Internationalization in the Korean law school system: its demand and structural barriers

Jae-Hyup Lee and Jisuk Woo

Chapter 11 in Research Handbook on Global Legal Education, 2026, pp 202-224 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter examines the internationalization of Korean legal education following the introduction of the Juris Doctor (JD) system in 2009. The reform aimed to produce globally competitive lawyers equipped with diverse expertise and international legal skills. However, over time, Korean law schools have increasingly prioritized bar exam preparation over fostering international competencies. Structural barriers, including bar exam requirements, rigid evaluation standards, and limited degree program options, have constrained the integration of global perspectives into legal curricula. The absence of specialized LLM programs, insufficient English-taught courses, and low enrollment in international law subjects further hinder the internationalization process. Despite government-led efforts to globalize higher education, Korean law schools lag behind other academic disciplines in attracting international students and faculty, establishing cross-border degree programs, and offering meaningful global exposure. The study highlights the need for reforms, including curriculum diversification, the creation of LLM and joint-degree programs, a balanced bar exam framework, and expanded exchange initiatives. By addressing these structural and institutional challenges, Korean law schools can better prepare graduates to meet the demands of an increasingly globalized legal market. This chapter underscores the urgency of aligning legal education policies with Korea's broader internationalization goals to foster a new generation of globally competent legal professionals.

Keywords: Internationalization; Legal Education; Law School; Bar Exam; Specialization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781788117005
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.elgaronline.com/doi/10.4337/9781788117012.00023 (application/pdf)
Our link check indicates that this URL is bad, the error code is: 403 Forbidden

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:elg:eechap:18207_15

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.e-elgar.com

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Chapters from Edward Elgar Publishing
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Jack Sweeney ().