Court Costs Calculator
Calculates the money you pay to the court when you start a lawsuit (the stamp fee and service fees). You can choose a civil lawsuit, a payment order, conciliation, or a family case such as divorce.
A first-instance case with an amount in dispute of KRW 30,000,000 or less is treated as a small claims case when calculating service fees.
For a money claim, the amount in dispute is usually the principal you are claiming. Do not include interest or damages for late payment.
Civil small claims case, first instance · Costs to pay first
KRW 238,800
| Step | Formula | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| First-instance stamp fee (paper filing basis) | 30,000,000 × 45/10,000 + 5,000 (rounded down to the nearest KRW 100) | KRW 140,000 |
| E-litigation discount (10%) | 140,000 × 0.9 (rounded down to the nearest KRW 100) | KRW 126,000 |
| Service fee deposit | KRW 5,640 × 2 parties × 10 services | KRW 112,800 |
| Total | KRW 238,800 |
The stamp fee is the fee attached to a complaint or application. The service fee is postage paid in advance so that the court can send documents (KRW 5,640 per service). Any service fee left over is returned when the case ends. The amount can differ if you file several claims together or there are many opposing parties, and the actual amount is set by the court where you file.
Frequently asked questions
- How is the court stamp fee calculated?
- The first-instance stamp fee is 0.5% of the amount in dispute if it is under KRW 10 million, 0.45% + KRW 5,000 if under KRW 100 million, 0.4% + KRW 55,000 if under KRW 1 billion, and 0.35% + KRW 555,000 if KRW 1 billion or more, with amounts under KRW 100 dropped (Act on Stamps Attached for Civil Litigation, Etc., Article 2). Filing by e-litigation reduces the stamp fee by 10%.
- How much is the stamp fee for an appeal or a final appeal?
- An appeal costs 1.5 times the first-instance stamp fee and a final appeal 2 times, less 10% for e-litigation. An application for a payment order or for civil conciliation costs 1/10 of the rate for a complaint.
- How much service fee is paid in advance?
- The service fee is postage paid in advance so that the court can send documents: KRW 5,640 per service (from July 1, 2026) multiplied by a number of services set for each type of case and by the number of parties. A civil first-instance case uses 10 services if it is a small claims case (amount in dispute of KRW 30 million or less) and 15 otherwise, an appeal 12 and a final appeal 8. Any service fee left over is returned when the case ends.
- How much is the stamp fee for a divorce lawsuit?
- Family litigation in which the claim is not measured by an amount of money, such as a judicial divorce (Class A/B), has a fixed stamp fee of KRW 20,000 (paper filing basis), with 10% off for e-litigation. Family litigation claiming money, such as damages for emotional distress caused by a divorce (Class C), is charged at half the civil rate. The amount can differ if you file several claims together, and lawyer's fees and appraisal costs are not included.
This is a reference amount that covers only the costs you first pay to the court. It does not include lawyer's fees, appraisal fees or witness costs, and the amount changes if claims are combined or changed. The actual amount is set by the court where you file, so talk to a lawyer before filing a lawsuit.
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