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Lecture 7

Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign C
ourt Decisions in Korea- Focused on the 2014 Revision of Korean Civil Procedure Code and Col
lective Redress -KOBE SALAD 2014 (Prof. Dr. HAN from Korea)

KOBE SALAD 2014 (Prof. Dr. HAN from Korea)

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2014/08/☞ Bench mark of Korean International Jurisdiction Legislation- Brussels I Regulation on jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercialmatters(entered into force in 2002)- Brussels II Regulation on jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and matters of parental responsibility- The review of Brussels I Regulation has now been completed and a new, revised version was adopted in December 2012 (« the Brussels I Regulation recast 2015 »); enter into force in January 2015.
☞ Korean Civil Procedure Codes for Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Court Decisions are newly revis
ed on May 20 2014(at the same date entered into force)-Irrelevant to Brussels I Recast-Increasing FTAs(US, EU, ASEAN etc. 45 countries), negotiation process(12 countries including China), negotiation preparation(15 countries including Vietnam, Korea+China+Japan etc.) as of June 20
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TPP join problem (ISD issue)

KOBE SALAD 2014 (Prof. Dr. HAN from Korea)

3Main changes☞ Abolition of exequatur-

With some procedural safeguards
Exception: defamation & collective redress
3 remedies: in the Member State of Origin if not properly informed; exceptionally in Member State of Enforc
ement if other procedural defects infringing right to a fair trial; at stage of enforcement if irreconcilability wit
h another judgment☞ Better functioning in the international legal order-

Creation of subsidiary ground of Jurisdiction - forum patrimonii & forum necessitatis
Flexible lis pendens rule

KOBE SALAD 2014 (Prof. Dr. HAN from Korea)

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Passive and minor revisions besides ineffective☞ Reflection of majority opinions and precedents-Broaden the Concept of Judgment(Art. 217 para. 1 KCPC/ Art. 26, 27 KCEC)-

Specify the Concept of Reciprocity(Art. 217 para. 1 sub para. 4 KCPC)-

Stress the Court’s own duty on examination of satisfaction of prerequisites for recogniti
on and enforcement of foreign judgment(Art. 217 para. 2 KCPC)☞ Reflection of business field demands(be afraid of increasing foreign judgments especia
lly American punitive damage and class action judgments) (Art. 217-2 KCPC)KOBE SALAD 2014 (Prof. Dr. HAN from Korea)

Recognition

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Revised version after May 20. 2014

Old version before May 20. 2014KCPC Art. 217 (Effect of Foreign Judgment) A fi
nal and conclusive judgment by a foreign court shallbe acknowledged to be valid, only upon the entire ful
fillment of the following requirements:

KCPC Art. 217 ① (Recognition of Foreign Decision) A final and conclusive judgment by a foreign court or decisions which are equivalent in ef
fect shall be recognized only upon the entire ful
fillment of the following requirements:(1, 2 the same with old version)

1. That an international jurisdiction of such foreign court is recognized in the principles of an international
jurisdiction pursuant to the Acts and subordinate sta
tutes of the Republic of Korea, or to the treaties;

3. In view of the contents of final and conclusiv
e decisions and process, recognition of such court decisions do not violate the public policy of
the Republic of Korea; and2. That a defeated defendant received, pursuant to alawful method, a service of a summons or a docume
nt equivalent thereto, and a notice of date or an order, with a time leeway sufficient to defend (excluding t
he case pursuant to a service by public notice or simi
lar service), or that he responded to the lawsuit eve
n without being served;

4. That there exists a mutual guarantee or recognition requirements for conclusive and final
decisions are more or less equal to each otherbetween Korea and foreign country, and the requirements imposed by a foreign country are no major practical differences with ours.

3. That such judgment does not violate public policyof the Republic of Korea; and② the court should investigate ex officio wheth
er conditions of paragraph (1) is satisfied or not

4. That there exists a mutual guarantee.

KOBE SALAD 2014 (Prof. Dr. HAN from Korea)

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KCPC Art. 217-2(Recognition of decisions for damages)① The court should not recognize the whole or parts of foreign conclusive and final decisions
if foreign decisions for damages violate Korean laws or basic orders of international treaties
which Korea had already signed② The court should consider whether procedural costs such as lawyers fee are included or not in decisions for monetary amount of damages which a foreign court accepted when the cou
rt deliberate requirements of paragraph (1) are satisfied or not.

Many Korean academics doubt :☞ What is this new provision for?
☞ What is it different from public policy requirement?

