Disputes involving religious organizations represent a highly specialized area of practice in which matters of faith, organizational structure, property, and community identity are intricately intertwined. There is a clear and growing tendency for conflicts over leadership and operational authority to escalate into complex, multi-front disputes spanning civil, criminal, and administrative proceedings, making a thorough understanding of internal governance instruments such as denominational constitutions and bylaws indispensable.

Lee & Ko's Religious Conflict Resolution Practice is composed of practitioners who have successfully handled disputes involving major religious organizations in Korea across the full range of civil, criminal, and administrative proceedings. Our team focuses on effectively conveying to the courts the normative frameworks and operational structures unique to religious organizations — with the aim not merely of prevailing in individual cases, but of achieving substantive resolutions that enable our clients to continue their core mission in its entirety.

Religious disputes unfold simultaneously across multiple fronts: from internal disciplinary proceedings, to civil litigation over corporate operational control and property rights, to responses to investigations and regulatory actions by supervisory authorities. From the earliest stages of a dispute, our team accurately identifies the core issues at stake and designs an integrated strategy — coordinating injunctive relief, merits litigation, criminal, and administrative proceedings in a coherent and mutually reinforcing manner — so as to achieve both early resolution and lasting legal stability at once. Grounded in close collaboration with specialists across nonprofit organizations, tax, employment, and real estate, we provide a one-stop service that delivers integrated solutions to complex disputes.

The resolution of disputes involving religious organizations is a matter that bears directly on the survival and continuity of the community and its values. Lee & Ko's Religious Conflict Resolution Practice pledges to stand alongside our clients — not only to achieve sound legal outcomes, but to support the restoration of the community and the establishment of a sustainable operational foundation through the resolution of each dispute.

Expertise

1. Disputes Concerning Religious Organization Governance and Autonomy

The interpretation of denominational constitutions and the conduct of internal decision-making processes interface closely with state law, demanding a high level of specialized expertise. Drawing on a substantial record of successful outcomes in disputes that bear directly on the institutional survival of religious communities, our team formulates strategies from the outset of each matter that give balanced consideration to both the religious particularities of the situation and the applicable legal principles — protecting our clients' rights and their religious autonomy.

Disputes arising from changes in denominational affiliation or withdrawal, and disputes concerning intra-denominational status
Actions to confirm senior pastor (representative) status and applications for injunctions suspending the exercise of duties/li>
Civil litigation concerning the disposition and management of property held in common by churches and religious organizations/li>
Challenges to the validity of internal disciplinary measures (removal from office, excommunication, etc.) and advisory services on disciplinary procedures/li>

2. Advisory Services for Nonprofit Entities and Affiliated Institutions of Religious Organizations

Nonprofit entities established and operated by religious organizations — including hospitals, educational institutions, and social welfare facilities — exist within a complex regulatory environment that requires simultaneous compliance with applicable law and the religious founding principles of the organization. Our team provides one-stop legal solutions covering all aspects of nonprofit entity operations, from board composition through to responses to administrative dispositions.

Advisory services on board composition, operations, and governance structure for school juridical persons, medical juridical persons, and social welfare juridical persons
Representation in employment and labor disputes and administrative litigation involving affiliated institutions
Licensing and regulatory advisory services regarding the conversion of contributed assets into foundational property and the disposition thereof

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Major Cases

Representation in proceedings to confirm senior pastor status and applications for injunctions suspending the exercise of duties, involving major Baptist and Presbyterian denominations
Representation in civil litigation — including actions to confirm affiliated-institution status — involving hospitals and social welfare facilities under major Presbyterian denominations
Representation in actions to confirm the non-existence of director status and applications for injunctions suspending the exercise of duties, involving a religious organization's endowment foundation
Representation in litigation seeking to void the appointment of directors of a nonprofit entity in connection with disputes over the operational control of a hospital affiliated with a religious organization
Legal advisory services regarding amendments to the articles of incorporation and disposition of foundational property of a school juridical person established by a religious foundation
Representation in actions to confirm the invalidity of election results and related injunction proceedings arising from violations of intra-denominational electoral procedures
Litigation involving the eviction and recovery of possession of real property owned by a religious organization
Comprehensive advisory services regarding the dissolution of a nonprofit religious association and the procedures for disposition of its residual assets

Selected Clients
Our Religious Conflict Resolution Practice has advised and represented a broad range of prominent religious organizations and institutions in Korea, including:

The Presbyterian Church of Korea (Tonghap)
The Korean Presbyterian Church (Hapdong)
The Presbyterian Church in Korea (Gaehyeok)
The Korea Baptist Convention
The Korea Christian Military Mission
The National Association of Women's Missionary Societies
The National Association of Men's Missionary Societies
The Seoul Presbytery Endowment Foundation of the Presbyterian Church of Korea
Saemoonan Church
Myungsung Church
Dorim Church
Yonsei Central Church
Far East Broadcasting Company Korea (FEBC Korea)
C Channel

Key Contacts

Financial Disputes Administrative Litigation Capital Market Disputes Hostile Takeovers · Defense Construction Litigation Criminal Defense (Litigation) North Korea · Unification Laws Religious Conflict Resolution Practice Litigation · Mediation · Advisory

Hyung Sub LIM

Partner

T +82-2-772-4403

E hyungsub.lim@leeko.com

Administrative Litigation Corporate Construction Litigation Criminal Defense (Litigation) Criminal Defense (Investigations) Product Liability Tech & AI Religious Conflict Resolution Practice Litigation · Mediation · Advisory

Kwangchul CHIN

Partner

T +82-2-6386-7950

E kwangchul.chin@leeko.com

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