[Power K Women] "Legal Analysis of ESG, Blockchain, and AI... Fostering Autonomous and Creative Legal Professionals"

Interview with Suhyun Ahn, Dean of the Law School at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
Leading Research and Institutional Reform in Financial and Capital Market Law
"I Want to Build a Platform Connecting People and Ideas"

The only female dean of a domestic law school and the first female president of the Korean Economic Law Association?this is the career of Suhyun Ahn, Dean of the Law School at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. For over 30 years, Dean Ahn has served as a bridge connecting academia, practice, and institutional reform. She is recognized for her contributions to improving laws and regulations in the financial and capital markets, drawing on her practical experience at Daishin Securities Economic Research Institute and the Korea Financial Investment Association, her research and teaching in academia, and her advisory roles for the government and public institutions. Recently, she has contributed to legislation and policy-making by conducting legal analyses of emerging technologies and industries such as ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), blockchain, and virtual assets, and by proposing institutional reform measures.

Suhyun Ahn, Dean of the Law School at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, is being interviewed on the 13th at the Law Building of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

Dean Ahn envisions transforming the law school at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies into a platform where people and ideas gather and expand. Her goal is to create an environment in which members can share their abilities and experiences and grow together, thereby enhancing the sustainability of the organization. At the same time, as a female leader, she is committed to creating opportunities and solidarity so that junior legal professionals can continue to develop their expertise without career interruptions and exert influence in their respective fields. We spoke with Dean Ahn about her journey so far and her vision for the future.

-You are recognized for breaking new ground for women in the legal profession. Could you share your journey and thoughts so far?

▲I believed that to conduct proper academic research, one must understand practical work, so I did not prioritize a faculty position from the outset. After gaining practical experience at Daishin Securities Economic Research Institute and the Korea Financial Investment Association, I decided to organize the issues I encountered into academic theories and share them widely. I began my teaching career as a professor of commercial law at Chungbuk National University and later moved to Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, where I have taught commercial and financial law. Although my career path is rare for a woman, it all began with curiosity and personal interests. My goal has been to analyze new phenomena such as ESG, blockchain, virtual assets, and the metaverse from a legal perspective, develop proposals for institutional reform, and create a virtuous cycle by reflecting these in legislation and policy. Sharing my research achievements with juniors and colleagues and growing together has been my driving force to this day.

-Although the number of female legal professionals has increased, advancement to senior positions remains difficult.

▲According to the International Bar Association, the number of female lawyers in Korea has steadily increased since the late 1990s, but women remain underrepresented in the legal field. As of the end of 2023, women accounted for only 29% of lawyers, and the proportion of women in senior law firm positions is even lower at 13%. In contrast, women make up 48.2% of new law school students, and the pass rate for the bar exam is about 50%, indicating near gender parity at the entry level. However, as positions become more senior, the gender gap widens.

-What are the obstacles?

▲Institutional obstacles include the continued existence of promotion systems that do not account for career interruptions. Opportunities for senior positions also tend to be concentrated within male-centered, in-person networks. In academia, although the barriers appear to have lowered, research output and participation in school administration remain important evaluation factors, so the burden of childbirth and childcare still weighs heavily. Culturally, there is a lack of role models for female legal professionals. It is difficult to find seniors who match one's own circumstances, and systematic support systems to help women continuously develop their careers are still insufficient.

-Then, what is needed for qualitative growth and expanding influence?

▲The increase in the number of female legal professionals is a clear sign of progress, but three things are needed for qualitative growth and greater influence. First, women must be given opportunities to demonstrate leadership in projects with public interest and social value. Such experiences are a crucial foundation for developing both expertise and influence. Second, it is important to actively expand networks across various fields?government, industry, and academia?so that women can understand social backgrounds and stakeholder needs beyond legal interpretation and application. Broad perspectives and integrative thinking are the starting points for creative solutions. In addition, organizations must recognize diverse forms of leadership. A culture that values not only charismatic leadership but also collaborative and inclusive leadership is essential for organizational growth.

Suhyun Ahn, Dean of the Graduate School of Law at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, is being interviewed on the 13th at the Law Building of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

-What is your management philosophy as dean?

