Background
Our client asked Mr. B to buy a commercial license plate for a tow truck. In Korea, a tow truck needs a commercial plate to operate for hire, and our client entrusted Mr. B with obtaining one.
Our client paid Mr. B a total of KRW 20 million: KRW 5 million in October 2021 and KRW 15 million in November 2021. Mr. B failed to obtain the plate and agreed to return the KRW 20 million, but the money never came back.
What Was at Stake
The questions were why the purchase had failed and whether Mr. B had promised to return the money. Clear evidence of the payment dates and amounts and of the promise to refund was needed for a judgment ordering repayment.
How Changchun Helped
Changchun sued for KRW 20 million plus delay interest based on the two payments and Mr. B's promise to repay. The court accepted the plaintiff's position that the client had paid KRW 20 million for the plate purchase and that Mr. B, having failed to buy the plate, had agreed to return it.
Outcome
In September 2025, the first-instance court ordered Mr. B to pay KRW 20 million plus 12% annual delay interest from June 26, 2025 until payment. Mr. B was also ordered to bear the litigation costs, and the judgment was made provisionally enforceable.
When paying someone to carry out a task, keeping transfer records and securing a clear promise of refund if the task fails provides the basis for recovery. (Outcomes depend on the facts of each case.)