Journalist

Kwon Kyu-hong
  • Korean Bar Association Urges Government to Cap Bar Exam Passers at 1,500 or Fewer
    Korean Bar Association Urges Government to Cap Bar Exam Passers at 1,500 or Fewer With the announcement of results for the 15th bar exam approaching, lawyer groups held a rally urging the government to cut the number of successful applicants. On the 23rd, the Korean Bar Association and the Seoul Bar Association rallied outside the government complex in Gwacheon, where the Ministry of Justice is located, calling for a reduction in the number of bar exam passers. In opening remarks, Korean Bar Association President Kim Jeong-uk said the 15th bar exam pass list would be released soon, but criticized what he called the government’s “irresponsibility” in deciding how many will pass. Kim said the government had broken a promise made when law schools were introduced to gradually reduce or consolidate adjacent licensed professions whose work overlaps with lawyers. Instead, he said, the government has kept a selection system that produces large numbers of both lawyers and lawyer-like professions at the same time. He said the number of lawyers, about 10,000 when law schools were introduced, is now nearing 40,000, rising at a pace he described as unprecedented globally. He added that, compared with major countries, South Korea has the largest number of lawyer-like professions operating in the market, intensifying competition in a legal market with limited demand. Kim said the influx of new lawyers has far exceeded the market’s capacity, leaving many unable to uphold their professional mission and struggling simply to survive. He urged the Justice Ministry to set this year’s number of successful applicants at 1,500 or fewer. The Korean Bar Association previously held a news conference outside the Gwacheon complex on the 6th, also calling for fewer lawyers. According to the association, the median income in the legal market has fallen to 30 million won a year or less. It said the number of people in lawyer-like professions, including judicial scriveners and tax accountants, totals about 600,000 — about three times Japan’s level on a per-capita basis. The association said the situation has fueled overheated advertising competition and lower legal fees, which it said has led to side effects including poor-quality representation and more disciplinary cases, as the profession becomes oversupplied. The Justice Ministry is set to announce the 15th bar exam pass list on the 24th, legal circles said. Last year, 1,744 people passed out of 3,336 test-takers, for a 52.28% pass rate. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 14:43:32
  • Prosecutors Dismiss Complaint Against Choi Sang-mok Over Constitutional Court Appointments
    Prosecutors Dismiss Complaint Against Choi Sang-mok Over Constitutional Court Appointments Prosecutors have dismissed a complaint accusing Choi Sang-mok, who served as acting president during the Dec. 3 martial law crisis, of abuse of power for appointing Constitutional Court justices. According to legal officials on Wednesday, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office’s Criminal Division 1, led by Chief Prosecutor Shin Do-wook, dismissed the case on April 13. A dismissal means the complaint did not meet procedural requirements and was closed without reviewing the merits. Prosecutors said appointing Constitutional Court justices is not subject to Cabinet deliberation and that Choi, as acting president, exercised lawful authority in carrying out a constitutional duty. After then-President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, the National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against him on Dec. 14, suspending his duties. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo became acting president. When Han held off on appointing Constitutional Court nominees, the Assembly impeached him as well, and Choi assumed the acting presidency. Unlike Han, Choi appointed two nominees, Jeong Gye-seon and Cho Han-chang. The conservative group Jayu Daehan Hogukdan filed the complaint in January last year, arguing the appointment process was flawed. Prosecutors also dismissed two other complaints filed alongside Choi’s case: one accusing Woo Jong-soo, former head of the National Police Agency’s National Investigation Headquarters, of disclosing facts under investigation, and another accusing Kim Myeong-seok, a former senior prosecutor at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, of defamation through publications. Woo was reported for remarks during an emergency hearing of the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee in December 2024, when he said notes in a notebook linked to former intelligence commander Noh Sang-won “match the facts.” Kim was sued by Yeo Woon-kuk, former deputy chief of the anti-corruption office, on suspicion of defamation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 10:41:00
  • Barun Law Firm, KMAC sign MOU on energy and infrastructure advisory work
