o Purpose

The inauguration of WTO in 1995 and Korea's admittance to the OECD Member States the next year have accelerated the globalization of the national economy, the enhanced access to world markets and the advent of information society. The increasing volume of international trades and frequently arising international disputes call for more and more international legal specialists in the areas of business, public sector, and other legal fields.

In Korea, we witness a great shortage of legal professionals in these areas due to the limited number of lawyers and inexperiences to cope with there problems. Up to now, however, the legal education in the undergraduate level has centered on the preparation for national exams to produce judges, prosecutors, higher civil servants, etc. Recently, the importance of the new areas of law, including international trade law, intellectual property law, and taxation law has been recognized in every walk of life.

Anticipating social needs for such legal specialists involved in the new field, Kyung Hee University designed a program tailored to the needs of international legal specialists, and established a graduate school of international legal affairs for the first time in Korea in March, 1996.

Focusing on systematic study of theories and practices with a top-notch faculty lineup, the Graduate School of International Legal Affairs is fully prepared to re-educate legal specialists engaged in the public service, legal practices and corporate sectors. This School will strengthen the social functions of higher education, and establish a cooperation system between the industries and the university.

o Brief History

- Mar 1996   Established with 4 majors of international trade law, insurance & maritime law, intellectual property right law and international taxation

- Sep 1996   Started Leadership Program (non-degree course)  

- Nov 1996   A new major program in international environmental law began.

- Sep 2000   A new major program in cyber-law (later renamed as Internet law) started.

- Sep 2002   A regional law program of U.S. law began.

- Mar 2005   A regional law program of Chinese law was added.