The Korean Bar Association (KBA) has consistently worked to protect the fundamental rights of the public, establish the rule of law, and maintain and develop the attorney system.Recently, an incident occurred in which an attorney was summoned and subjected to intensive questioning by investigative agencies merely for providing legal advice, which is the core function of an attorney. Cases in which attorneys are investigated or their offices are searched simply because they performed their duties illustrate a regression of the rule of law. The KBA has long anticipated such situations and has strongly advocated for the introduction of "Attorney-Client Privilege."The introduction of the "Attorney-Client Privilege" is essential to ensure the constitutional right of the people to receive assistance from their counsel. The KBA urges the National Assembly to promptly introduce this privilege through swift legislation.Attorneys carry out their duties under the mission of defending basic human rights and realizing social justice. The public nature of the legal profession forms the foundation of the attorney system and the rule of law. However, there have been ongoing attempts by professionals from adjacent legal fields, whose roles are confined to auxiliary functions in limited areas of legal services, and by legal tech companies to encroach upon the domain of the legal profession through legislation and other means. The KBA will firmly oppose any attempts to undermine the legal profession's public role.In the rapidly changing environment, including recent adjustments to the investigative powers of prosecutors and police, there have been numerous allegations of unfair investigations. While the KBA opposes any attempt to politically pressure investigative agencies based solely on suspicion, it also calls upon these agencies to demonstrate that all are equal before the law through independent and impartial investigations. The KBA will actively fulfill its role in monitoring misconduct by investigative agencies and encouraging fair investigations.The KBA has achieved significant results in enhancing the role of Korean law and lawyers in the international legal community. This includes expanding opportunities for young lawyers to work abroad, promoting the export of the public legal platform “My Lawyer,” and successfully bidding to host the 2026 LAWASIA Annual Conference in Seoul through cooperation with national institutions like the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as foreign bar associations. The KBA takes pride in these achievements and will continue to lead in the international legal community.The current legal market is experiencing new changes with the introduction of legal AI. While some anticipate positive effects from the use of legal AI, it is clear that if the risks and negative consequences inherent in legal AI are not monitored and checked, the harm will ultimately fall upon the public. The KBA will play a leading role in the adoption and use of legal AI in the legal market, while simultaneously monitoring and controlling its use.The KBA also announces that it is progressing with the long-awaited construction of an independent association building to elevate the pride and status of attorneys. This building will strengthen the association's cooperative relationships with related organizations and enable the KBA to more effectively address the various challenges it faces.To achieve these tasks, the KBA, after gathering the opinions of regional bar associations, resolves as follows:Resolutions:1. The KBA will firmly oppose any attempt to undermine the foundation of the attorney system, which protects the rule of law and the fundamental rights of the public. The government and the National Assembly should respect the value of the attorney system and cooperate in its preservation.2. The National Assembly must swiftly legislate to introduce the "Attorney-Client Privilege" to guarantee the public's constitutional right to receive assistance from their counsel.3. Investigative agencies should restore public trust through independent and impartial investigations of all crimes, including those involving abuse of power and corruption.4. The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should actively support the KBA’s international activities, which promote the expansion of Korea's legal system abroad and the enhancement of the capabilities of Korea's exemplary judicial system.5. The KBA will take an active and leading role in maximizing the utility of legal services through the use of legal AI in the legal market while clearly analyzing the risks and side effects inherent in legal AI to prevent them in advance. The government and the National Assembly should provide all necessary support, including budgetary support.6. The KBA declares that it will construct an independent association building through expedited project implementation to elevate the pride and status of attorneys.August 26, 2024

On August 24, 1945, the Ukishima Maru, carrying Koreans who were returning to their homeland after liberation, was en route from Japan to Busan when it exploded and sank off the coast of Maizuru, resulting in the drowning of many Koreans. Even though 79 years have passed since the incident, the cause of the sinking and the scale of the casualties remain unclear.Recently, however, a passenger list that the Japanese government previously claimed had been lost during the sinking of the Ukishima Maru was disclosed through a request for information made by a Japanese journalist. In May of this year, the Japanese government reversed its previous position and acknowledged the existence of the passenger list. The Korean Bar Association (President Young-Hoon Kim) urges the Korean government to swiftly secure and disclose the passenger list to uncover the truth behind the Ukishima Maru incident. Additionally, we call on the Korean government to demand that the Japanese government take measures for the restitution of victims, including the repatriation of remains.The Ukishima Maru was a merchant vessel requisitioned by the Japanese Navy and used as a military transport ship. On August 22, 1945, it departed from Ōminato in Aomori Prefecture, carrying thousands of Korean laborers conscripted by the Japanese during the colonial period, their families, and Japanese naval personnel. While en route to Busan, the ship attempted to dock at Maizuru Port but exploded and sank after an explosion occurred in the lower part of the hull.Immediately following the incident, the Japanese government reported that 524 of the 3,725 Korean laborers and 25 of the 255 Japanese crew members on board had died. However, these figures have been criticized as inaccurate since they were based on the list of people who applied to board rather than an actual passenger list. According to survivors, approximately 5,000 individuals who had not registered were also aboard, and the number of casualties could reach several thousand, far exceeding the official figures. The cause of the sinking also remains unclear.Survivors of the Ukishima Maru and the bereaved families of the victims have consistently called on both the Korean and Japanese governments to uncover the truth behind the incident and take responsible follow-up actions. The failure to identify the victims and reveal the truth about the sinking of the Ukishima Maru is, in itself, a grave human rights violation.Given the confirmed existence of the passenger list, the Korean government must immediately secure and disclose it. In addition, it must conduct a thorough investigation of the victims and demand that the Japanese government take appropriate measures to uncover the truth, repatriate the remains, and ensure restitution for the victims of forced labor.August 28, 2024Young-Hoon Kim President, Korean Bar Association