{"id":360,"date":"2026-01-28T03:53:54","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T03:53:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/?p=360"},"modified":"2026-06-18T11:07:40","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T11:07:40","slug":"what-should-foreigners-do-when-arrested-at-incheon-airport-in-south-korea-attorneys-practical-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/what-should-foreigners-do-when-arrested-at-incheon-airport-in-south-korea-attorneys-practical-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"What Should Foreigners Do When Arrested at Incheon Airport in South Korea? Attorney&#8217;s Practical Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!-- ATLAS_HREFLANG_START --><link rel=\"alternate\" hreflang=\"ko\" href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%ec%9d%b8%ec%b2%9c%ea%b3%b5%ed%95%ad%ec%97%90%ec%84%9c-%ec%b2%b4%ed%8f%ac%eb%90%9c-%ec%99%b8%ea%b5%ad%ec%9d%b8%ec%9d%80-%ec%96%b4%eb%96%bb%ea%b2%8c-%eb%8c%80%ec%9d%91%ed%95%b4%ec%95%bc-%ed%95%98\/\" \/><link rel=\"alternate\" hreflang=\"en\" href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/what-should-foreigners-do-when-arrested-at-incheon-airport-in-south-korea-attorneys-practical-guide\/\" \/><link rel=\"alternate\" hreflang=\"x-default\" href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%ec%9d%b8%ec%b2%9c%ea%b3%b5%ed%95%ad%ec%97%90%ec%84%9c-%ec%b2%b4%ed%8f%ac%eb%90%9c-%ec%99%b8%ea%b5%ad%ec%9d%b8%ec%9d%80-%ec%96%b4%eb%96%bb%ea%b2%8c-%eb%8c%80%ec%9d%91%ed%95%b4%ec%95%bc-%ed%95%98\/\" \/><!-- ATLAS_HREFLANG_END --><br \/>\n<!-- ===== Schema Markup Start ===== --><\/p>\n<p><!-- Article Schema --><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"Article\", \"headline\": \"What Should Foreigners Do When Arrested at Incheon Airport in South Korea? Attorney's Practical Guide | Atlas Legal\", \"description\": \"Were you arrested at Incheon Airport for drug smuggling or customs violations? Learn about the 48-hour warrant deadline, consular notification rights, and right to counsel. Step-by-step guide for foreign suspects in South Korea.\", \"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\": \"2026-01-28\", \"dateModified\": \"2026-01-28\", \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\"@type\": \"WebPage\"}, \"@id\": \"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/what-should-foreigners-do-when-arrested-at-incheon-airport-in-south-korea-attorneys-practical-guide#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\": \"Will I be sent directly to prison after being arrested at Incheon Airport?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"No. Immediately after arrest, you will be held at a police detention facility or detention center. Prison is for serving sentences after a guilty verdict is finalized at trial.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Does arrest automatically mean detention?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"No. If there are no grounds for detention under Article 70 of the Criminal Procedure Act (no fixed residence, risk of destroying evidence, flight risk), you may undergo investigation and trial without detention.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Can foreigners receive a public defender in South Korea?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Yes, foreigners can receive a public defender. The Criminal Procedure Act does not distinguish between Korean citizens and foreigners.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Is interpretation service provided free of charge?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Yes. According to Article 180 of the Criminal Procedure Act, interpretation must be provided for statements by persons who do not understand Korean. Investigative agencies and courts are obligated to provide free interpretation.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Can I leave South Korea immediately after receiving a fine or suspended sentence?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Once a fine is finalized and paid, criminal proceedings are concluded. 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A Legal Survival Guide for Foreigners in South Korea' - Atlas Legal guide cover\" title=\"Atlas Legal - Incheon Airport Arrest Guide for Foreigners\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"sync\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;\"><\/a><figcaption>Legal Survival Guide Cover<\/figcaption><\/figure>\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. What Are the Main Reasons Foreigners Get Arrested at Incheon Airport?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section2\">2. Can Search and Seizure Occur Without a Warrant at Arrest?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section3\">3. What Happens Within 48 Hours After Arrest?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section4\">4. How Long Is the Investigation Period After Detention?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section5\">5. What Should I Do First When Arrested?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section6\">6. Why Is Legal Counsel Essential?