The advanced public interest activities and expertise of the Korean legal community have found new expression in Mongolia. The law firm Jipyung announced on August 4 that the Mongolian Bar Association, led by President Munkhbat Munkhdorjiin, held an opening ceremony for its 'Pro Bono Support Center' in Ulaanbaatar on July 31, marking the start of its operations.
The support center was established with the assistance of three major Korean law firms: DL Law Group, Jipyung, and Taepyeongyang. This initiative is being recognized as a significant first step in spreading the so-called 'K-Pro Bono' model developed in Korea to international contexts.
The opening ceremony commenced with a speech from President Munkhbat Munkhdorjiin, setting a lively tone for the event. Notable attendees included Khurelbaatar Baasanjargal, a member of the National Assembly and a human rights lawyer, and Gerel Dondovdorj, a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, who congratulated the center's launch.
Korean representatives also expressed their hopes for ongoing collaboration and the expansion of public interest legal culture between the two countries. Jipyung's Managing Partner, Im Seong-taek, emphasized the social responsibility of lawyers and the importance of public interest activities, stating, "I congratulate the Mongolian legal community on taking meaningful steps to protect the rights of the socially vulnerable. I hope that Korea's experience will be a practical help in developing Mongolia's pro bono culture."
DL Law Group's attorney Kim Yong-hyuk remarked, "As the saying goes, 'If you want to go far, go together,' I hope the opening of this center will be a starting point for the legal communities of Korea and Mongolia to grow together."
The second part of the ceremony featured a session sharing Korea's pro bono system and specific case studies. Attorney Kim Young-soo, from Jipyung's Public Interest Committee, presented exemplary cases from Jipyung and the public interest law organization Duru, demonstrating various ways to address social issues by leveraging the expertise and resources of law firms.
Following this, attorney Yeom Hyung-guk, head of DL Law Group's Public Interest and Human Rights Center and chair of the Human Rights Committee of the Seoul Bar Association, delivered a presentation on 'The Current State of Pro Bono in Korea and the Role of the Legal Community.' He highlighted the recent 'Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge' held in Korea, stressing the importance of establishing public interest activities as a customary culture within the legal community, beyond individual goodwill.
Odonjav Tsendjav, appointed as the first director of the Pro Bono Support Center by the Mongolian Bar Association, announced future operational plans and requested ongoing exchanges and cooperation with the Korean side. He expressed his aspiration to actively share the rich experiences, know-how, and knowledge of the Korean legal community.
The Mongolian Pro Bono Support Center has identified three core areas of focus: children's rights, disability rights, and social welfare. It has designated dedicated attorneys for each area. The center plans to expand its activities beyond simple legal consultations and litigation support to include legislative improvements and policy proposals aimed at protecting the rights of the socially vulnerable, based on the expertise of the legal community.
Managing Partner Im Seong-taek remarked, "The establishment of this support center is significant not only as a one-way transfer of Korea's advanced pro bono experience but also as a process of creating a new public interest legal model together with the Mongolian legal community. I hope that the continued collaboration between Korean and Mongolian lawyers will contribute to the protection of the socially vulnerable and the development of the rule of law."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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