Recent Reform in Korean Legal Education

Abstract

Following many years of attempts to fundamentally change the legal education scheme in Korea, a graduate-level law school system was finally introduced in 2009. This comprehensive yet controversial educational reform has brought about tremendous changes to legal education as well as to many aspects of the Korean legal system. Such legal education reform that is currently ongoing will shape the future of the Korean legal system. Along this line, this article portrays detailed features of the recent reform in Korean legal education and illustrates salient changes that were brought about as a result of the reform. Further, this article proposes a way forward as follows. Concerted efforts among all the stakeholders should be made to form a more solid consensus on the specific mission of a law school, while improving the quality of education should be the focal interest above all. In doing so, legal professions should collaborate with law schools for better education. The government should not only be a strict regulator but also a passionate supporter of the new system. Whether or not this reform has succeeded is too early to tell and remains an open question. The virtues we need now are hope for a better legal education system, diligence in the reform efforts, and patience before challenges.