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Law school deans interviewed for the report. Clockwise from top left: Kim Dae-in of Ewha Womans University, Kim Sang-joong of Korea University, Cho Ji-man of Ajou University, Yoon Sang-min of Wonkwang University, Kim Hyun-soo of Pusan National University, and Ham Tae-sung of Kangwon National University. / By Reporter Son Seung-hyun

Seventeen years after the introduction of the law school system, criticisms are mounting that current curriculums have deviated significantly from the founding purpose of "nurturing diverse legal professionals through specialized education." From April 20 to June 4, Asia Today interviewed six law school deans from both metropolitan and regional areas regarding the current state and future direction of legal education. The deans diagnosed that the bar exam-centric system is warping the core of law school education.

The deans pointed out that the legal industry remains obsessed with numbers, failing to fully consider shifting market dynamics. Kim Dae-in, dean of Ewha Womans University Law School, noted that the industry's claim of "lawyer market saturation" reflects a narrow view focused solely on litigation. "Demand for in-house counsel, public sector legal personnel, and new legal services stemming from the expansion of the AI industry is continuously growing," Kim said, emphasizing that the debate over the number of lawyers should be approached from the perspective of raising quality professionals rather than a simple supply-and-demand framework.

Limiting the number of passing candidates has amplified the backlog of applicants, exacerbating the issue of the "five-time fail rule" (otavlja, individuals permanently barred from taking the exam after five failed attempts). Kim Sang-joong, dean of Korea University Law School, stated, "As low bar pass rates persist, overall law school education has been restructured around exam preparation." He defined the permanently disqualified test-takers as "a byproduct of a warped bar exam that relies heavily on rote memorization." He added, "It is time to reform law schools so they can truly foster problem-solving skills and legal knowledge."

Ham Tae-sung, dean of Kangwon National University Law School, also criticized that the old "bar exam ghost" phenomenon from the previous judicial exam era is repeating itself under a different guise. Vulnerable students continuing their studies under heavy financial burdens are ultimately pushed out to seek other career paths after hitting the five-time limit.

As bar exam pass rates have become the core metric of institutional competitiveness, law schools can no longer escape the criticism of being "bar exam academies." Cho Ji-man, dean of Ajou University Law School, lamented, "Smaller law schools, in particular, are driven to run courses focused strictly on exam subjects rather than opening diverse specialized seminars," pointing out that exam-driven legal education has overshadowed law as an academic discipline.

In particular, the specialized tracks assigned to each institution upon the launch of the law school system have long since become nominal. Regional law schools are bearing the brunt of this struggle. Although they recruit local talents under a mandatory regional quota, a significant portion of graduates relocate to the Seoul metropolitan area upon graduation.

Kim Hyun-soo, dean of Pusan National University Law School, expressed hope that with the upcoming opening of the Maritime and International Commercial Court in March 2028, Pusan National University Law School—which specializes in finance and maritime trade—can strengthen its ties with the local legal market. Kim emphasized that new industries and courts could guide interested students toward local career paths, creating a virtuous cycle where professionals remain and practice in the region.

Yoon Sang-min, dean of Wonkwang University Law School, also argued that regional law schools play an increasingly critical role due to their close ties with local communities. To mitigate the brain drain of graduates to the metropolitan area, Yoon suggested that practical retention incentives, such as active recruitment by local public institutions, are vital.

To normalize education, the deans maintain that the current bar exam, which functions as a restrictive "selection test" where only one in two applicants passes, must be converted into a "qualification exam," raising the pass-to-applicant ratio to the 80% range. Furthermore, they urged the Ministry of Justice to present a predictable baseline for the passing quota instead of relying on shifting variables that fuel uncertainty for both schools and students.

Ultimately, the deans agreed that the controversy surrounding the bar exam and the law school system should not be reduced to a mere adjustment of pass rates. Just as Article 1, Paragraph 1 of the Attorney at Law Act defines the mission of a lawyer as "protecting fundamental human rights" and "realizing social justice," the blueprint for the system must move beyond individual career competition and focus on the public mission of safeguarding citizen rights and expanding access to legal services.

                                                                                                          Son Seung-hyun