KOBE SALAD 2014 (Prof. Dr. HAN from Korea)

Enforcement
KCEC Article 26 (Enforcement by Foreign Judgment) (1) A compulsory execution based upon the judgm
ent of a foreign court may be conducted only if a courtof the Republic of Korea has made a declaration of its legality by means of a judgment of execution.
(2) A lawsuit seeking a judgment of execution shall be
under the jurisdiction of the district court located at thedebtor's general forum, and if there exists no general forum, it shall be under the jurisdiction of the court having jurisdiction over a lawsuit against the debtor under t
he provisions of Art. 11 KCPCArticle 27 (Enforcement Judgment)(1) A judgment of execution shall be made without mak
ing any examination as to whether the judgment
is right or wrong.

7KCEC Article 26 (Enforcement by Foreign Decisions) (1) A Enforcement based upon the decision of aforeign court may be conducted only if a court of the R
OK has made a declaration of its legality by means of e
nforcement judgment.
(2) A lawsuit seeking an enforcement judgment shall be under the jurisdiction of the district court located at t
he debtor's general forum, and if there exists no gener
al forum, it shall be under the jurisdiction of the court
having jurisdiction over a lawsuit against the debtor un
der the provisions of Art. 11 KCPC.
Article 27 (Enforcement Judgment)(1) An enforcement judgment shall be made without making any examination as to whether the decision
is right or wrong.
(2) A lawsuit seeking an enforcement shall be dismissed if it falls under any of the following subparagraphs:(2) A lawsuit seeking a judgment of execution shall bedismissed if it falls under any of the following subpa
ragraphs:

1. When it has not been proved that the decision of a foreign court has become final and conclusive; and1. When it has not been proved that the judgment of aforeign court has become final and conclusive; and2. When the foreign decision fails to fulfill the conditions under art. 217 KCPC

2. When the foreign judgment fails to fulfill the conditio
ns under Art. 217 KCPC.

KOBE SALAD 2014 (Prof. Dr. HAN from Korea)

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Principles
1. Automatic recognition of foreign court decisions with res
judicata effect(Art. 217 KCPC)
2. Exequatur process for enforcement of foreign court decisions in Korea(Art. 26 KCEC)
3. Prohibition of “Révision au fond” (Art. 27 para. 1 KCEC)KOBE SALAD 2014 (Prof. Dr. HAN from Korea)

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Recognition Prerequisites (Art. 217 & 217-2 KCPC)

Court Decisions(including judgment/ court order/ disposition) with res adju
dicata effect: Art. 217 para. 1
Mirror Image Principle : Art. 217 para. 1 sub para. 1
Opportunity for defense (Defects in service of process) : Art. 217 para. 1 sub para. 2

Public Policy : Art. 217 para. 1 sub para. 3
Reciprocity : Art. 217 para. 1 sub para. 4

KOBE SALAD 2014 (Prof. Dr. HAN fromKorea)

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2014/08/☞ Art. 217-2 intended function is against punitive damage and class action judgments☞ FTA with US, EU already and with China in the near future? / Trans –Pacific P
artnership ?
☞ increasing fear for American opt-out class action, punitive damage judgment and anti suit injunction etc. because securities class action has been used even in
restricted area and triple damage system also became effective in these days inKorea(Korea is not far from American unique devices).

KOBE SALAD 2014 (Prof. Dr. HANfrom Korea)

11☞ Collective Redress in Korea-Securities Class Action Code from 2005 (opt-out method)
Consumers Rights Code : Consumer Association Action in consumer related case (Verbands Klage)
Internet-Mobile Joint Action(now most popular device among Korean)☞ Demanding opt-out class action in Korea and EU countries especially from consumer/ environment fields (vs. business association and institution)-This means mandatory or compulsory recognition of American opt out class action judgment or settlement protocol?