    Barun Law Firm, KMAC sign MOU on energy and infrastructure advisory work Barun Law LLC said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Korea Management Association Consulting, or KMAC, on April 22 to cooperate on advisory work in the energy and infrastructure sector. Barun is led by managing partners Lee Dong-hoon, Lee Young-hee and Kim Do-hyeong. KMAC is led by CEO Han Su-hee. The agreement comes as major tasks in the sector — including functional restructuring of the five power generation companies, rail-sector restructuring, responses to rules affecting nuclear power and renewable energy, and overseas expansion of energy and infrastructure projects — increasingly require combined legal and institutional reviews alongside management strategy, organizational operations and financial feasibility assessments. The two organizations said they aim to combine Barun’s legal expertise in energy and infrastructure with KMAC’s management consulting capabilities to provide integrated solutions for complex assignments that are difficult for a single institution to handle alone. KMAC said it participates in designing energy policy, including carbon neutrality, hydrogen energy, power generation and nuclear power, and provides consulting across national infrastructure such as transportation, aviation, ports and smart cities. Barun said it has advised across the sector, from conventional generation such as gas combined-cycle, cogeneration, nuclear and hydropower to renewables including solar, wind, BESS (battery energy storage systems) and clean hydrogen. It also cited experience in public-private partnership projects involving roads, railways and airports, as well as overseas energy and infrastructure investment and development projects (IPP). The firm said its work spans the full project life cycle, from contract structuring at procurement and bidding to regulatory responses during execution and litigation or arbitration when disputes arise. Under the MOU, the two sides plan cooperation in four areas: jointly identifying new business opportunities and joining consortia; building a business model for integrated strategy, organizational and legal advisory services; cross-selling to existing clients; and holding joint seminars and forums on energy and infrastructure issues and publishing policy reports. Lee said regulatory compliance and the predictability of legal risks are key factors that can determine success or failure in energy and infrastructure projects. He said Barun will combine its advisory experience in renewables, PPPs and overseas projects with KMAC’s strategic consulting to help clients manage complex risks in advance and support new business opportunities. Han said clients in a rapidly changing energy industry want comprehensive solutions that integrate management strategy with legal risk management, rather than fragmented advice. He said KMAC’s industry expertise and Barun’s legal capabilities will be combined to set a new business standard for the energy and infrastructure market. Barun said it plans to further strengthen its integrated advisory system through close cooperation with KMAC and provide more specialized, practical services to a range of clients, including public and private project owners as well as investors and project developers. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:16:08
  • Seoul appeals court rejects Joo Ho-young bid to halt PPP Daegu mayor primary cutoff
    Seoul appeals court rejects Joo Ho-young bid to halt PPP Daegu mayor primary cutoff Rep. Joo Ho-young, who was cut from the People Power Party’s primary for Daegu mayor ahead of the June 3 local elections, failed again to win a court order suspending the party’s decision. On the 22nd, the Seoul High Court’s Civil Division 25-1 rejected Joo’s appeal of a lower-court ruling that denied his request for an injunction to halt the effect of the party’s cutoff decision. The panel, led by Presiding Judges Lee Kyun-yong, Hwang Byung-ha and Han Chang-hoon, appeared to agree with the lower court that there was no serious defect in the nomination review process warranting judicial intervention. The party’s nomination management committee had previously decided to cut Joo, a six-term senior lawmaker, and Lee Jin-sook, a former chair of the Korea Communications Commission, and to hold a preliminary primary among the remaining six candidates. Joo filed for an injunction at the Seoul Southern District Court, calling the decision unfair and in violation of party rules, but the court rejected the request on the 3rd. In that ruling, the court said the submitted materials did not make it clear that the party’s screening had “markedly lost objective rationality” or involved a serious illegality such as a procedural violation. Joo filed his appeal with the Seoul High Court on the 8th. With the high court also siding with the party, the Daegu mayoral race is expected to shift. Joo has said he would “keep all options open and watch carefully,” signaling he could run as an independent if his injunction bid was rejected. If Joo runs as an independent, he would face Democratic Party candidate Kim Boo-kyum, the People Power Party nominee still to be chosen between Choo Kyung-ho and Yoo Young-ha, Lee—who is also weighing an independent run—and Lee Soo-chan, head of the Daegu chapter of the Reform Party. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 18:31:09
