[2024 LTAS] Legal Times Hosted 'Legal Tech AI Special Exhibition' Successfully Held

June 26-28 at COEX Hall A, Samseong-dong
James E. Baker, the leading US AI law authority, judge
Keynote speech by heads of AI policy for courts and prosecution

A special exhibition showcasing the present and future of legal tech and generative artificial intelligence (AI) was successfully held under the auspices of Legal Times.

On the 26th, the '2024 Legal Tech AI Special Exhibition (LTAS, Legal Tech & AI Show),' co-hosted by Legal Times and Messe Isang, took place at COEX Hall A on the first floor in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The exhibition runs for three days until the 28th.

On the morning of the 26th, Lee Soo-hyung, CEO of Legal Times, delivered the opening address at the opening ceremony of the "2024 Legal Tech AI Special Exhibition (LTAS, Legal Tech & AI Show)" held at Hall A on the 1st floor of COEX, Samseong-dong, Seoul. Photo by Choi Seok-jin

The exhibition featured keynote speeches and special lectures by AI policy leaders from the courts and prosecution, including Judge James E. Baker (Director of the U.S. Institute for Security Policy and Professor at Syracuse University College of Law), recognized as the top AI legal authority in the U.S. legal community; Kang Mingu, CEO of Law & Dooul Law Firm and former Chief Judge of the Seoul High Court, regarded as the leading AI authority within the judiciary; and Lee Munhan, Commissioner of the Personal Information Protection Commission.

Additionally, representatives and research directors from leading domestic legal tech companies such as Law&Company, Law&Good, Lawporm, LBox, Intellicon, Douzone Bizon, Hanbit Solutions, BHSN, and LexisNexis, among others, delivered lectures on various topics related to legal AI. An AI special pavilion within the venue provided booths where attendees could experience the latest products developed by these companies.

The opening ceremony held that morning was attended by numerous legal professionals, including Lee Gisu, President of the Korea Law Academy; Jung Gyesung, Managing Partner of Kim & Chang Law Office; Lim Gwanhyuk, Chief Prosecutor of Seoul High Prosecutors' Office; Heo Jeong, Head of the Scientific Investigation Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (Prosecutor General); and Choi Boyun, Member of the National Assembly from the People Power Party, who all celebrated the event together.

In his opening remarks, Lee Suhyung, CEO of Legal Times, stated, "People around us are using AI to write wedding speeches, and in the U.S., the market capitalization of Nvidia, a maker of AI chips, has surpassed Apple," adding, "This indicates that knowing and having interest in AI can open up significant investment opportunities."

In the subsequent congratulatory speech, Managing Partner Jung said, "The convergence of AI and law is bringing innovation to the legal industry, and technological innovation will play a crucial role in enhancing consumers' accessibility to legal services and improving social evaluation," emphasizing, "The ability to acquire and utilize new technologies will determine the competitiveness of legal professionals in the future."

Chief Prosecutor Lim evaluated, "Despite various risks, AI has become a necessity rather than a choice." He added, "Since legal professionals cannot afford even minor mistakes, it is essential to thoroughly check for errors or issues while utilizing AI," and remarked, "Collaborating with legal tech companies to examine the future at this event is timely."

Assemblyman Choi noted, "AI is transforming many fields such as diplomacy, security, industry, and education day by day, and the legal community is no exception," pointing out, "AI is an area that requires both promotion and regulation." He continued, "Everyone gathered here will play a key role in shaping the present and future of the legal profession."

After the opening ceremony, key guests including President Lee and Chief Prosecutor Lim, guided by CEO Lee Suhyung, visited various booths of legal tech companies installed at the venue to learn about the latest products developed by each company.

On the morning of the 26th, at Hall A on the 1st floor of COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, Lee Soo-hyung, CEO of Legal Times, visited the booths of participating companies at the '2024 Legal Tech AI Special Exhibition (LTAS, Legal Tech & AI Show)' along with key guests including Lee Ki-soo, President of the Korea Court Administration, and Lim Kwan-hyuk, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, listening to explanations about the products. Photo by Choi Seok-jin

In the first keynote speech titled "Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Judicial Information Systems," Won Hosin, Head of the Judicial Informatization Office at the Court Administration Office, stated, "There is a consensus on the need for more advanced trial support tools," adding, "This will improve the efficiency of trial procedures and hearings, enhance the accuracy of trial guidance and document preparation, improve access to legal services, and increase the cost-effectiveness of research."

He explained, "The next-generation electronic litigation system currently under development at the courts plans to introduce a big data platform applying AI models, a similar case judgment document recommendation model, and a litigation procedure guidance bot (chatbot)," emphasizing, "Judiciary budget support is also necessary for this."

He cited next-generation judiciary AI adoption models such as ▲civil mediation and reconciliation prediction models, ▲issue extraction models for claim statements, and ▲other models (comprehensive research tools, record review tools, calculation assistance, judgment error detection tools), predicting that "AI will be comprehensively utilized in overall judicial procedures including comprehensive research, record review, calculation assistance, and judgment error detection."

