findings were key evidence for calculating additional payment.<\/p>\n<h3>Payment Calculation Process in This Case<\/h3>\n<p>The calculation process first established the work scope under the amended contract: 10.32m excavation with a contract price of KRW 138 million (including VAT). The additional work scope was then specified. The plaintiff was requested by the project owner&#8217;s side to change excavation from 12.5m to 13.5m and perform corresponding temporary facility work, which was completed.<\/p>\n<h3>Additional Payment Confirmed Through Appraisal<\/h3>\n<p>According to the court appraisal, the additional cost for changing from 4m to 12.5m excavation was KRW 283,738,908, and for changing from 4m to 10.32m excavation was KRW 230,278,764. Additionally, the cost for changing from 12.5m to 13.5m excavation was calculated at KRW 24,523,000. Consequently, the additional construction payment after the amended contract was confirmed at KRW 77,983,144 (KRW 53,460,144 + KRW 24,523,000).<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section5\">5. What are the Key Issues in Additional Payment Litigation?<\/h2>\n<h3>Key Answer<\/h3>\n<p>Key issues in additional construction payment litigation are threefold: first, the existence and scope of additional work; second, whether the employer instructed or consented to it; third, calculation of appropriate payment. In this case, the plaintiff prevailed on all three issues.<\/p>\n<h3>Defendant&#8217;s Main Arguments and Court&#8217;s Judgment<\/h3>\n<p>The project owner&#8217;s side raised several defenses. First, they disputed the amended contract itself, but the court recognized its existence based on handwriting analysis and witness testimony. Second, they argued that the plaintiff had suspended work under the amended contract and completion was only 40-50%. However, the court found that the design drawings attached to the amended contract did not include the parking ramp section, and that the project owner&#8217;s side directly performed excavation and temporary work for the parking ramp, concluding that the plaintiff had completed work under the amended contract.<\/p>\n<h3>Deduction of Payments Made and Amounts to Be Returned<\/h3>\n<p>Important for calculating the final award is deducting payments made and amounts to be returned. The plaintiff&#8217;s total claim for construction and additional work was KRW 215,983,144 (KRW 138,000,000 + KRW 77,983,144). After deducting KRW 103,000,000 already paid, this left KRW 112,983,144. Meanwhile, the project owner&#8217;s side invested KRW 40,644,263 in rebar, H-beams, and ready-mixed concrete on the plaintiff&#8217;s behalf and spent KRW 20,000,000 on septic tank repairs. After deducting KRW 1,000,000 from H-beam sales, the plaintiff owed KRW 59,644,263 to the building owner. The final judgment ordered the project owner&#8217;s side to jointly pay the plaintiff KRW 53,338,881 (KRW 112,983,144 &#8211; KRW 59,644,263) plus delay damages.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- FAQ Section --><br \/>\n    <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section6\">6. FAQ<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq-section\" style=\"padding: 20px; border-radius: 0; margin: 30px 0; background-color: #f5f5f5;\">\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q1. Can I claim additional payment for work done under a verbal contract in South Korea?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. Yes, you can. Under Korean Civil Code, construction contracts are not formal contracts, meaning verbal agreements are legally binding. However, securing evidence such as witnesses, recordings, text messages, and emails is crucial to prove the contract terms.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q2. What is the statute of limitations for construction payment claims in South Korea?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. Construction payment claims are subject to a 5-year statute of limitations as commercial claims under Article 64 of the Korean Commercial Code. The period starts from the completion of work or the payment due date, so claims must be filed before expiration.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q3. Who should I claim against when the contractor and building owner are different parties?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. In principle, you should claim against the contracting party. However, if the building owner substantially acted as the employer by directing construction and sharing payment responsibilities, joint and several liability may be imposed on both parties.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q4. How is additional construction payment calculated in South Korea?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. The amount agreed upon by the parties takes precedence. If there is no agreement or the amount is disputed, the court appoints an appraiser to calculate the appropriate amount using standard cost estimation methods or actual cost accounting. In this case, court appraisal was used to determine the additional payment.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q5. Can I claim construction payment even if the work was suspended?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. Yes, you can claim payment based on the percentage of work completed. However, if the suspension was due to the subcontractor&#8217;s fault, damages may be offset against the claim, so it is important to clarify the reasons and circumstances of the suspension.