  • South Korea Justice Ministry, Seoul National University Hold Forum on 2030 Immigration Strategy
    South Korea Justice Ministry, Seoul National University Hold Forum on 2030 Immigration Strategy South Korea’s Justice Ministry said it is shifting immigration policy away from a focus on low-skilled, low-wage labor and toward a national strategy to attract talent, as the country confronts a low birthrate and an aging population. The ministry said it held a joint forum with Seoul National University on Tuesday at the university’s Graduate School of Public Administration to discuss a “2030 immigration policy future strategy.” The event was designed to map out practical steps to carry out the strategy announced in March, covering the full process from bringing in highly skilled foreign workers to helping them settle and supporting social integration. Participants discussed four main topics: scientifically designing the scale of foreign inflows and wage standards; visa policy directions to secure overseas talent; upgrading social integration policy; and establishing a dedicated organization and infrastructure for immigration and border policy. The ministry said discussions centered on moving beyond simply filling labor shortages by using data to plan admissions more precisely and building an organizational foundation to help newcomers become part of Korean society. Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho said the forum would serve as “a foundation for South Korea’s future” in immigration and border policy. He said advancing the strategy would contribute to the economy and produce changes the public can feel. The ministry said it will continue pursuing immigration policies that support economic activity and regional development while balancing social integration with protection of foreigners’ human rights.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 16:18:44
  • Prosecutors Indict Park Wang-yeol, Alleged Philippines-Based Drug Kingpin, on Meth Smuggling Charges
    Prosecutors Indict Park Wang-yeol, Alleged Philippines-Based Drug Kingpin, on Meth Smuggling Charges Prosecutors have indicted Park Wang-yeol, who is accused of smuggling and distributing drugs worth about 13 billion won ($13 billion won) into South Korea from a Philippine prison. The Suwon District Prosecutors Office’s government joint investigation unit on drug crimes said Tuesday it indicted Park in custody on charges including violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (psychotropic drugs). Investigators said Park imported 317 grams of methamphetamine in four shipments from the Philippines and Mexico in 2020. They said that in June 2024 he conspired with his nephew, identified only as A and nicknamed “white-bearded whale,” to smuggle about 1,482.7 grams of methamphetamine from the Philippines into South Korea. The unit also said it found evidence Park smuggled 3,079 grams of methamphetamine from South Africa. Prosecutors said Park used so-called “drop” deliveries in South Korea, hiding drugs at set locations and sending buyers coordinates to avoid detection. They said he maintained bases in major cities including Seoul, Busan and Daegu to manage the drugs. They also said they identified allegations that he received, through intermediaries, 1,575 ecstasy pills and quantities of cocaine and synthetic cannabis that had been hidden in areas including Incheon. The joint unit said an on-site investigation in the Philippines found indications Park’s group used mobile phones freely inside a detention facility and directed associates in South Korea. It said it secured five mobile phones used by the group and confirmed indications they generated tens of billions of won in criminal proceeds while operating from the facility. Prosecutors said they plan additional indictments, in consultation with the Philippine government, over remaining allegations including suspected stockpiles prepared for smuggling. They also said they will work with a special task force on transnational crime to bring A and three alleged distribution ringleaders back to South Korea, and will launch an asset recovery team led by a senior police officer to track down and seize hidden proceeds.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 16:12:18
  • Seoul High Court vows swift handling of Yoon insurrection appeal amid delays