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section7\">7. FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%ec%84%b8%ea%b4%80%ec%8b%a0%ea%b3%a0%ec%9c%84%eb%b0%98-%ec%b2%b4%ed%8f%ac%ec%82%ac%eb%a1%80\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img src=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%ec%84%b8%ea%b4%80%ec%8b%a0%ea%b3%a0%ec%9c%84%eb%b0%98-%ec%b2%b4%ed%8f%ac%ec%82%ac%eb%a1%80\/\" alt=\"Illustration of luxury wristwatch with handcuffs depicting a foreign businessman arrested at Incheon Customs for undeclared luxury goods. Key insight: Panic leads to mistakes\" title=\"Atlas Legal - Customs Violation Arrest Case\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;\"><\/a><figcaption>Customs Violation Arrest Case<\/figcaption><\/figure>\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 foreign businessman returning from an overseas trip suddenly stopped at the customs checkpoint at Incheon Airport. He was surrounded by customs officers for failing to declare expensive watches and jewelry in his bag. Despite protesting in English, all he received was handcuffs and an arrest notification. What should he have done after suddenly becoming a criminal in a foreign country?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    <!-- Key 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> When a foreigner is arrested in South Korea, a detention warrant must be requested within 48 hours. The suspect should immediately request consular notification and exercise their right to counsel. Based on our attorneys&#8217; extensive experience handling such airport arrest cases, we will explain the specific response procedures.\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <!-- Story Development --><\/p>\n<div class=\"story-detail\" style=\"padding: 20px; border-radius: 0; margin: 20px 0; background-color: #f5f5f5;\">\n<h3>Why Are the First 48 Hours So Critical?<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%ec%98%81%ec%9e%a5-%ec%97%86%eb%8a%94-%ec%88%98%ec%83%89%ec%95%95%ec%88%98-%ea%b6%8c%eb%a6%ac-%ec%95%88%eb%82%b4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img src=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%ec%98%81%ec%9e%a5-%ec%97%86%eb%8a%94-%ec%88%98%ec%83%89%ec%95%95%ec%88%98-%ea%b6%8c%eb%a6%ac-%ec%95%88%eb%82%b4\/\" alt=\"The Golden Time first 48 hours explanation with countdown timer. Article 200-4 requires release if detention warrant not requested within 48 hours. Goal: survive without creating evidence\" title=\"Atlas Legal - First 48 Hours Golden Time\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;\"><\/a><figcaption>Critical First 48 Hours After Arrest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"disclaimer\">\u203b This case is based on actual events but has been modified for understanding purposes, and client privacy has been protected.<\/p>\n<p>In the case of the foreign businessman mentioned above, &#8220;time&#8221; was the key factor. Under South Korean Criminal Procedure Act, if a detention warrant is not requested within 48 hours after arrest, the suspect must be released immediately (Article 200-4, Paragraph 1). However, if you respond to investigative questioning without any legal assistance during this time, unfavorable statements may be recorded in the protocol and used as decisive evidence in later trials. We will now explain the specific response procedures step by step.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    <!-- Section 1 --><br \/>\n    <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section1\">1. What Are the Main Reasons Foreigners Get Arrested at Incheon Airport?<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%ed%95%9c%ea%b5%ad-%eb%a7%88%ec%95%bd-%eb%b0%80%ec%88%98-%eb%ac%b4%ea%b4%80%ec%9a%a9-%ec%a0%95%ec%b1%85-%ec%9d%b8%ed%8f%ac\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img src=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%ed%95%9c%ea%b5%ad-%eb%a7%88%ec%95%bd-%eb%b0%80%ec%88%98-%eb%ac%b4%ea%b4%80%ec%9a%a9-%ec%a0%95%ec%b1%85-%ec%9d%b8%ed%8f%ac\/\" alt=\"Infographic on Korea's zero tolerance drug smuggling policy showing pill, cannabis leaf, and syringe icons. Based on Narcotics Control Act and Aggravated Punishment Act\" title=\"Atlas Legal - Drug Smuggling Zero Tolerance Policy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;\"><\/a><figcaption>Korea&#8217;s Zero Tolerance Drug Policy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The most common cases of foreigners being arrested at Incheon Airport involve drug smuggling and customs law violations (undeclared import of high-value goods). Drug smuggling in particular carries severe penalties under the Narcotics Control Act and the Act on Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (Special Aggravation Act). Customs violations can also result in imprisonment depending on the value of goods.<\/p>\n<h3>Drug Smuggling Cases<\/h3>\n<p>The Narcotics Control Act distinguishes between narcotics, psychotropic substances, and cannabis, prescribing different penalties for each. Psychotropic substances are classified from Category (a) to (d) based on their risk level, with different penalties accordingly.<\/p>\n<h3>Import\/Export of Narcotics (Article 58, Paragraph 1, Item 1)<\/h3>\n<p>Those who import\/export, manufacture, or sell narcotics, mediate sales, or possess\/own for such purposes face <strong>life imprisonment or imprisonment of 5 years or more<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3>Import\/Export of Psychotropic Substances (Differential Punishment by Category)<\/h3>\n<p>Psychotropic substances are classified from Category (a) to (d) based on their potential for abuse, medical use, and degree of physical\/mental dependence, with significantly different penalties for each category.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Category<\/th>\n<th>Representative Substances<\/th>\n<th>Penalty for Import\/Export<\/th>\n<th>Legal Basis<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Category (a)<\/td>\n<td>LSD, Mescaline, etc.