However, toward the end of his speech, Won referred to Article 27 of the Constitution, which states, "All citizens shall have the right to receive a trial by judges determined by the Constitution and laws," and Article 103, which states, "Judges shall be independent in their judgment according to their conscience under the Constitution and laws," and said, "While AI is believed to greatly contribute to speedy trials, ultimately, trials must be conducted by judges who conscientiously judge according to the Constitution."

On the morning of the 26th, Won Hosin, Director of the Judicial Informatization Office at the Court Administration Office, delivered the keynote speech at the "2024 Legal Tech AI Special Exhibition (LTAS, Legal Tech & AI Show)" held at Hall A on the 1st floor of COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul. Photo by Legal News

Lee Seongbeom, Director of the Information and Communications Division at the Planning and Coordination Department of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, delivered the next keynote speech titled "Utilization Plans of Generative AI in Prosecution Case Handling," diagnosing the current status and future of AI adoption in investigative agencies based on the latest research results.

He stated, "The Criminal Justice Information System (KICS), introduced in August 2010, is the only system worldwide that can link information with various external agencies including courts, Ministry of Justice, prosecution, police, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Strategy and Finance, and Korea Post."

Lee explained, "An empirical research project on the potential use of generative AI in investigative work showed that AI could summarize investigative information and draft documents, but post-verification by legal experts was still necessary," adding, "Fundamentally, generative AI cannot replace legal experts and will serve as an auxiliary tool."

The prosecution plans to open the next-generation Criminal Justice Information System (KICS) applying AI technology in the second half of this year.

To this end, since 2021, the prosecution has been addressing seven major tasks for criminal justice work innovation in three phases: ▲expansion of complete electronic criminal procedures, ▲establishment of digital investigative data management, distribution, and utilization systems, ▲introduction of mobile criminal justice information systems, ▲intelligent case handling support services, ▲record preparation services using voice recognition technology, ▲fundamental overhaul of KICS to overcome advanced limitations; four major tasks for public service innovation: ▲total victim support services, ▲reorganization of criminal justice civil complaint services to meet public expectations, ▲remote video investigation services overcoming spatial constraints, ▲intelligent criminal justice assistant (chatbot) services; and three major tasks for future-oriented IT infrastructure restructuring: ▲building a future-oriented architecture, ▲establishing a big data platform, and ▲creating a lifecycle-based personal information management system.

On the morning of the 26th, Lee Seong-beom, Director of the Information and Communication Division of the Planning and Coordination Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, delivers the keynote speech at the '2024 Legal Tech AI Special Exhibition (LTAS, Legal Tech & AI Show)' held at Hall A, 1st floor, COEX, Samseong-dong, Seoul. Photo by Beopryul Sinmun

Lee described, "The biggest feature of the next-generation KICS is the complete digitization of criminal procedures," explaining, "The main goal is to eliminate paper throughout the entire process from warrants to investigation stages." He added, "Prosecutors in trials will also conduct trial work using tablet PCs without paper."

He cited examples of next-generation KICS utilization such as ▲similar case investigation document recommendation services and ▲voice recognition record preparation support systems. The similar case investigation document recommendation service is a service where AI learns data such as records, decisions, and rulings prepared by the prosecution and then recommends them to assist investigators in document preparation. The voice recognition record preparation support system converts real-time conversations between investigators and subjects into text.

However, Lee pointed out clear limitations in relying on AI technology due to the handling of sensitive personal information during investigations and the need for very careful review of crime composition and prosecution requirements. He emphasized, "The prosecution basically has to build its own servers and use a closed network due to security issues, which incurs high initial costs," and added, "AI can never replace legal experts, but careful and continuous consideration of AI adoption must proceed according to the times."

In the afternoon, Judge James E. Baker delivered the third keynote speech titled "The Future of Law Brought by AI." Afterwards, Professor Park Sangcheol of Seoul National University Law School, Professor Park Hyejin of Hanyang University Law School, and Lee Jin, CEO of LBox, held a panel discussion on "The Role and Limitations of AI in Judicial Procedures and Corporate Legal Affairs."

On the second day of the event, the 27th, Kang Mingu, CEO of Law & Dooul Law Firm (former Chief Judge of Seoul High Court and Busan District Court), recognized as an IT expert in the legal community, will give a special lecture titled "Response and Survival Strategies of the Korean Legal Profession in the AI Era," focusing on judges' and lawyers' work. On the 28th, Lee Munhan, Commissioner of the Personal Information Protection Commission, will deliver a special lecture on "Mutual Development Directions of Generative AI and Privacy Protection Policies." On the same day, Park Sungjae, Minister of Justice, and Lee Gisu, President of the Korea Law Academy, are also scheduled to attend and give congratulatory speeches.