Dear Esteemed Colleagues,
On behalf of the International Association of Korean Lawyers (IAKL), it is our distinct pleasure to invite you to our 32nd Annual IAKL Conference, taking place in Seoul, South Korea, from September 24 to 27, 2025.
We are thrilled to host this landmark event at the esteemed Korea University School of Law. We are deeply grateful to the University for generously opening its beautiful campus to us, providing an attractive setting as the ivy vines covering the historic buildings begin to turn their vibrant colors.
Established in 1988, the IAKL has grown to encompass over 3,000 members spanning more than 23 countries. It has consistently served as a vital platform for legal professionals of Korean heritage worldwide, offering a distinguished venue for global members to connect, share insights, and cultivate professional relationships. Beyond facilitating networking, the IAKL has provided crucial avenues for legal education and professional development, while concurrently engaging with local Korean diasporic legal communities and, through the IAKL Foundation, contributing positively to the host cities of our Conferences and Midyear Leadership Summits.
This year, there has seen unprecedented and transformative activity at both domestic and international levels. Korea has gone through a series of impeachments for many high-ranking government officials, including the president himself. At an international level, ongoing tensions and conflicts in various parts of the world, and the increase of protectionism provide us in the legal system perhaps more head- and heartache than any other profession. Set against this context, we have set the theme of this year’s conference as “Returning to the Principles Toward the Future” to refresh our attention on the main principles which, as officers of the law, we must focus. We hope this theme will inspire and provide a meaningful opportunity for us to reflect on our individual callings within this profession and find ways for the betterment of future generations.
As always, the Annual IAKL Conference promises an unparalleled opportunity to share knowledge and expand and strengthen your global network of fellow Korean legal professionals and business contacts. As popular demand continues to meet consistent and great success, the Women’s Retreat will be held one day prior to the opening ceremony of this year’s conference. This forum provides an avenue for women in the profession to discuss the unique issues affecting them and foster forward-thinking actions for the benefit of the IAKL and global legal community as a whole. To continue the momentum of the past two conferences of the desire to grow and strengthen the IAKL in-house counsel community, we will be dedicating time and space for in-house counsels to gather and share issues close to their role and support one another in managing the expectations as business partners. And, of course, no IAKL conference is complete without some fun! Our social program includes the lively casual safari dinner and exciting outings, culminating in a more formal gala dinner, all designed to mix things up in true IAKL fashion.
We sincerely look forward to welcoming you to the 32nd Annual IAKL Conference. Finally, we extend our deepest gratitude to our sponsors and IAKL members worldwide whose unwavering support makes this event possible.
Yours truly,
The International Association of Korean Lawyers (IAKL), established in 1988, is a worldwide network for lawyers interested in Korea and Korean legal practice. Since its inauguration, IAKL has operated as a platform to foster professional relationships for over 3,500 lawyers from 23 countries. Currently, IAKL organizes annual conferences that provide valuable opportunity for everyone to meet and network with legal experts practicing in major law firms in Korea, in-house counsels, lawyers of Korean descent practicing in various geographical regions of the world, and international lawyers practicing in fields related to the Korean market.
To bring together legal professionals of Korean descent or with interests in Korea throughout the world to build professional relationships and to serve the public interest by promoting social justice.
• Affinity and Diversity
Celebrate our heritage and the Korean experience. Acknowledge the diversity among lawyers of Korean heritage and respect the contributions our diversity makes to our community and profession.
• Accomplishment and Guidance
Celebrate the individual and collective achievements of lawyers of Korean heritage around the world. Foster professional development and provide guidance for our younger generations to be involved in legal profession.
• Social Justice and Public Service
Promote social justice and take appropriate action to prevent injustices in situations where we can make a difference. Understand the sacrifices of others that have made possible the opportunities now available, and serve the public interest consistent with our international focus.