<\/td>\n<td>Life imprisonment or 5+ years<\/td>\n<td>Article 58(1)(3)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Category (b)<\/td>\n<td>Methamphetamine, Amphetamine, MDMA (Ecstasy), Ketamine, etc.<\/td>\n<td>Life imprisonment or 5+ years<\/td>\n<td>Article 58(1)(6)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Category (c)<\/td>\n<td>Barbital, Pentazocine, etc.<\/td>\n<td>1+ years imprisonment<\/td>\n<td>Article 59(1)(10)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Category (d)<\/td>\n<td>Diazepam, Zolpidem, Propofol, etc. (medical use)<\/td>\n<td>Up to 10 years or fine up to 100 million KRW<\/td>\n<td>Article 60(1)(3)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Import\/Export of Cannabis (Article 58, Paragraph 1, Item 5)<\/h3>\n<p>Those who import cannabis or export or cultivate\/possess cannabis for export purposes face <strong>life imprisonment or imprisonment of 5 years or more<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3>Aggravated Punishment for Profit Motive\/Habitual Offenders (Article 58, Paragraph 2)<\/h3>\n<p>Those who commit crimes under Article 58, Paragraph 1 for profit or habitually face <strong>death penalty, life imprisonment, or imprisonment of 10 years or more<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3>Aggravated Punishment Under Special Aggravation Act Article 11<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%ec%84%b8%ea%b4%80%ec%8b%a0%ea%b3%a0-%ec%9c%84%eb%b0%98-%ec%9c%84%ed%97%98%ec%84%b1-%ec%95%88%eb%82%b4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img src=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%ec%84%b8%ea%b4%80%ec%8b%a0%ea%b3%a0-%ec%9c%84%eb%b0%98-%ec%9c%84%ed%97%98%ec%84%b1-%ec%95%88%eb%82%b4\/\" alt=\"Drug penalty chart showing Meth\/LSD\/Ecstasy carries life imprisonment or 5+ years, Cannabis import same penalty, For-profit or habitual offenders face death penalty or life\" title=\"Atlas Legal - Drug Offense Penalties\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;\"><\/a><figcaption>Drug Crime Penalty Chart<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Based on the value of narcotics, the Act on Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (Special Aggravation Act) Article 11 applies for enhanced punishment.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Special Aggravation Act Article 11(1) &#8211; Import\/Export, Manufacturing, etc.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Violations of Article 58(1)(1)-(4), (6), (7) (excluding crimes related to sale, receipt, provision, and possession\/ownership for sale, mediation, or receipt purposes):<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Value of Narcotics<\/th>\n<th>Penalty<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>50 million KRW or more<\/td>\n<td>Life imprisonment or 10+ years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>5 million ~ under 50 million KRW<\/td>\n<td>Life imprisonment or 7+ years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Under 5 million KRW<\/td>\n<td>Basic penalty under Narcotics Control Act<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Special Aggravation Act Article 11(2) &#8211; Possession, Use, etc.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Violations of Articles 59(1)-(3) and 60 (only crimes related to narcotics and psychotropic substances, excluding cannabis):<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Value of Narcotics<\/th>\n<th>Penalty<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>50 million KRW or more<\/td>\n<td>Life imprisonment or 7+ years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>5 million ~ under 50 million KRW<\/td>\n<td>Life imprisonment or 3+ years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Under 5 million KRW<\/td>\n<td>Basic penalty under Narcotics Control Act<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u203b Special Aggravation Act Article 11(2) does not apply to cannabis-related offenses.<\/p>\n<h3>Customs Act Violations<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%eb%a7%88%ec%95%bd%eb%b2%94%ec%a3%84-%ec%b2%98%eb%b2%8c-%ea%b8%b0%ec%a4%80%ed%91%9c\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img src=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%eb%a7%88%ec%95%bd%eb%b2%94%ec%a3%84-%ec%b2%98%eb%b2%8c-%ea%b8%b0%ec%a4%80%ed%91%9c\/\" alt=\"Customs violations infographic with 200 Million KRW price tag. Undeclared high-value goods trigger Aggravated Punishment under Special Act resulting in permanent criminal record\" title=\"Atlas Legal - Customs Violations Risk\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;\"><\/a><figcaption>Customs Violation Consequences<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Basic penalties under Article 269 (Smuggling) of the Customs Act are as follows:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Article 269(1) (Import\/Export of Prohibited Goods under Article 234)<\/strong>: Those who import\/export publications disturbing constitutional order, items disclosing government secrets, counterfeit currency\/securities, etc. face up to 7 years imprisonment or fine up to 70 million KRW.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Article 269(2) (Undeclared\/Falsely Declared Import)<\/strong>: Those who import goods without declaration under Article 241 or with false declarations face up to 5 years imprisonment or fine up to 10 times the customs duty or the original price (whichever is higher).