[LES 2025] "2025 Korea Legal Industry Expo" Hosted by Legal Times Opens Successfully

Asia's First and Korea's Only Legal Expo
Attended by Supreme Court Justice Taeak Noh and Managing Partners of Top 10 Law Firms
Soo Hyung Lee: "The Legal Industry Has Growth Potential Surpassing K-POP"

The "2025 Korea Legal Industry Expo" (Law Expo Seoul 2025, hereafter LES 2025), co-hosted by Law Times (CEO Lee Suhyung), In-House Counsel Forum (IHCF), and Messe Esang, opened on the 3rd.

Under the theme "Beyond Market Toward Industry" (from a 7 trillion won market to a 70 trillion won industry), the expo will be held for three days from today through the 5th. It features forums led by a distinguished lineup of speakers, exploring the future direction of the legal industry.

At the opening ceremony of the "2025 Korea Legal Industry Expo" (LES 2025) held on the morning of the 3rd at the aT Center Exhibition Hall 2 in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Lee Suhyung, CEO of Law Times (second from the left), and key guests are participating in the commemorative ribbon-cutting ceremony. Photo by Choi Seokjin, Law & Biz Specialist

In addition, ten leading law firms, including Kim & Chang, Bae, Kim & Lee, and Lee & Ko, as well as legal tech companies such as Law & Company, Law & Good, and LexisNexis, along with about 50 companies from various fields that make up the legal industry ecosystem, have set up booths to welcome visitors.

The opening ceremony, held in the morning at the aT Center Exhibition Hall 2 in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, was attended by Lee Suhyung, CEO of Law Times, Won Young Jung, President of In-House Counsel Forum, Wonpyo Cho, CEO of Messe Esang, Supreme Court Justice Taeak Noh, Hyun Yoon Shin, President of the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board, Jongseok Lee, former President of the Constitutional Court, Wonhyung Lee, Chief Judge of Seoul Family Court, Seongsu Ji, President of the Constitutional Research Institute, Suwan Park, Senior Administrator of Legal Affairs at the Presidential Office, Moonhan Lee, Chairman of the Korea Bar Association Legal Aid Foundation, Giwon Kim, Senior Vice President of the Seoul Bar Association, and other prominent figures from the legal community.

Also in attendance were Youngjun Mok, Managing Partner of Kim & Chang, Junki Lee, Managing Partner of Bae, Kim & Lee, Hugon Kim, Managing Partner of Lee & Ko, Yongpyo Yum, Managing Partner of Yulchon, Jonghan Oh, Managing Partner of Sejong, Myungsoo Lee, Managing Partner of HwaWoo, Jihong Kim, Managing Partner of Jipyung, Donghoon Lee, Managing Partner of Barun, Gyucheol Lee, Managing Partner of DR&AJU, Younggeun Yoo, Managing Partner of Woosung, and Wonjo Lee, Managing Partner of DLA Piper Korea, among others, adding prestige to the event.

On the morning of the 3rd, at the opening ceremony of the "2025 Korea Legal Industry Expo" (LES 2025) held at the aT Center Exhibition Hall 2 in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Lee Suhyung, CEO of Legal Times, delivered the opening address. Photo by Choi Seokjin

In his opening address, Lee Suhyung, CEO of Law Times, said, "The theme of this legal industry expo, the first of its kind in Asia, is 'from a 7 trillion won market to a 70 trillion won industry.' Upon hearing this slogan, many people say, 'Is that possible?' or 'Does that make sense?' Frankly, it's impossible. It doesn't make sense," he remarked.

He continued, "If you think only about the domestic market of 50 million people, it's impossible. But if you consider the global population of 5 billion, I believe it is possible. Five billion is 100 times 50 million."

He added, "If the market is 100 times larger, then growing tenfold from 7 trillion to 70 trillion won is not unreasonable at all. K-pop, which is a hot topic these days, is said to have reached about 10 trillion won this year, with major entertainment agencies generating more than 5 trillion won in sales. Ten years ago, in 2015, it was a 1 trillion won market. It has grown tenfold in just ten years. The legal profession is where Korea's best and brightest are concentrated. I believe that, in such a place, development and growth surpassing that of K-pop are more than possible."

Lee further stated, "As you know, the founders of big tech companies who talk about rebuilding America, such as Peter Thiel and Alexander Caedmon Karp of Palantir Technologies, are all lawyers. The era of the rule of law is giving way to the rule of code-a time when technology dominates, and technology defines justice."

He continued, "I believe that if our law firms combine and converge with technology companies that integrate science, engineering, and mathematics, we can find a way forward for development."

He also said, "In January next year, the CES show will be held in Las Vegas. Over 100,000 people from around the world will gather, creating a market worth 20 to 30 trillion won. If the legal market evolves into a legal industry, I believe our LES, being held for the first time this year, can develop just like the CES show. I hope this will be a venue for sharing these concerns and seeking directions for future growth together."

At the opening ceremony of the "2025 Korea Legal Industry Expo" (LES 2025) held on the morning of the 3rd at the aT Center Exhibition Hall 2 in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Supreme Court Justice Taeak Noh delivered a congratulatory speech. Photo by Seokjin Choi, Law & Biz Specialist

Following the opening address, congratulatory speeches were delivered.