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    <!-- Experience Statement --><\/p>\n<p>Atlas Legal has extensive experience winning construction payment disputes in South Korea. As demonstrated in this case, we systematically analyze complex legal issues such as proving verbal contracts, specifying the scope of additional work, and establishing joint liability to protect our clients&#8217; rights.<\/p>\n<p class=\"disclaimer\" style=\"margin: 20px 0;\">\u203b This case is based on a judgment from the Incheon District Court handled by Atlas Legal. Some facts have been modified for clarity, and client information has been protected.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- Author Box: Soyoung Park --><\/p>\n<div class=\"author-box\" style=\"background-color: #f8f9fa; padding: 20px; border-radius: 0; margin-top: 30px; border-left: 2px solid #722f37;\">\n<h3>About the Author<\/h3>\n<div class=\"author-name\">Soyoung Park | Managing Partner<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-info\">Attorney specializing in Family Law, Inheritance, and Construction\/Real Estate Disputes<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-info\">33rd Class, Judicial Research and Training Institute of Korea<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-info\">LL.B., Korea University School of Law<\/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. When Can You Claim Additional Construction Payment? 2. Are Verbal Contracts Legally Valid in South Korea? 3. Who Should You Claim Against When the Contractor and Building Owner Differ? 4. How is Additional Construction Payment Calculated? 5. What are the Key Issues in Additional Payment Litigation? 6. FAQ Real Case: A&#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":[17,223,15],"tags":[348,349,351,352,350],"class_list":["post-348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-civil","category-corporate-disputes","category-corporate","tag-additional-construction-payment","tag-construction-disputes-south-korea","tag-construction-law-korea","tag-subcontractor-claims","tag-verbal-contract"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Claim Additional Construction Payment in South Korea? | Atlas Legal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Did your contractor refuse to pay for additional work in South Korea? Verbal contracts are enforceable. Learn winning strategies with a real KRW 53M case study.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"ko_KR\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Claim Additional Construction Payment in South Korea? | Atlas Legal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Did your contractor refuse to pay for additional work in South Korea? Verbal contracts are enforceable. Learn winning strategies with a real KRW 53M case study.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Atlas Legal Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-13T06:54:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-03T08:41:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"\ubc95\ubb34\ubc95\uc778 \uc544\ud2c0\ub77c\uc2a4\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"\uae00\uc4f4\uc774\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\ubc95\ubb34\ubc95\uc778 \uc544\ud2c0\ub77c\uc2a4\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"\uc608\uc0c1 \ub418\ub294 \ud310\ub3c5 \uc2dc\uac04\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10\ubd84\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"\ubc95\ubb34\ubc95\uc778 \uc544\ud2c0\ub77c\uc2a4\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/184bcdecc06f89fd6c36b29781165b55\"},\"headline\":\"How to Claim Additional Construction Payment in South Korea?\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-13T06:54:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-03T08:41:56+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1679,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/#organization\"},\"keywords\":[\"additional construction payment\",\"construction disputes South Korea\",\"construction law Korea\",\"subcontractor claims\",\"verbal contract\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Civil\\\/Administrative\",\"Corporate Disputes\",\"Corporate\\\/International\"],\"inLanguage\":\"ko-KR\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\\\/\",\"name\":\"How to Claim Additional Construction Payment in South Korea? | Atlas Legal\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-13T06:54:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-03T08:41:56+00:00\",\"description\":\"Did your contractor refuse to pay for additional work in South Korea? Verbal contracts are enforceable. Learn winning strategies with a real KRW 53M case study.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"ko-KR\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"\ud648\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How to Claim Additional Construction Payment in South Korea?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Atlas Legal English Blog\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"ko-KR\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Atlas Legal English Blog\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"ko-KR\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/\ud3f4\ub354-\uc0c1\ub2e8-\uc9c1\uc0ac\uac01\ud615.