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Article 269(3) (Undeclared\/Falsely Declared Export\/Return)<\/strong>: Those who export\/return goods without declaration or with false declarations face up to 3 years imprisonment or fine up to the original price.<\/p>\n<h3>Aggravated Punishment Under Special Aggravation Act Article 6<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Article 6(1) &#8211; Import\/Export of Prohibited Goods (Customs Act Article 269(1) violation)<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Value of Goods<\/th>\n<th>Penalty<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>100 million KRW or more<\/td>\n<td>Life imprisonment or 7+ years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>30 million ~ under 100 million KRW<\/td>\n<td>3+ years imprisonment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Under 30 million KRW<\/td>\n<td>Basic penalty under Customs Act (up to 7 years)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u203b Additional fine: 2 to 10 times the value of goods<\/p>\n<p><strong>Article 6(2) &#8211; Undeclared\/Falsely Declared Import (Customs Act Article 269(2) violation)<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Original Price<\/th>\n<th>Penalty<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>500 million KRW or more<\/td>\n<td>Life imprisonment or 5+ years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>200 million ~ under 500 million KRW<\/td>\n<td>3+ years imprisonment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Under 200 million KRW<\/td>\n<td>Basic penalty under Customs Act (up to 5 years)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u203b Additional fine: 2 times the original price of imported goods<\/p>\n<p><strong>Article 6(3) &#8211; Undeclared\/Falsely Declared Export\/Return (Customs Act Article 269(3) violation)<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Original Price<\/th>\n<th>Penalty<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>500 million KRW or more<\/td>\n<td>1+ years imprisonment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Under 500 million KRW<\/td>\n<td>Basic penalty under Customs Act (up to 3 years)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u203b Additional fine: Original price of exported or returned goods<\/p>\n<p><strong>Article 6(9) &#8211; Habitual\/Organized Offenders<\/strong>: Those who form organizations or groups or habitually commit crimes under Articles 269 to 271 or 274 of the Customs Act face <strong>death penalty, life imprisonment, or imprisonment of 10 years or more<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>When foreigners bring in expensive watches, jewelry, luxury bags, etc. exceeding duty-free limits at Incheon Airport without customs declaration, Article 269(2)(1) of the Customs Act applies. If the original price is 200 million KRW or more, aggravated punishment under Special Aggravation Act Article 6(2) applies.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- Section 2 --><br \/>\n    <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section2\">2. Can Search and Seizure Occur Without a Warrant at Arrest?<\/h2>\n<p>Yes, search and seizure can occur without a warrant at the arrest scene. Article 216(1)(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act stipulates that &#8220;search, seizure, and inspection may be conducted without a warrant at the arrest scene.&#8221; Therefore, at the moment of arrest at Incheon Airport, immediate search and seizure of belongings, bags, and mobile phones can occur.<\/p>\n<h3>Legal Basis for Warrantless Search and Seizure<\/h3>\n<p>The Criminal Procedure Act prescribes different requirements for warrantless search and seizure depending on the arrest situation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Article 216(1)(2) (Search and Seizure at Arrest Scene)<\/strong>: Prosecutors or judicial police officers may conduct search, seizure, and inspection without a warrant at the arrest scene when necessary to arrest a suspect.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Article 217(1) (Search and Seizure After Emergency Arrest)<\/strong>: When there is urgent need to seize items owned, possessed, or stored by an emergency arrestee, prosecutors or judicial police officers may conduct search, seizure, and inspection without a warrant <strong>within 24 hours from the arrest<\/strong>. This provision applies even at locations other than the arrest scene (e.g., the suspect&#8217;s residence).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Article 217(2) (Post-Facto Warrant Application)<\/strong>: If there is need to continue holding seized items, a search and seizure warrant must be applied for without delay, and <strong>the warrant must be applied for within 48 hours from the arrest<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3>Practical Considerations<\/h3>\n<p>The following points require attention during the search and seizure process at the airport.<\/p>\n<p>First, receipt of seizure list. According to Article 129 of the Criminal Procedure Act, when items are seized, a list must be prepared and delivered to the owner, possessor, custodian, or equivalent person. Always receive and verify the seizure list.<\/p>\n<p>Second, response to mobile phone seizure. According to precedent, searching electronic information stored on mobile phones requires a separate warrant. While the mobile phone itself may be seized at the arrest scene, searching its contents may be restricted.<\/p>\n<p>Third, exercising the right to remain silent. During search and seizure, investigators may ask about the source or acquisition circumstances of items. You have the right not to be compelled to make statements against yourself (Article 12(2) of the Constitution).