New Year's Message for 2026

Dear Members and Friends of the Korean Society of Law,

As we welcome the Year of the Byeongo (丙午) in 2026—a year symbolizing new hope and fresh beginnings—I would like to extend my warmest greetings to all our members and to everyone who has continued to support and cherish the Korean Society of Law.

Traditionally, the Year of the Byeongo has been regarded as a year characterized by vitality, dynamism, and positive energy. At this juncture, when change and challenge intersect, the New Year presents us with an opportunity to reflect upon the issues confronting our society and the legal community, while seeking a more mature and enlightened path for the rule of law. It is both an honor and a profound responsibility for me to convey this New Year's message as President of the Korean Society of Law during such a meaningful period.

Looking back, the past year was by no means an easy one for our society, the legal profession, and the academic community alike. The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and digital technologies, the restructuring of the global economic order, and the deepening of social polarization and conflicts of values have fundamentally transformed both the scope and complexity of the issues that law must address. Amid these changes, law is now called upon to serve not merely as a system of norms, but as a vital infrastructure for restoring social trust and ensuring the sustainability of our communities.

Law is both a mirror of society and its compass. Legal scholarship refines that mirror with ever greater precision and continually ensures that the compass points in the right direction. The Korean Society of Law will continue to uphold the fundamental values of the rule of law and maintain the highest standards of academic rigor, unswayed by short-term trends or transient achievements.

This year is particularly significant as it marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Korean Society of Law in 1956. To commemorate this milestone, we plan to elevate the Korean Jurists' Conference into the World Jurists' Conference, which will be held at Korea University from October 25 to 28. In addition, we will publish a commemorative volume documenting the seventy-year history of our Society. I sincerely ask for the keen interest and active participation of legal professionals in these important endeavors.

In the coming year, the wisdom and dedication of each and every one of our members will continue to be the greatest source of strength in shaping the future of legal scholarship in Korea. The Korean Society of Law will remain a steadfast partner, supporting your research and professional activities so that they may take even deeper root in society.

As we embark upon the New Year of 2026, I sincerely wish you and your families good health, peace, and every success in your future endeavors.

Thank you.

January 2026

Lee, Ki-Su
President
Korean Society of Law