Ahead of the election for the President of the Korean Bar Association, the three candidates, Ahn Byung-hee, Geum Tae-seop, and Kim Jung-wook, have presented blueprints for overcoming the crisis and advancing the legal profession, launching into full-fledged competition. Candidate Ahn Byung-hee emphasizes "protection of lawyers' rights and innovation," Candidate Geum Tae-seop stresses "substantial achievements and creation of new markets," and Candidate Kim Jung-wook highlights "reforms fitting the new era," each putting forward their own visions and pledges.
"Shells be gone, Ahn Byung-hee is here"
Candidate Ahn stressed the need for a strong vision and innovative pledges to overcome the crisis in the legal profession, emphasizing the protection of lawyers' rights. He described his life as a lawyer as "like riding a two-wheeled bicycle without training wheels," expressing that he understands better than anyone the difficulties lawyers face in an unstable legal environment.
Ahn identified two recent challenges shaking the legal profession: "the emergence of network law firms" and the "AI revolution." He criticized network law firms for eroding the legal ecosystem based on their capital power and proposed introducing a "cap on advertising expenses relative to revenue" to restore order in the legal market. He also argued that lawyers must break free from fixed notions of their work in response to AI advancements and create new markets.
Candidate Ahn intends to strengthen lawyers' expertise and market competitiveness through various policies such as introducing a legal insurance system, promoting the Attorney-Client Privilege (ACP), and expanding punitive damages.
He also pointed out that the role of the Bar Association has significantly weakened compared to the past and emphasized strengthening liaison work by assigning lawyers to each standing committee of the National Assembly and enhancing legislative monitoring and evaluation functions. Ahn said, "I have walked the path of a lawyer without political ambition," and added, "Through change and innovation, I will breathe new vitality into the lawyer market."
Geum Tae-seop: "Overwhelming capability, the Bar Association will change"
Since the 2013 direct election for the association president, Geum is the first candidate who is a former member of the National Assembly. He emphasized "field-centered substantial achievements" and expressed his ambition to reestablish the status of the Bar Association and strongly protect lawyers' rights.
Geum revealed his determination to overcome the crisis in the legal community based on his diverse experience of 12 years as a prosecutor, 4 years as a lawmaker, and 14 years as a lawyer, along with a solid network. He stated that the Bar Association should no longer be an organization that disciplines members and is mired in internal conflicts, promising the development of the legal profession through "strong action" and "creation of new markets."
Under the slogan "Overwhelming experience and capability, the Bar Association will change," Geum proposed concrete policies aimed at solving practical problems and expanding future markets, including △ full disclosure of court rulings exclusively for lawyers to realize long-standing legislation △ mandatory legal due diligence for corporate IPOs to create new markets △ establishment of a "Market Disruption Response Center" to regulate network law firms △ strengthening support for young lawyers such as initial startup cost assistance △ realizing a "strong Bar Association" through monitoring teams for courts, prosecution, and police. He promised to provide new opportunities for all lawyers by expanding the legal market while focusing on support policies for young lawyers' futures. He emphasized that he would practically transform the Korean Bar Association based on his rich experience and legislative capabilities.
Kim Jung-wook: "Completing reforms fitting the era"
Candidate Kim announced ten major pledges for protecting the legal profession and advancing the legal field, showing strong reform intentions.
Kim stated, "As we overcame generational conflicts and achieved integration in this turbulent era, I will continue to lead the association's development and reform as a mediator embracing everyone from senior lawyers to newcomers." He particularly emphasized his experience in tirelessly working to protect lawyers' professional rights, saying, "I have proposed seven long-standing bills, including the Attorney-Client Privilege (ACP) and abolition of VAT on litigation costs, and I will ensure their passage to complete the reforms."
His key pledges include △ restoring lawyers' authority infringed upon by similar professions △ reviving success fees in criminal cases △ regulating the indiscriminate expansion of network law firms △ institutionalizing legal AI and platforms to operate centered on lawyers △ waiving monthly fees for members on maternity leave and expanding workplace daycare centers in courts nationwide. To support young lawyers, he plans to establish mentoring programs and startup support centers and strengthen lawyers' practical skills by providing free access to case law and commentary services. He also proposed creating a Bar Association recommended personnel verification committee to enhance fairness and transparency in association operations.
He mentioned his experience of winning all cases against the Fair Trade Commission's rulings, stating, "I have done my best to protect the Bar Association's autonomy and lawyers' rights," and expressed his determination, "Based on the experience and know-how I have accumulated, I will realize concrete reform measures."
By An Jae-myung and An Hyun, reporters for Legal Times
※This article is based on content supplied by Law Times.
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