<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- Section 3 --><br \/>\n    <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section3\">3. What Happens Within 48 Hours After Arrest?<\/h2>\n<p>The 48 hours after arrest are the most critical time determining the suspect&#8217;s fate. According to Article 200-4(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act, if prosecutors or judicial police officers do not apply for a detention warrant within 48 hours of arresting a suspect, the suspect must be released immediately. During this time, interrogation, warrant application, and warrant review hearings occur intensively.<\/p>\n<h3>Procedures by Type of Arrest<\/h3>\n<p>Under South Korean Criminal Procedure Act, arrests are broadly classified into three types.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Emergency Arrest (Article 200-3)<\/strong>: When there is substantial reason to suspect that someone has committed a crime punishable by death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment of 3 years or more, and there is urgency making it impossible to obtain a warrant, the person may be arrested without a warrant. Drug smuggling and high-value customs violations both meet these requirements.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Flagrante Delicto Arrest (Articles 211, 212)<\/strong>: A person in the act of committing a crime or immediately after is a flagrant offender who may be arrested by anyone without a warrant. At airport customs, you may be arrested as a flagrant offender the moment prohibited or undeclared goods are discovered.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Regular Arrest (Article 200-2)<\/strong>: Arrest with an arrest warrant. In airport arrest cases, flagrante delicto or emergency arrest is most common.<\/p>\n<h3>Requirements for Detention Warrant Application<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%ed%98%95%ec%82%ac%ec%82%ac%ea%b1%b4-%ec%b2%b4%ed%8f%ac-%ed%9b%84-48%ec%8b%9c%ea%b0%84-%ea%b3%a8%eb%93%a0%ed%83%80%ec%9e%84\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img src=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%ed%98%95%ec%82%ac%ec%82%ac%ea%b1%b4-%ec%b2%b4%ed%8f%ac-%ed%9b%84-48%ec%8b%9c%ea%b0%84-%ea%b3%a8%eb%93%a0%ed%83%80%ec%9e%84\/\" alt=\"Detention warrant criteria: no fixed residence, risk of destroying evidence, risk of flight. Foreigners without Korean home are viewed as flight risk requiring lawyer to prove otherwise\" title=\"Atlas Legal - Detention Warrant Criteria\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;\"><\/a><figcaption>Foreigner Detention Risk Factors<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For prosecutors to apply for a detention warrant, Article 70 of the Criminal Procedure Act requires criminal suspicion (substantial reason to believe a crime was committed) and grounds for detention (one of: no fixed residence, risk of evidence destruction, flight or risk of flight).<\/p>\n<p>For foreigners, detention warrants are often applied for on grounds of having no fixed residence domestically and high likelihood of leaving the country. Therefore, it is important to demonstrate domestic connections, guarantors, and willingness to surrender passport.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- Section 4 --><br \/>\n    <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section4\">4. How Long Is the Investigation Period After Detention?<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%ea%b5%ac%ec%86%8d%ec%98%81%ec%9e%a5-%eb%8f%84%ec%a3%bc%ec%9c%84%ed%97%98-%ed%8c%90%eb%8b%a8%ea%b8%b0%ec%a4%80\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img src=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%ea%b5%ac%ec%86%8d%ec%98%81%ec%9e%a5-%eb%8f%84%ec%a3%bc%ec%9c%84%ed%97%98-%ed%8c%90%eb%8b%a8%ea%b8%b0%ec%a4%80\/\" alt=\"Investigation timeline diagram showing Police Phase 10 days, Prosecution Phase 10 days, Extension 10 days. Total maximum 30 days detention before indictment requires pre-arrest strategy\" title=\"Atlas Legal - Detention Investigation Timeline\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;\"><\/a><figcaption>30-Day Pre-Indictment Timeline<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The investigation period after detention is maximum 30 days: police 10 days, prosecution 10 days, extension 10 days. Article 202 of the Criminal Procedure Act sets the police detention period at 10 days, Article 203 sets 10 days after transfer to prosecution, and Article 205 allows prosecutors to extend once for 10 days.<\/p>\n<h3>Detention Period Details<\/h3>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Stage<\/th>\n<th>Period<\/th>\n<th>Legal Basis<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Police Detention<\/td>\n<td>10 days<\/td>\n<td>CPA Article 202<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Prosecution Detention<\/td>\n<td>10 days<\/td>\n<td>CPA Article 203<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Extension<\/td>\n<td>10 days<\/td>\n<td>CPA Article 205<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Maximum Total<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>30 days<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>&#8211;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Important Rights During Detention<\/h3>\n<p>During detention, suspects may exercise the following rights.