Korean Barbatism: Lawyer Shortage
- SEOUL, South Korea (April 10, 2025) — The Korean Bar Association, led by President kim Jung-wook, is advocating for a reduction in the number of new lawyers admitted...
- In a statement released today, the Korean Bar Association expressed concerns that an increasing number of lawyers is intensifying competition and potentially undermining the profession's core values.
- The association noted that in 2012, during the initial phase of the law school system and lawyer examinations, there were 1,451 candidates.Though, with the continued increase in the...
Korean Bar association Urges Limit on New Lawyers Amid Saturation Concerns
SEOUL, South Korea (April 10, 2025) — The Korean Bar Association, led by President kim Jung-wook, is advocating for a reduction in the number of new lawyers admitted to the bar, suggesting a limit of 1,200 ahead of the 14th Lawyers’ Examination results announcement. The announcement is scheduled for April 25.
Concerns over Oversupply
In a statement released today, the Korean Bar Association expressed concerns that an increasing number of lawyers is intensifying competition and potentially undermining the profession’s core values. The association argues that the oversupply could lead lawyers to compromise their commitment to defending basic human rights and upholding social justice, ultimately eroding public trust in the judicial system.
Historical Context and Growing Numbers
The association noted that in 2012, during the initial phase of the law school system and lawyer examinations, there were 1,451 candidates.Though, with the continued increase in the number of lawyers admitted each year, the country has been producing more than 1,700 new lawyers annually. This has resulted in a significant increase in the total number of lawyers, more than doubling from 12,532 in 2012 to over 35,000 last year.
Saturation Point
The Korean Bar Association contends that the lawyer market in South Korea is reaching a saturation point. They claim that the ratio of lawyers to the population is approximately twice that of Japan, a country with a similar legal system. Furthermore, the number of new lawyers entering the field is about three times higher in South Korea compared to Japan.
Call for reform
The association criticized the current system, stating, “Instead of increasing the number of lawyers, we promised to reduce and integrate adjacent qualifications overlapped with lawyers’ work, but it is not implemented at all.”
The association emphasized the need for an objective assessment of the number of new lawyers,taking into account factors such as population trends,declining birth rates,the overseas legislative qualification system,supply and demand dynamics,and the overall state of the legal profession.
Criticism of Examination Process
the Korean Bar Association also voiced concerns about the transparency of the lawyer examination process, describing the determination of the number of successful candidates as “fistgu,” a Korean term implying arbitrariness. The Ministry of Justice typically announces the lawyer’s examination plan each September and decides the number of successful candidates through the deliberation of the Lawyer Test Management Committee on the day of the announcement. The committee is chaired by the Vice Minister of Justice and includes 15 participants, including law professors, judges, lawyers, and officials from the Ministry of Education.
According to the Korean Bar Association, “With the approximate number of successful candidates, one of the most common plurality of plans is steadfast. The number of new lawyers was decided according to the interests of the majority of the lawyers every time without the objective statistical indicators and reality.”
Demands for Transparency
The Korean Bar Association is calling for a reorganization of the current deliberation procedure. They are demanding that the scope of the number of candidates for lawyers in 2026 be disclosed in detail this year.
Korean Bar Association: Concerns About Lawyer Oversaturation
Why is the Korean Bar Association suggesting a limit on new lawyers?
The Korean Bar Association (KBA),led by President Kim jung-wook,is advocating for a reduction in the number of new lawyers. Their primary concern is an oversupply of lawyers in South Korea, leading to increased competition and potential issues within the profession.
What does the KBA specifically propose?
The KBA has suggested limiting the number of new lawyers admitted to the bar to 1,200. This proposal comes before the 14th Lawyers’ Examination results declaration scheduled for April 25.
What are the main concerns about lawyer oversupply?
The KBA expressed concerns that an increasing number of lawyers is intensifying competition, thereby potentially undermining the profession’s core values. They argue that oversupply could led lawyers to:
Compromise their commitment to defending basic human rights.
Compromise their commitment to upholding social justice.
Erode public trust in the judicial system.
How has the number of lawyers in South Korea changed over time?
The number of lawyers has significantly increased in recent years.In 2012, during the initial phase of the law school system and lawyer examinations, there were 12,532 lawyers. however, the number of lawyers has more than doubled to over 35,000 last year.
What’s the historical context of the lawyer examination process?
In 2012, the initial phase of the law school system and lawyer examinations saw 1,451 candidates. Since then, south Korea has been producing over 1,700 new lawyers annually.
Is there a saturation point in the South korean lawyer market?
Yes,the KBA contends that the lawyer market in South Korea is nearing a saturation point.
How does South Korea’s lawyer-to-population ratio compare to Japan?
The KBA claims that the ratio of lawyers to the population in South Korea is approximately twice that of Japan, a country with a similar legal system. Also, the number of new lawyers entering the field is about three times higher in South Korea compared to Japan.
What reforms are the KBA calling for?
The KBA is calling for reform of the current system:
Reforming Legal Qualification System: The KBA criticized the system, stating, “Instead of increasing the number of lawyers, we promised to reduce and integrate adjacent qualifications overlapped with lawyers’ work, but it is not implemented at all.”
Objective Assessment: The association emphasized the need for an objective assessment of the number of new lawyers, considering factors such as:
Population trends
Declining birth rates
The overseas legislative qualification system
Supply and demand dynamics
The overall state of the legal profession
What are the KBA’s concerns about the lawyer examination process?
The KBA has voiced concerns about the transparency of the lawyer examination process. They describe the determination of the number of successful candidates is “fistgu,” a korean term implying arbitrariness.
How is the number of successful candidates typically decided?
The Ministry of Justice typically announces the lawyer’s examination plan each September. The number of successful candidates is decided through a deliberation by the Lawyer Test Management Commitee. The committee is chaired by the Vice Minister of Justice and includes 15 participants:
Law professors
Judges
Lawyers
Officials from the Ministry of education
What is the KBA’s criticism of how the number of successful candidates is resolute?
The KBA states, “With the approximate number of successful candidates, one of the most common plurality of plans is steadfast. The number of new lawyers was decided according to the interests of the majority of the lawyers every time without the objective statistical indicators and reality.”
What are the KBA’s demands for transparency?
The KBA is calling for a reorganization of the current deliberation procedure. They are demanding that the scope of the number of candidates for lawyers in 2026 be disclosed in detail this year.
Summary of Key Data
Here’s a summary of key data points mentioned in the article:
| year | Number of Lawyers (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 12,532 |
| Last year (Implied 2024) | Over 35,000 |
| 2012 (Candidates) | 1,451 |