Law

The Department of Law at Seoul National University is a distinguished academic program dedicated to shaping future leaders in the field of legal studies and practice. Established with the vision of fostering a comprehensive understanding of legal principles, the program offers students a rigorous curriculum that combines theoretical foundations with practical applications. Throughout the course of study, students are introduced to various aspects of law, including constitutional law, criminal law, civil law, administrative law, and international law, ensuring a well-rounded legal education.

The program emphasizes critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and analytical skills, preparing graduates to excel in diverse legal environments. It encourages active engagement with contemporary legal issues through case studies, moot courts, seminars, and research projects. Students have access to an extensive network of alumni, legal professionals, and academic experts, providing invaluable opportunities for internships, mentorship, and collaborative research.

In addition to core legal courses, the curriculum includes interdisciplinary modules that explore the intersections of law with politics, economics, and society. This holistic approach equips students with the ability to analyze complex societal issues and develop innovative legal solutions. The Department of Law also places a strong emphasis on international legal studies, reflecting Korea’s active participation in global affairs and promoting a global perspective among students.

The program is designed to prepare students for various career paths, including legal practice, academia, government service, and corporate sectors. Graduates of the program have gone on to become judges, prosecutors, attorneys, legal advisors, and policy makers, significantly contributing to Korea’s legal system and society at large.

Students benefit from state-of-the-art facilities, including sophisticated libraries, law clinics, and research centers, which facilitate a rich learning environment. Besides academics, the program encourages participation in extracurricular activities such as legal clubs, debate societies, and exchange programs with partner institutions worldwide. These activities foster a vibrant academic community and support the development of leadership and communication skills.

With its rigorous curriculum, esteemed faculty, and strategic industry connections, the Law program at Seoul National University prepares students not only to meet current legal challenges but also to become innovative pioneers in the legal field. The department remains committed to academic excellence, integrity, and the pursuit of justice, guiding students toward a meaningful and impactful career in law.

The 1st year:

• Legal Research and Legal Writing
• Public Law 1 (Constitution and Political System)
• Civil Law 1 (Contract)
• Criminal Law 1
• Law and Social Science

The 2nd year:

• Korean Tradition Legal History
• Law of Philosophy
• Introduction to Korean Law
• Public Administration Relief
• Civil Law 3 (Law of Property and Secured Transcation)
• General of Law of Contracts and Torts
• Particulars of Criminal Law
• Principles of Commercial Law
• Law of Corporations
• Tax Law
• Intellectual Property Law
• Criminal Law
• International Law 1
• Law of International Trade
• International Economic Law
• Law of Commercial and Economy
• Individual Industrial Property Law
• Social Security Law
• Environmental Law
• Advanced Courses
• Korean Legal History
• Sociology of Law
• Comparative on Constitution
• Institutionas Law
• Constitutional Litigation Practices
• Construction Administrative Law
• Economic Law
• Procedure of Administrative Law
• Law of Press. Internet. Human Rights
• Medical Law
• Fact Broadsheet *
• Korean Public Interest and Humans Rights Litigation
• The Basic Theory of Criminal Law
• International Trade Dispute Settlement
• Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Law
• Customer Protection Law
• Fair Employment Law
• Theory of Public Law Regulations
• Bond Law Cases
• General Civil Procedure Cases
• General Criminal Procedure Cases

The 3rd year:

• Attorney Practice

• Design of Negotiation and Transactions

• German Law

• Roman Law

• Law of Economics

• Legal Thoughts

• Natural Law and Legal Positivism

• Modern Theory of Justice

• Introduction to American Law

• Law & Society

• Science of Legislation

• Democratic Constitutionalism

• Law of Reunification

• Public Law theories and Methodology of Law

• Theory of Public Law and Public Policy

• Reconstruction and Redevelopment

• U.S Administrative Law

• International Family Law

• German Law

• Comparative Judicial Law

• French Law

• Anglo-American Private Law

• Bankruptcy

• Legal Financial Transaction Law

• Merger and Acquisitions Law

• Capital Market Law

• Economic Structure of Business Deal

• Corporate Tax and Shareholder

• Scientific Technology and Law

• Prevention of Unfair Competition Law

• Innovation Competition

• Victimology

• Sentencing Penal Punishment

• International Law of Civil Procedure

• International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes

• East Asia International Law

• Comparative Economic Law

• Social Insurance Law

• Climate Change Law

• International Environmental Law

• Agricultural Law

• Constitution Practice

• Administrative Law Practice Case Study

• Civil Trial Practice

• Civil Litigation Practice

• Commerce Law Practice

• Seminar on Corporation Law

• Tax Law Practice

• Patent Law Practice

• International Intellectual Property

• Criminal Law Practice

• Labor Law Practice

1. Online
   application
2. Either
   proof
   of
   Korean
    proficiency
   is
   required;
   
   
   
   
   1)
   Korean
   Proficiency:
   TOPIK
   level
   3
   or
   higher
   
   
   
   
   2)
   Other
   official
   documents
   indicating
   proof
   of
   language
   proficiency (ie.
   SNU
   Korean
   Language
   Center
   Level
   4
   or
   higher)
3. Personal
   Statement
   and
   Study
   Plan
4. Letter
   of
   Recommendation
5. Counselor
   Reference
   
6. Official
   High
   School
   Transcript
   and
   Graduation
   Certificate
7. A
   Copy
   of
   the
   Applicant’s
   Passport
8. Certificate
   of
   Facts
   concerning
   the
   Entry
   and
   Exit
9. Portfolio,
   Records
   of
   Achievement,
   etc.
10. Agreement
    for
    Verification
    of
    Academic
    Record