<\/p>\n<p>First, the right to request review of detention legality. Under Article 214-2 of the Criminal Procedure Act, the suspect or their defense counsel, legal representative, spouse, lineal relatives, or siblings may request the court to review the legality of detention. If the court finds the detention unlawful or unjust, it may order release. However, in practice, suspects are rarely released through detention review.<\/p>\n<p>Second, the right to visitation. Under Article 34 of the Criminal Procedure Act, detained suspects may freely meet with their defense counsel.<\/p>\n<p>Third, the right to inspect and copy investigation records. Under Article 266-4 of the Criminal Procedure Act, defense counsel may request the prosecutor to inspect and copy documents necessary for trial preparation after indictment.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- Section 5 --><br \/>\n    <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section5\">5. What Should I Do First When Arrested?<\/h2>\n<p>The first things to do when arrested are: request consular notification, contact family, and retain counsel. Foreign suspects in particular have the right to have their arrest notified to their consulate under Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, and this is also an obligation of South Korean investigative agencies.<\/p>\n<h3>Step 1: Request Consular Notification<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%ed%98%95%ec%82%ac%ec%88%98%ec%82%ac-%ea%b5%ac%ec%86%8d%ea%b8%b0%ea%b0%84-%ed%83%80%ec%9e%84%eb%9d%bc%ec%9d%b8\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img src=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%ed%98%95%ec%82%ac%ec%88%98%ec%82%ac-%ea%b5%ac%ec%86%8d%ea%b8%b0%ea%b0%84-%ed%83%80%ec%9e%84%eb%9d%bc%ec%9d%b8\/\" alt=\"Consular notification rights under Vienna Convention Article 36. Embassy notifies family, monitors human rights treatment, provides local attorney list. Police MUST comply upon request\" title=\"Atlas Legal - Consular Notification Rights\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;\"><\/a><figcaption>Demand Consular Notification<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>According to Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, when a foreigner is arrested or detained, the competent consular post must be notified without delay, and at the suspect&#8217;s request, investigative agencies must provide notification. Consular officials have the right to visit and communicate with the suspect and arrange legal representation for the suspect.<\/p>\n<p>The consulate contacts family in the home country, introduces local attorneys, provides interpretation support if needed, and monitors detention conditions. If this right was not informed or exercised, it may serve as grounds for claiming procedural violations in subsequent trials.<\/p>\n<h3>Key Embassy\/Consulate Contacts (Seoul, near Incheon Airport)<\/h3>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Country<\/th>\n<th>Embassy\/Consulate<\/th>\n<th>Emergency Contact<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>United States<\/td>\n<td>U.S. Embassy Seoul<\/td>\n<td>02-397-4114<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>China<\/td>\n<td>Chinese Embassy Seoul<\/td>\n<td>02-738-1038<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Japan<\/td>\n<td>Japanese Embassy Seoul<\/td>\n<td>02-2170-5200<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>United Kingdom<\/td>\n<td>British Embassy Seoul<\/td>\n<td>02-3210-5500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Step 2: Contact Family<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%eb%b9%84%ec%97%94%eb%82%98%ed%98%91%ec%95%bd-%ec%98%81%ec%82%ac%ea%b4%80-%ed%86%b5%ec%a7%80-%ea%b6%8c%eb%a6%ac\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img src=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%eb%b9%84%ec%97%94%eb%82%98%ed%98%91%ec%95%bd-%ec%98%81%ec%82%ac%ea%b4%80-%ed%86%b5%ec%a7%80-%ea%b6%8c%eb%a6%ac\/\" alt=\"Family contact importance diagram showing three roles: Funding for legal fees, Guarantors proving domestic connections to lower flight risk, Mental health support to withstand interrogation\" title=\"Atlas Legal - Family Contact Importance\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;\"><\/a><figcaption>Why Family Contact Matters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Contacting family immediately after arrest is important for several reasons: securing bail or attorney fees, obtaining domestic connections (guarantors) to prevent detention, emotional support, and urgent work-related measures. Investigative agencies cannot refuse a suspect&#8217;s request to contact family without justifiable reason.<\/p>\n<h3>Step 3: Contact Support Organizations<\/h3>\n<p>There are organizations that can help foreigners arrested in South Korea. Korea Legal Aid Corporation (Tel: 132) provides free legal consultation and litigation representation to economically disadvantaged foreigners, with multilingual consultation available in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc. The Foreign Resident Support Center (Tel: 1345) provides interpretation services in 20 languages and guidance on legal, medical, and immigration matters.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- Section 6 --><br \/>\n    <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section6\">6. Why Is Legal Counsel Essential?