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/\ud3f4\ub354-\uc0c1\ub2e8-\uc9c1\uc0ac\uac01\ud615.png\",\"width\":540,\"height\":485,\"caption\":\"Atlas Legal English Blog\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/184bcdecc06f89fd6c36b29781165b55\",\"name\":\"\ubc95\ubb34\ubc95\uc778 \uc544\ud2c0\ub77c\uc2a4\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"ko-KR\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d4c25916239244225f5f853b2ddf50fdcb7ea24d63347445261fe71c707cc558?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d4c25916239244225f5f853b2ddf50fdcb7ea24d63347445261fe71c707cc558?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d4c25916239244225f5f853b2ddf50fdcb7ea24d63347445261fe71c707cc558?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"\ubc95\ubb34\ubc95\uc778 \uc544\ud2c0\ub77c\uc2a4\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/author\\\/prinz001\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Claim Additional Construction Payment in South Korea? | Atlas Legal","description":"Did your contractor refuse to pay for additional work in South Korea? Verbal contracts are enforceable. Learn winning strategies with a real KRW 53M case study.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\/","og_locale":"ko_KR","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Claim Additional Construction Payment in South Korea? | Atlas Legal","og_description":"Did your contractor refuse to pay for additional work in South Korea? Verbal contracts are enforceable. Learn winning strategies with a real KRW 53M case study.","og_url":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\/","og_site_name":"Atlas Legal Blog","article_published_time":"2026-01-13T06:54:17+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-05-03T08:41:56+00:00","author":"\ubc95\ubb34\ubc95\uc778 \uc544\ud2c0\ub77c\uc2a4","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"\uae00\uc4f4\uc774":"\ubc95\ubb34\ubc95\uc778 \uc544\ud2c0\ub77c\uc2a4","\uc608\uc0c1 \ub418\ub294 \ud310\ub3c5 \uc2dc\uac04":"10\ubd84"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\/"},"author":{"name":"\ubc95\ubb34\ubc95\uc778 \uc544\ud2c0\ub77c\uc2a4","@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/184bcdecc06f89fd6c36b29781165b55"},"headline":"How to Claim Additional Construction Payment in South Korea?","datePublished":"2026-01-13T06:54:17+00:00","dateModified":"2026-05-03T08:41:56+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\/"},"wordCount":1679,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/#organization"},"keywords":["additional construction payment","construction disputes South Korea","construction law Korea","subcontractor claims","verbal contract"],"articleSection":["Civil\/Administrative","Corporate Disputes","Corporate\/International"],"inLanguage":"ko-KR","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\/","url":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\/","name":"How to Claim Additional Construction Payment in South Korea? | Atlas Legal","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-01-13T06:54:17+00:00","dateModified":"2026-05-03T08:41:56+00:00","description":"Did your contractor refuse to pay for additional work in South Korea? Verbal contracts are enforceable. Learn winning strategies with a real KRW 53M case study.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"ko-KR","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/how-to-claim-additional-construction-payment-in-south-korea\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"\ud648","item":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How to Claim Additional Construction Payment in South Korea?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/","name":"Atlas Legal English Blog","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"ko-KR"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/#organization","name":"Atlas Legal English Blog","url":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"ko-KR","@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/09\/\ud3f4\ub354-\uc0c1\ub2e8-\uc9c1\uc0ac\uac01\ud615.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/09\/\ud3f4\ub354-\uc0c1\ub2e8-\uc9c1\uc0ac\uac01\ud615.png","width":540,"height":485,"caption":"Atlas Legal English Blog"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/184bcdecc06f89fd6c36b29781165b55","name":"\ubc95\ubb34\ubc95\uc778 \uc544\ud2c0\ub77c\uc2a4","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"ko-KR","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d4c25916239244225f5f853b2ddf50fdcb7ea24d63347445261fe71c707cc558?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d4c25916239244225f5f853b2ddf50fdcb7ea24d63347445261fe71c707cc558?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d4c25916239244225f5f853b2ddf50fdcb7ea24d63347445261fe71c707cc558?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"\ubc95\ubb34\ubc95\uc778 \uc544\ud2c0\ub77c\uc2a4"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/atlaw.kr"],"url":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/author\/prinz001\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=348"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/348\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1008,"href":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/348\/revisions\/1008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}