If you wish to apply for the scholarship program, please fill out the scholarship application form every semester. Application period:

• During November(1st semester)
• During May(2nd semester)

New  Student (Merit scholarship)

• Funding: Fully funded or partially funded (admission fee + tuition 10%)
• Eligibility: New undergraduate student (Full fund – 2 by college (excluding science and engineering);

Partial fund – selected within the 30% of the registered students)

Current Student (Merit scholarship)

• GPA requirement: Completed more than one semester; 3.6 GPA or higher (average of all semesters)
• Funding: Fully funded
• Eligibility: Undergraduate student (selected from the allotted pool)

International Student Scholarship:

• GPA requirement: 2.4 GPA or higher (average of the previous semester)
• Funding: Tuition and fees (partial or fully funded)
• Eligibility: International student in the government-funded (government-invited) scholarship, international

  student (self-funded), Korean student living overseas and studying in Korea (undergraduate and graduate course)

SNU Foundation Scholarship:

• GPA requirement: 2.7 GPA or higher (average of the previous semester)
• Funding: Tuition and fees (partial or fully funded)
• Feature: Scholarship funded by some 200 funds created by Seoul National University Foundation
•  

The following is the scholarship programs offered for undergraduate applicants. Students may apply for the programs before or during the admission application period. Applicants may find program details via this website http://en.snu.ac.kr/apply/info or supporting organizations.

Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP)

Eligibility

• International applicants who wish to apply for 4-year undergraduate programs of SNU.
• * Those who wish to study in the programs longer than 4 years – such as medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and architecture – cannot apply for this scholarship.

Number of Recipients

• Approximately 20~40 every year

Subsidies

• Full tuition fee: tuition exemption for 8 semesters
• Living expenses: 800,000 KRW per month
• Airfare: one economy round trip
• Korean language training fee: one year
  * Korean language training is mandatory and when the student does not achieve TOPIK grade 3 within a year, she/he is not eligible to enter the degree program.
• Others: medical insurance, settlement and returning expenses

Application Period

• September

Selection Procedure

• Applicants submit applications for this program to Korean embassies in their countries ⇒ the embassies make the first selection ⇒ the National Institute for International Education make the final selection

Contact

• SNU staff in charge: 82-2-880-6971, sck590@snu.ac.kr

Reference

• NIIED: http://www.studyinkorea.go.kr (English version) ⇒ GKS ⇒ Introduction to the projects ⇒ Korean Government Scholarship Program
• 2016 KGSP Guideline Download

Overseas Koreans Scholarship

Eligibility

• Overseas Korean students who wish to take undergraduate degrees at SNU

Number of Recipients

• Approximately 5 students

Subsidies

• Full tuition exemption for a maximum of 8 semesters
• Living expenses: 800,000 KRW per month
• Airfare for one economy round trip
• Korean language training fee: fee exemption at the Language Education Institute for 8 months
• Medical insurance fees

Application Period

• March

Selection Procedure

• Applicants submit applications to Korean embassies in their countries ⇒ the embassies make the first selection ⇒ the Overseas Koreans Foundation make the second selection

Contacts

• SNU staff in charge: 82-2-880-2519, intlscholarship@snu.ac.kr
• Overseas Koreans Foundation: 82-2-3415-0174, ljh@okf.or.kr
  * The latest announcement on this scholarship can be found only via the foundation’s website.

Reference

• Overseas Koreans Foundation: http://scholarship.korean.net (Korean)

The Law program at Seoul National University is one of the most prestigious and comprehensive legal education programs in South Korea. Established with the aim of cultivating highly qualified legal professionals, the program emphasizes a rigorous curriculum grounded in both traditional legal principles and contemporary legal issues. Students enrolled in this program have access to experienced faculty members who are leading experts in various fields of law, including constitutional law, criminal law, civil law, administrative law, and international law. The program seeks to develop students' critical thinking, analytical skills, and ethical judgment to prepare them for diverse careers in law practice, academia, policymaking, and public service.

The curriculum is designed to combine foundational legal knowledge with practical skills. Students engage in extensive coursework during their undergraduate years, supported by seminars, moot courts, and internships with legal institutions. Seoul National University Law School also maintains strong collaborations with government agencies, courts, and private law firms, providing students with opportunities for hands-on experience through internships and external projects. The program emphasizes the importance of understanding legal systems not only in South Korea but also in a global context, incorporating comparative law and international legal frameworks into the coursework.

Admission to the Law program at Seoul National University is highly competitive, requiring excellent academic records and passing the university’s rigorous entrance examinations. The university strives to foster a diverse student body and encourages applications from all qualified candidates. Graduates from this program are well-equipped to pass the bar examination in South Korea and often pursue careers as judges, prosecutors, legal advisors, corporate lawyers, or academics. The university also promotes lifelong learning and professional development, offering various workshops, seminars, and advanced degrees for alumni seeking to deepen their expertise.

Seoul National University’s Law program is committed to maintaining academic excellence and upholding the highest standards of legal education. It aims to contribute to the development of a just and equitable society by producing graduates who are not only knowledgeable in law but also committed to public service and social responsibility. The program’s reputation attracts students from across South Korea and internationally, creating a vibrant academic community dedicated to legal scholarship and practice. Continuous curriculum updates and faculty research ensure that the program remains at the forefront of legal education and responds effectively to changing legal landscapes worldwide.