-Social demand for CA and PD but worry about American judgment and settlement with CA and PD☞ Enforceability of US Class Action/ US Class Arbitration in Korea-US court opinion for civil litigation (In re Vivendi Case in the US Federal Court)-

US court opinion for class-wide arbitration (Green tree case etc.)☞ Detour Redress through American Class Action-

Some Korean could have joined in Class Action in Canada as sub-class for foreign victims (Airia Brands Inc v. Air Can
anda case Ontrario Superior court of Justice, Judgment Oct. 26, 2011 ---not realized)-Canadian plaintiffs counsel recruited positively victims as for class member in Korea, Japan.
(but not realized for two reasons/ Air cargo owner is weaker party
and there is no likelihood of recognition for Canadian class action)

KOBE SALAD 2014 (Prof. Dr. HAN from Korea)

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Recognition Likelihood Analysis :US & Canadian court trend☞ Morrison case[130 S. Ct 2869 (2010)] US Supreme Court is a significant securities litig
ation decision with important implications for the extraterritorial effect of American law but did not address an increasingly pressing question that affects all transnational class actions: When, if ever, should foreign citizens be included as members of American class acti
ons?
☞ In re Vivendi case plaintiffs moved to certify class, in § 10(b) securities fraud case against
French corporation.
☞ The question is not a new one. Judge Henry J. Friendly first raised it thirty-five years a
go in Bersch v. Drexel Firestone, Inc☞ Conclusion : When foreign citizens hail from a country that is unlikely to recognize an Am
erican class judgment or settlement, courts should exclude them from an American classaction.
-class action was superior method of litigation management for French, English and Dutch shareholders, but not superior method of litigation management for German and Au
strian shareholders.

KOBE SALAD 2014 (Prof. Dr. HAN from Korea)

13☞ Demanding Punitive damage system in Korea-unsuccessful and incomplete official control over global mega company such as Sam
sung and LG etc.
from public enforcement to private enforcement
Towards pure punitive damage?

☞ triple damage clause appears in Korean CodeArt. 35 para. 2 ENFORCEMENT DECREE OF THE FAIR TRANSACTIONS IN SUBCONTRACTING CodeIf any person suffers damages since a principal contractor abuses the acquired technical data in violation of Article 1
2-3 (3), the principal contractor shall be liable to compensate for such damages to the extent not exceeding three tim
es the damages sustained by the person: Provided, That this shall not apply where the principal contractor proves that he/she has no intention of or has not been negligent in causing such damages.

☞ Triple damage clause in Korean code means mandatory or compulsory recognition of American
judgment with punitive damage decision?

KOBE SALAD 2014 (Prof. Dr. HAN from Korea)

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Not Punitive Damage case but diminish the amount of American judgment

Seoul Eastern District Court Decision 93kahap19069 delivered on Feb. 10. 1995
1)

The Default judgment in the amount of US $ 500,000 for damages was rendered in Minnesota state co
urt for plaintiff(Korean woman who was raped by Korean defendant)

2)

Seoul Eastern District Court concluded that this judgment did not include punitive damages either in the procedures or the text itself of the judgment, but it ruled that the compensatory portion noticeably exceeding the amount that would be acceptable in Korea should not be executed because recognizing the portion would violate the public policy of Korea.

3)and “… as punitive damages have the nature of criminal penalty, they are not accepted in Korea’s current civil law system which permits only compensatory damages for tort and therefore they may violate s
ubstantive public order of Korea …”

the District Court allowed only US $ 250,000 to be executed for the victim.
--this case went up to Korean Supreme Court 96Da47517 Decision Delivered on Sep. 9. 1997(But lawyers did not raise any argument about punitive damage)

KOBE SALAD 2014 (Prof. Dr. HAN from Korea)

15☞ Provisional and Protective Measures-Revised Art. 217 KCPC (from judgment to all decisions)This means Provisional and Protective Measures also could be recognized in Korean Court?
Opinions are split among academics☞ ECJ decision : provisional measures out of ex parte procedure should be excluded (Case125/ 79 Denilauler v. Couchet Frères)☞ opinion-Revised Art. 217 KCPC do not aim at improvement of Provisional and Protective Measures
Provisional and Protective Measures with inter parte process should be recognized and enforced
Provisional and Protective Measures with ex parte process could be recognized and enfor
ced in exceptional and urgent circumstances16

KOBE SALAD 2014 (Prof. Dr. HAN fromKorea)

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2014/08/☞ Acute Demanding Private Enforcement Devices in Korea☞ American opt-out or modified opt-out class action and triple damage system(specifically restricted amount) could be introduced to wide area in Korean society.
☞ US class action judgment or settlement and pure punitive damage judgment(without any ceiling amount) which contain excessive amount for damage claim than we could expect usually in Korea could not be recognized or enforced according to public policy requirement.
☞ New KCPC 217-2 could not be helpful for function of public policy clause

KOBE SALAD 2014 (Prof. Dr. HANfrom Korea)

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Thank you for Listening!!

KOBE SALAD 2014 (Prof. Dr. HAN from Korea)

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