<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%ed%98%95%ec%82%ac%ec%82%ac%ea%b1%b4-%ea%b0%80%ec%a1%b1-%ec%97%b0%eb%9d%bd-%ec%a4%91%ec%9a%94%ec%84%b1-%ec%9d%b8%ed%8f%ac\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img src=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%ed%98%95%ec%82%ac%ec%82%ac%ea%b1%b4-%ea%b0%80%ec%a1%b1-%ec%97%b0%eb%9d%bd-%ec%a4%91%ec%9a%94%ec%84%b1-%ec%9d%b8%ed%8f%ac\/\" alt=\"Constitutional right to counsel under Article 12(4). Three reasons: Language Barrier - legal Korean is dense, Procedure - inquisitorial system differs from US\/UK, Protection from signing incorrect protocol\" title=\"Atlas Legal - Right to Counsel\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;\"><\/a><figcaption>Constitutional Right to Counsel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The right to counsel is a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 12(4) of the Constitution. For foreigners in particular, lack of understanding of Korean criminal procedures, language barriers, and cultural differences mean that responding without an attorney can result in unfavorable statements being recorded in protocols, leading to irreversible consequences.<\/p>\n<h3>Role of Defense Counsel<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%ed%95%9c%ea%b5%ad-%eb%b3%80%ed%98%b8%ec%82%ac-%ec%84%a0%ec%9e%84%ea%b6%8c-%eb%b3%b4%ec%9e%a5-%ec%9d%b8%ed%8f%ac%ea%b7%b8\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img src=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%ed%95%9c%ea%b5%ad-%eb%b3%80%ed%98%b8%ec%82%ac-%ec%84%a0%ec%9e%84%ea%b6%8c-%eb%b3%b4%ec%9e%a5-%ec%9d%b8%ed%8f%ac%ea%b7%b8\/\" alt=\"Lawyer protection checklist for first 48 hours: Enforce silence to prevent self-incrimination, Monitor interrogation blocking improper questioning, Check record before signing, Object to illegal search\" title=\"Atlas Legal - Lawyer Protection Role\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;\"><\/a><figcaption>How Lawyers Protect You<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In the <strong>initial response stage<\/strong>, defense counsel advises on exercising the right to remain silent (Article 12(2) of the Constitution), participates in suspect interrogation under Article 243-2 of the Criminal Procedure Act to object to improper interrogation methods, and raises objections regarding seized items. Defense counsel can also meet with the suspect before interrogation to help ensure accurate communication during questioning.<\/p>\n<p>In the <strong>detention prevention stage<\/strong>, counsel submits opinions to the court requesting warrant dismissal, represents the suspect at warrant review hearings under Article 201-2 of the Criminal Procedure Act, and requests non-detention investigation with exit ban as a condition.<\/p>\n<p>In the <strong>investigation stage<\/strong>, counsel reviews investigation records to understand what evidence has been collected, discovers and submits evidence favorable to the suspect, and negotiates with prosecutors for reduced charges or prosecutorial discretion.<\/p>\n<h3>Why This Is Especially Important for Foreign Suspects<\/h3>\n<p>First, overcoming language barriers. It is virtually impossible for a foreigner who does not speak Korean to accurately understand the intent of investigators&#8217; questions and respond appropriately. Even with interpretation, understanding the subtle differences in legal terminology is difficult.<\/p>\n<p>Second, procedural differences. Criminal procedures differ by country. Foreigners familiar with their home country&#8217;s procedures may act disadvantageously due to misunderstanding Korean procedures.<\/p>\n<p>Third, increased likelihood of detention. Foreigners easily meet the detention ground of &#8220;flight risk.&#8221; Having no domestic residence and the impossibility of trial if they leave the country results in higher detention rates than for Korean nationals. In reality, foreigners are highly likely to be detained. An attorney must actively demonstrate domestic connections, guarantors, and willingness to accept exit bans to maintain non-detention status.<\/p>\n<h3>Public Defender System<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%ed%98%95%ec%82%ac%ec%82%ac%ea%b1%b4-%ec%b4%88%ea%b8%b0-48%ec%8b%9c%ea%b0%84-%eb%b3%80%ed%98%b8%ec%82%ac-%ec%97%ad%ed%95%a0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img src=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/kr-blog\/%eb%b2%95%eb%ac%b4%eb%b2%95%ec%9d%b8-%ec%95%84%ed%8b%80%eb%9d%bc%ec%8a%a4-%ed%98%95%ec%82%ac%ec%82%ac%ea%b1%b4-%ec%b4%88%ea%b8%b0-48%ec%8b%9c%ea%b0%84-%eb%b3%80%ed%98%b8%ec%82%ac-%ec%97%ad%ed%95%a0\/\" alt=\"Public defender FAQ. Available if cannot afford one or detained for warrant review. Caveat: public defenders are skilled but overworked. Private attorney with language skills recommended for complex cases\" title=\"Atlas Legal - Public Defender Information\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;\"><\/a><figcaption>Public Defender Availability<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For suspects\/defendants who cannot afford an attorney due to financial circumstances, there is a public defender system. Under Article 201-2(8) of the Criminal Procedure Act, a public defender is appointed if there is no counsel at warrant review hearings, and under Article 33, public defenders are appointed in mandatory defense cases. However, public defenders handle many cases and may not be able to devote sufficient time to individual cases, so retaining private counsel is advantageous if possible.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- FAQ Section --><br \/>\n    <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section7\">7. 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. Will I be sent directly to prison after being arrested at Incheon Airport?