▲I believe that a law school should be more than just an educational institution?it should be a platform. A platform provides a foundation for members to connect, interact, and create value together. For the organization to develop sustainably, students, alumni, faculty, and staff must feel a sense of psychological connection and support each other's growth. As dean, I focus on fostering opportunities for members to gather, interact, and strengthen their networks. Last year, to mark the 15th anniversary of the law school's founding, we brought together students, alumni, and contributors to the law school's development for a networking event. I believe that such connections and trust multiply the law school's capabilities and further accelerate the growth of each member.

-What type of legal professionals does the law school at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies aim to cultivate?

▲Our law school is committed to nurturing independent, international, and creative legal professionals. In today's rapidly changing world, professionalism and ethics are fundamental, but a forward-looking, pioneering spirit is also essential. Students should understand emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, digital assets, and ESG, and possess the creativity and problem-solving skills to fill legal gaps. The less established the standards and practices are in a field, the more important legal interpretation and the design of norms become. Our goal is to cultivate legal professionals with a global perspective and integrative thinking.

Suhyun Ahn, Dean of the Graduate School of Law at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, is being interviewed on the 13th at the Law Building of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

-How do you teach legal ethics and public service?

▲Ethical awareness and public service are the foundation of trust in legal professionals. At the law school, we offer legal ethics courses and provide hands-on experience through courses and legal clinics focused on the socially disadvantaged and the public interest, where students can participate in consultations and pro bono litigation under the guidance of public interest lawyers. In daily life, the intensive environment of studying together around the clock encourages students to autonomously create and adhere to norms, fostering natural consideration for others. Personally, I believe that students' psychological stability is the starting point for public service and empathy, so I frequently communicate with them both offline and online, offering encouragement and advice, and consistently providing resources and information to help them develop their professionalism and ethics.

-What led you to pursue a career in law?

▲My father worked at a securities regulatory agency and, in 1984, earned Korea's first doctorate in securities law from Seoul National University. Influenced by him, I developed an early interest in the capital markets and gained practical experience at Daishin Securities Economic Research Institute after graduation. During my master's and doctoral studies, and while working at the Korea Financial Investment Association, I consistently published papers that organized practical issues into theories and proposed legal and institutional improvements. Through this process, I became convinced that law is not just an academic discipline, but a field with the power and responsibility to bring about real change in industry, the economy, and society.

-What made you specialize in financial law?

▲For the past decade, my research has focused on financial law, particularly financial consumer law. My first job at the Securities Economic Research Institute had an impact, but the decisive moment was in 2002, when I was seconded to the Financial Supervisory Service while working at the Korea Financial Investment Association and participated in the task force to improve the unfair trading system. At that time, I realized that establishing a fair capital market is the key to protecting financial consumers. Since then, I have taken a comprehensive approach to financial law, covering not only legal systems but also the capabilities of supervisory agencies, consumer participation, and the role of self-regulatory organizations. I am convinced that effective consumer protection requires a balanced interplay of law, institutions, enforcement, and participation, and this conviction continues to guide my research direction.

-What advice would you give to junior female legal professionals?

▲Female legal professionals who balance work and family face pressures in terms of time, energy, and roles, making it difficult to achieve perfect balance. The important thing is to find a way that is sustainable and manageable for oneself. Since professional, family, and social networks are organically connected, it is necessary to set priorities and adjust intensity and pace according to circumstances. Sometimes, in the desire for recognition, people work until they are exhausted, but burnout makes every aspect of life difficult. I want to emphasize that it is important to keep moving forward steadily, even if progress is slow.

▶About Suhyun Ahn, Dean of the Law School at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

After graduating from Ewha Womans University with a degree in law, she earned a master's degree in commercial law from the same university and a doctorate in commercial, securities, and financial law from the graduate school of Seoul National University. She later served as a professor at Chungbuk National University and is currently a full-time professor at the Law School of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, specializing in commercial and securities law. She has also served as an advisor and committee member for numerous government and public institutions. Her roles have included member of the Financial Supervisory Service Dispute Mediation Committee, the Ministry of Justice Special Committee on Commercial Law Revision, the Attorney Disciplinary Committee, the Fair Trade Commission's Standard Terms Review Committee, the Financial Services Commission's Capital Market Investigation Deliberation Committee, and the Electronic Securities System Implementation Task Force. In November of last year, she was appointed as the ombudsman for the seventh term of the Financial Supervisory Service. In 2022, she was elected president of the Korean Economic Law Association?the first woman to hold the position in the 44 years since the association's founding in 1978.