Background
Our client believed a proposal that "if you invest KRW 300 million in building a villa, you will receive KRW 500 million as your return once the units are sold," and invested KRW 300 million. The building was completed and most units sold, but not a won of the promised return ever arrived.
What Was at Stake
Investment and return promises made orally are hard to prove once the other side denies ever making them. The key was to prove that the counterparty had clearly promised to pay the return.
How Changchun Helped
Acting for our client, Changchun proved in concrete terms that the counterparty had given an assurance that "we will lease only some of the units and pay the KRW 500 million first," among other undertakings.
The court accepted Changchun's arguments and gave judgment in full, and our client recovered the investment and return that were nearly lost. In disputes over investment promises, the case turned on "proving the assurance was given." (Outcomes depend on the facts of each case and may differ.)