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. No. Immediately after arrest, you will be held at a police detention facility or detention center. Prison is for serving sentences after a guilty verdict is finalized at trial. During investigation and trial stages, you are mainly held at detention centers. Incheon Airport falls under the jurisdiction of Incheon District Prosecutors&#8217; Office detention center.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q2. Does arrest automatically mean detention?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. No. If there are no grounds for detention under Article 70 of the Criminal Procedure Act (no fixed residence, risk of evidence destruction, flight risk), you may undergo investigation and trial without detention. With attorney assistance, you can submit opinions requesting warrant dismissal and contest detention by securing domestic connections and surrendering your passport.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q3. Can foreigners receive a public defender in South Korea?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. Yes, foreigners can receive a public defender. The Criminal Procedure Act does not distinguish between Korean citizens and foreigners. At warrant review hearings for detained suspects and trials for detained defendants, if there is no counsel, the court appoints a public defender ex officio.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q4. Is interpretation service provided free of charge?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. Yes. According to Article 180 of the Criminal Procedure Act, interpretation must be provided for statements by persons who do not understand Korean. Investigative agencies and courts are obligated to provide free interpretation.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q5. Can I leave South Korea immediately after receiving a fine or suspended sentence?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. Once a fine is finalized and paid, criminal proceedings are concluded. Criminal proceedings also end when a suspended sentence is finalized. However, separate administrative procedures under the Immigration Control Act (such as deportation) may proceed. Additionally, if the prosecution appeals, you may be detained at an immigration office during the appeal trial to prevent flight risk.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q6. Can my family visit me in South Korea?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. Yes. According to Article 89 of the Criminal Procedure Act, detained suspects or defendants may meet with others, exchange documents or items, and receive medical care within legal limits. However, investigative agencies may temporarily restrict visits if there is concern about evidence destruction.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q7. Will a conviction in South Korea appear on my criminal record in my home country?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. This depends on your country&#8217;s laws. Generally, foreign convictions are not automatically entered into your home country&#8217;s criminal records. However, information may be exchanged through extradition treaties or mutual legal assistance treaties, and you may be required to report overseas criminal history when applying for visas.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    <!-- Experience Statement --><\/p>\n<p>Atlas Legal, leveraging its geographical advantage of being located in Songdo, Incheon, has handled numerous foreigner criminal cases occurring at Incheon Airport. Attorneys who can communicate directly in English respond quickly to the scene, handling cases consistently from initial response through trial.<\/p>\n<p class=\"disclaimer\" style=\"margin: 20px 0;\">\u203b The legal information in this article is written for general guidance purposes, and legal judgments may vary depending on the specific facts of individual cases. For actual case responses, please consult with an attorney.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- Author Box --><\/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\">Taejin Kim | Managing Partner<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-info\">Attorney specializing in Corporate Advisory, Corporate Disputes, and White-Collar Crime<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-info\">Former Prosecutor | 33rd Class, Judicial Research and Training Institute<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-info\">LL.B., LL.M. in Criminal Law (Korea University), LL.M. (UC Davis)<\/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>Legal Survival Guide Cover Table of Contents 1. What Are the Main Reasons Foreigners Get Arrested at Incheon Airport? 2. Can Search and Seizure Occur Without a Warrant at Arrest? 3. What Happens Within 48 Hours After Arrest? 4. How Long Is the Investigation Period After Detention? 5. What Should I Do First When Arrested?&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","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":[16,224],"tags":[370,369,371,368,367],"class_list":["post-360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-criminal","category-white-collar-crime","tag-customs-violation","tag-drug-smuggling-korea","tag-english-speaking-lawyer","tag-foreign-criminal-defense","tag-incheon-airport-arrest"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Should Foreigners Do When Arrested at Incheon Airport in South Korea? 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