Ruling Party: "No Decision Yet on Transferring Lawyer Disciplinary Authority to Ministry of Justice... Deep Deliberation Underway"

Continued Meeting with Rotok Officials
Communicating with New Bar Association Leadership
"Must View from Consumer Perspective"

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The People Power Party's Regulatory Reform Promotion Team has begun preparing solutions to address regulations related to new growth industries such as legal service platforms, known as the so-called 'Rotok incident.' The promotion team plans to hold a meeting with the Korean Bar Association (KBA) following discussions with Rotok officials. Discussions are expected to continue regarding the transfer of disciplinary authority over lawyers from the KBA to the Ministry of Justice.

On the 18th, the Regulatory Reform Promotion Team held a 'Legal Tech Startup Regulatory Innovation Issue Meeting' to discuss matters related to the Rotok incident.

Rotok is a messenger-type application that allows legal consultations similar to the KakaoTalk messenger. The Rotok incident began when the KBA created regulations on lawyer advertisements that restricted lawyers' use of legal platforms. Although the Constitutional Court ruled some parts of the advertising regulations unconstitutional last year, the KBA maintains its stance to discipline Rotok members.

The meeting was attended by Policy Committee Chair Seong Il-jong, members of the Regulatory Reform Promotion Team, Jang Hye-jung, Team Leader of the Regulatory Innovation Planning Office at the Office for Government Policy Coordination, Park Yong-soon, Director of Startup Promotion Policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Kim Bon-hwan, CEO of Law&Company representing Rotok, and lawyers.

Seong Il-jong, Chairman of the Policy Committee of the People Power Party, is speaking at the 'Regulatory Reform Promotion Team Industrial Small and Medium Venture Subcommittee Current Issues Meeting' held at the National Assembly on the 18th. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Chair Seong said, "Regulatory reform is an essential task that must be renewed according to the evolving scientific civilization," adding, "Whenever reforms are pursued and new frameworks are adopted, there have always been opposing walls and difficulties from existing structures. Our party will lead the inevitable changes of the era."

Hong Seok-jun, head of the Regulatory Reform Promotion Team, stated, "We will discuss this issue proactively with the new KBA leadership," explaining, "We need to grow legal service platforms from three perspectives: enhancing public access to legal services, resolving litigation and trial delays, and improving global competitiveness."

Han Mu-gyeong, the secretary of the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee, said, "As various startups grow through the use of online platforms, conflicts with existing industries are arising," adding, "Until now, policies have been supplier-oriented, but now the policy direction must shift to consider what benefits consumers receive." She continued, "At today's meeting, we will listen to consumer perspectives and consider ways to coexist with existing industries."

The government also agreed to actively participate. Team Leader Jang said, "In the second half of last year, we received recommendations that improvements were needed on related matters and held a subcommittee meeting," adding, "Experts from the New Industry Regulatory Innovation Committee expressed that the regulatory improvement plans proposed by Rotok are necessary from the perspectives of consumer benefits and revitalizing competition in the legal service market."

Meanwhile, regarding reports that the Regulatory Reform Promotion Team is pushing for legal amendments to transfer disciplinary authority over lawyers from the KBA to the Ministry of Justice, Han Mu-gyeong's office denied, stating, "No decision has been made to propose a legal amendment," and added, "The People Power Party plans to conduct in-depth discussions on ways to coexist and cooperate with emerging startups while respecting existing associations."