Law School Bldg

What secrets hide within the halls of power? We stand before the Law School Bldg at Seoul National University. It’s a modern structure, built in 1996. Yet, it carries the weight of over a century of legal history in Korea. The Law School Bldg isn’t just a building. It’s a symbol. It represents the evolution of legal education in South Korea. The story begins in 1895 with the establishment of the Popkwan Yangsungso. This was Korea’s first modern law school. It was created to train judges, setting the foundation for the country’s legal system. The SNU College of Law, as it was then known, officially began in 1946. It offered a continental-style legal education, similar to European systems. The Law School Bldg, as we see it today, was built to commemorate over 100 years of this legal tradition. In 2009, a significant shift occurred. South Korea reformed its legal education, adopting the American model. This led to the birth of the three-year law school system. The SNU College of Law became the SNU School of Law, housed within this very building. Today, the Law School Bldg offers Juris Doctor (J.D.), Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M.), and Ph.D. degrees. Notably, it no longer offers undergraduate law programs. Admission to the J.D. program is highly competitive. Only 150 students are admitted each year. This numerus clausus, or limited enrollment, ensures a sustainable level of students and maintains high standards. Inside the Law School Bldg resides a library, established in 1946. This library holds over 155,000 volumes, a treasure trove of legal knowledge. The Law School Bldg has seen its share of criticism. Concerns have been raised about the lack of students over 30 and the high percentage of students admitted from the top three Korean universities. Yet, the Law School Bldg remains a prestigious institution. It continues to shape legal minds in South Korea and produce prominent figures. President Yoon Suk-yeol and many Supreme Court justices have walked these halls. The Law School Bldg stands as a testament to South Korea’s commitment to legal education and its evolving legal landscape.