SEOUL, March 13 (Korea Bizwire) – A new helpline (1345) offering free legal advice and counseling is now available for any foreign resident of South Korea, regardless of their visa type, starting today, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) said yesterday.

The MOJ teamed up with the Korean Bar Association and the Ministry of the Interior to offer help with common legal issues such as lease contracts or criminal cases, in a bid to ensure the legal rights of foreign nationals living in South Korea are respected.

When an appointment is made, the Immigration Contact Center will arrange a date for a three-way phone call between a foreign resident, a translator, and a lawyer. Face to face legal counseling is also available on request.

According to the MOJ, there are currently 57 lawyers offering free legal help in fifteen immigration offices around the country, with plans to hire a further 144 lawyers.

The MOJ’s move to offer legal help to foreigners is the latest addition to the ‘Village Lawyer’ initiative, a free service originally intended to help those who can’t afford lawyers by offering them legal advice and counseling.

Those wishing to book an appointment can dial 1345 without an area code.

Hyunsu Yim (hyunsu@koreabizwire.com)