    Seoul High Court vows swift handling of Yoon insurrection appeal amid delays The Seoul High Court on Tuesday addressed criticism over delays in scheduling hearings in the appeal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is charged as the ringleader of an insurrection. At a press briefing at the court in Seoul, spokesperson Yu Jemin said that under the special counsel law on insurrection, the deadline to submit an appellate brief in cases indicted by a special prosecutor has been shortened to seven days from 20. Yu said rules requiring a sentencing date do not apply, but procedures under a special act still do. With multiple defendants and mandatory service of documents on defense lawyers, he said, the scheduling may appear slow because the court must follow legal steps to protect defendants’ rights. He added that the panel has been moving as quickly as possible, including preparing proof plans before deadlines expire. Yoon’s case has drawn public criticism because no first hearing had been set even after the first trial verdict was delivered Feb. 19. The Seoul High Court issued its first public explanation on the matter Tuesday. The appeal is being handled by the Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 12-1. In materials separately released by the court, it said pretrial hearings will run from April 27 through May 7, with trial dates to be set from May 14. Yu also outlined operations and administrative support for the court’s “insurrection-dedicated panel,” established Feb. 23. The court said it is concentrating its resources to process special counsel and insurrection-related cases quickly and fairly. The dedicated panel is based on the “Special Act on the Trial of Criminal Cases, Including Insurrection and Foreign Aggression Cases,” promulgated in January 2016. Under the law, the Seoul High Court must operate at least two dedicated panels, with members selected after deliberation by the full judges’ meeting. The court said it held multiple full judges’ meetings after the law took effect to set selection principles and adopted random draws to ensure transparency. The Seoul High Court said it expanded its criminal trial divisions to 16 from 14 and designated the two newly added divisions as insurrection-dedicated panels to handle only those cases, aiming to prevent delays in ordinary criminal trials. Four cases have been assigned to the dedicated panels and are under review, the court said, adding that not every case investigated by a special prosecutor is automatically sent to those panels. To improve efficiency, the court said it has provided unusual levels of administrative support. It doubled staffing compared with ordinary panels and assigned four court reporters to each dedicated panel, compared with fewer than one per panel in typical cases. It also said it deploys four to six court security officers on major hearing days and has added another courtroom equipped for overflow viewing. The court said it upgraded West Annex Courtroom 103 to enable relay viewing to meet the public’s right to know. The court said it livestreams major proceedings on YouTube and has added on-screen captions to guide viewers through steps such as defendant questioning, witness examination and closing arguments. On how much of the appeal ruling will be released, Yu said the court is conducting a comprehensive review balancing anonymization guidelines and the public’s right to know. The court said verdicts in major special counsel cases will be concentrated starting next week, beginning with a ruling related to first lady Kim Keon Hee on April 27. A Seoul High Court official said operation of the dedicated panels will not delay other criminal cases and that the court will mobilize its administrative capacity to deliver fair and swift results. 2026-04-22 12:45:22
  • Police Seek Arrest Warrant on Murder Charge in Cargo Truckers Union Death
    Police Seek Arrest Warrant on Murder Charge in Cargo Truckers Union Death Police have launched a full investigation into a fatal incident at a rally by the Cargo Truckers Solidarity Division of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ Public Transport Workers’ Union. South Gyeongsang Provincial Police said Tuesday that its major crimes unit applied for an arrest warrant for a nonunion man in his 40s, identified as A, on suspicion of murder after he drove a cargo truck into the crowd during a rally on April 20 in front of the CU Jinju Logistics Center (BGF Logistics Jinju Center) in Jinju’s Jeongchon-myeon. Police said one union member died and two others were injured. A was initially arrested on an emergency basis on suspicion of aggravated assault. Police later applied the murder charge after concluding there was implied intent, according to the report. Investigators reviewed video from the scene and analyzed the truck’s digital tachograph (DTG) data, it said. In questioning, A was quoted as saying the scene was chaotic and he drove to get out quickly, and that he did not intend to injure anyone. Police also applied for arrest warrants for two union members, identified as B, in his 60s, and C, in his 50s, on suspicion of offenses including obstructing official duties with violence. B is accused of driving a van during the rally and injuring some police officers. C is accused of using a weapon at the same rally site on April 19 to attempt self-harm or of threatening police by saying he would harm unspecified people.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 12:18:17
  • Shin & Kim Adds Former Navy Chief of Staff Kim Jeong-su as Adviser to Boost Defense Practice