In a congratulatory message read by the host, President Jaemyung Lee said, "I sincerely congratulate Law Times on its 75th anniversary and wish for the successful hosting of Law Expo Seoul 2025, the first legal industry expo in Asia."

President Lee continued, "Since its founding in 1950, Law Times has played a significant role in establishing the rule of law in our society. As a legal professional myself, I have long been a reader of Law Times. Whether as a law student, a lawyer, or a civil society activist, I was able to access a wide range of legal information through Law Times."

He added, "Law Times has served as a communication channel for the legal community and as a bridge between law and society. I hope that Law Times will continue to play a vital role in creating a Korea where law and principles are alive, with a fair perspective and an honest voice."

Supreme Court Justice Taeak Noh, who delivered the next congratulatory speech, said, "The theme of this expo, 'Beyond Market Toward Industry,' is both timely and bold. The ambition to expand the legal market, which still remains largely traditional and analog, into a vast industrial ecosystem worth 70 trillion won is a pressing task for the legal community in this new era of digital transformation."

He added, "I especially want to highlight the significance of the job fair and mentoring lunch being held together. It is an important venue where senior legal professionals collaborate to prepare for the future, seek new opportunities, and demonstrate the potential for job creation as the legal industry expands."

Justice Noh continued, "Even in this era of mass production and consumption, we must approach problem-solving from the perspective of law business. The judiciary is also making great efforts to introduce artificial intelligence (AI) into court procedures and judicial operations, especially through the recently established AI Committee, to resolve private disputes more efficiently. The courts will continue to evolve into smart courts for the people."

He concluded, "I pay tribute to Law Times and the organizers for their dedication and hard work in preparing this event, which allows legal professionals to prepare for the future and seek new opportunities in this era of great change brought by AI. I hope LES 2025 will become a melting pot driving the depth of Korea's legal industry and serve as a starting point for K-LAW to advance globally alongside other industries."

On the morning of the 3rd, key guests visited booths of various legal tech companies set up in the center of the exhibition hall at the '2025 Korea Legal Industry Expo' (LES 2025) held at the aT Center 2nd Exhibition Hall in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Seokjin Choi, Law&Biz Specialist

In his congratulatory address, Won Young Jung, President of the In-House Counsel Forum, said, "IHCF was launched in 1998, initially focusing on in-house lawyers in the IT and financial sectors, and now consists of more than 2,600 in-house lawyers qualified in 16 countries, including Korea. This diversity is a major strength of IHCF, and based on our international perspective and expertise, we contribute in many ways to Korea's growth and to enhancing global competitiveness."

He continued, "This expo was born out of deep consideration and determination to create a venue where future legal professionals and current practitioners can directly engage with the trends of the industry in a rapidly changing legal services environment. To join in this vision, IHCF has set aside our regular work to prepare a variety of programs, such as career sessions, to help participants broadly explore various career paths in the legal market and vividly convey the skills and changes required in practice."

Jung added, "IHCF will continue to make every effort to build diverse platforms and provide innovative programs for the development of the legal industry and the cultivation of talent."

During the three-day event, Conference Hall 1 will host forums under the title "Shaping the Legal Future," with daily themes: "Beyond Market Toward Industry" (3rd), "Small Firms, Big Growth" (4th), and "The Legal Frontier" (5th). These forums will provide insights into the overall trends of the legal industry, from legal tech to policy trends and law firm growth cases.

After the opening ceremony, key guests, guided by Yongtae Kwon, Director of Business at Law Times, visited the booths of various legal tech companies set up in the center of the exhibition hall, where company representatives explained their firms and legal tech products.

In front of Conference Hall 2, a "Mentoring Lunch," modeled after the famous lunch with Warren Buffett, was held. Participating lawyers had the opportunity to share real-life experiences and insights over a meal with senior lawyers from major law firms and in-house counsel from global companies.

On the morning of the 3rd, at the 2nd Exhibition Hall of the aT Center in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Lance A. Echeverri, partner attorney at the global law firm Skadden Arps, delivered the keynote speech at the "2025 Korea Legal Industry Expo" (LES 2025). Photo by Seokjin Choi, Law & Biz Specialist

In Conference Hall 1, Lance A. Etcheverry, partner attorney at the global law firm Skadden Arps, delivered a keynote speech sharing the growth story of a global big law firm.

This expo features a distinguished lineup of domestic and international legal professionals as speakers, including Jaeheon Jung, CEO of SK Telecom; Sangmin Kim, attorney at Bae, Kim & Lee (Head of Labor Group); Inseon Cho, partner attorney at YK Law (Head of Serious Accident Center); and Moonchul Han, Managing Partner of Suseuro.com.

In Conference Hall 2, under the title "Growing Together," innovative solutions from leading legal tech and AI companies will be presented, along with a "Career Conference" and free career coaching provided by major search firm consultants. In addition, a free legal consultation booth will be operated during the expo, offering one-on-one legal counseling for the general public and on-site litigation finance support events.

On the morning of the 3rd, the "Mentoring Lunch" was held at the 2nd Exhibition Hall of aT Center in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, during the "2025 Korea Legal Industry Expo" (LES 2025). Photo by Seokjin Choi, Law & Biz Specialist