    Shin & Kim Adds Former Navy Chief of Staff Kim Jeong-su as Adviser to Boost Defense Practice Shin & Kim LLC said on 22일 it has hired Kim Jeong-su, a former chief of staff of the Navy and retired four-star admiral, as an adviser. Kim, a 41st class graduate of the Korea Naval Academy, worked for about 35 years across the Navy, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Defense Ministry and the presidential office, holding key posts in policy, strategy, force development and operations, the firm said. He served as the 35th chief of staff of the Navy from 2021 to 2022, overseeing force planning and overall organizational management. His previous roles included commanding the 4,400-ton destroyer Gang Gam-chan (DDH-II), serving as director of the Defense Ministry’s barracks policy division, chief of staff to the Navy headquarters, head of the Joint Chiefs’ test and evaluation division, director general for planning and management at Navy headquarters, and vice chief of staff of the Navy. While serving as planning and management director general as a rear admiral, he helped advance major Navy force-building programs, including a mid-sized submarine, a next-generation frigate, a Korean-type destroyer and a light aircraft carrier, the firm said. Shin & Kim said Kim will join its defense and national security team, advising on defense and maritime policy, the defense industry, force development and responses to military-related issues. The firm said it expects him to help companies develop strategic responses to regulatory and policy risks amid a rapidly changing global security environment and expanding exports of South Korean defense products. Managing partner Oh Jong-han said Kim brings both insight and on-the-ground experience on major defense and security issues. Oh said the firm will provide “strategic and integrated solutions” as legal demand tied to the defense sector grows. Shin & Kim said its defense and national security team is led by attorney Kim Young-hoon, who previously served as the first head of the Air Force prosecution unit, and includes adviser Lee Jae-ik, a specialist in defense finance and procurement, and adviser Kang Jung-hee, a former director of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration’s aviation program division. The firm said the team also includes attorney Cho In-hyung, who worked more than 20 years at the Air Force and DAPA; attorney Shin Dong-wook, a former military prosecutor and judge who also served as legal chief at the Navy Operations Command; attorney Kim Seong-jin, who worked at the Defense Ministry, DAPA and the Navy Logistics Command; and senior specialists Shin Min-cheol, Kim Dong-hyun and Jang Seong-gi, all former military prosecution investigators. Shin & Kim said the group provides one-stop legal services across the defense industry and national security sector. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:34:00
  • Kim Dong-hwan Seeks Jury Trial in Killing of Airline Captain; First Hearing Set for May 19
    Kim Dong-hwan Seeks Jury Trial in Killing of Airline Captain; First Hearing Set for May 19 Kim Dong-hwan, who has been indicted in custody on charges of trying to kill co-workers at an airline and fatally stabbing one of them, has applied for a jury trial, legal officials said. According to the legal community on the 21st, Kim’s attorney submitted a written request and an opinion statement to the Busan District Court’s Criminal Division 7, headed by Presiding Judge Lim Ju-hyeok. The panel is reviewing whether to hold the case as a jury trial or to exclude it as inappropriate. South Korea introduced the jury trial system in 2008. Citizens age 20 and older may serve as jurors in criminal cases, delivering a verdict and discussing an appropriate sentence. The system applies to cases under a district court panel when a defendant requests it, and the jury’s decision is advisory. Kim was indicted on charges that he stabbed to death an airline captain, identified as A, at about 5:30 a.m. on March 17 at an apartment in Busan’s Busanjin district. Investigators said Kim had gone the day before to the home of another colleague, identified as B, an airline captain living in Goyang, Gyeonggi province, intending to kill him, but failed and fled. After that attempt, authorities said, Kim went to Changwon, South Gyeongsang province, and tried to kill another former co-worker, identified as C, but that attack also failed. Kim, a former Air Force intelligence officer, is believed to have targeted the victims because he thought they — fellow graduates of the Korea Air Force Academy — had organized efforts at work to undermine him or cause him harm. When he was transferred to prosecutors, Kim told reporters, “Vicious vested interests” had shown “hubris” by thinking they could ruin a person’s life, and that “nemesis” had struck. His request for a jury trial is seen as an effort to appeal to jurors that he was wronged. Kim is reported to have been assigned a court-appointed lawyer. His first hearing is scheduled for May 19. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 18:02:17