Hwawoo Public Interest Foundation to co-host seminar on peaceful Korean Peninsula coexistence next month

The Hwawoo Public Interest Foundation announced Monday that it will co-host a special seminar with the Yunsan Peace Law Forum on Sept. 4, under the theme of exploring ways to institutionalize peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula.

The Hwawoo Public Interest Foundation is a public interest legal organization established in 2014 by law firm Hwawoo to provide legal support to vulnerable groups and promote pro bono activities among legal professionals. The co-hosting organization, the Yunsan Peace Law Forum, is an academic body founded by the late former Supreme Court Justice Lee Hong-hoon — who served as the foundation's inaugural chairman — to study legal and institutional challenges related to peace on the Korean Peninsula and the stable development of inter-Korean relations.

The seminar was organized in response to North Korea's recent declaration of the two states as "hostile" to each other, with the aim of examining legal and institutional tasks for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula and exploring solutions.

The event will cover a broad range of topics, from normative issues and policy directions surrounding inter-Korean relations to changes on the ground in exchange and cooperation and the outlook going forward. It is expected to bring together perspectives from academics and legal experts alongside officials from relevant government ministries, including the Ministry of Unification and the Ministry of Justice, with a focus on examining practical implementation challenges.

Attorney Yoo Seung-nam of Hwawoo will chair the seminar. The first presenter will be Choi Cheol-young, chairman of the Yunsan Peace Law Forum, who will speak on "Analysis of the Hostile Two-State Declaration on the Korean Peninsula and Future Policy Directions."

Ryu Ji-seong, a researcher at the Korea Legislation Research Institute, will then present on "Analysis of Domestic Legislation Related to the Two-State Theory on the Korean Peninsula and Response Tasks," followed by Kwon Eun-min, an attorney at Kim & Chang, presenting on "Legal and Institutional Approaches to Peaceful Coexistence on the Korean Peninsula."

In the discussion session, Geum Seong-ho, an official at the Ministry of Unification, will share views on "The South Korean Government's Policy on Peaceful Coexistence on the Korean Peninsula," while Kim Tae-hee, an official at the Ministry of Justice, will address "Normative Issues and Tasks for the Stable Development of Inter-Korean Relations."

Hong Sang-young, secretary-general of the KSM Woori Minjok Seoro Dopgi Movement, will also share field experience and perspectives under the theme of "Changes and Outlook as Seen from the Scene of Exchange and Cooperation."

Registration for the special seminar is free and open through the Hwawoo Public Interest Foundation's website or via the QR code on the event poster.

Meanwhile, law firm Hwawoo recently brought on Lee Gi-seong as a partner attorney, strengthening its fair trade practice group. Lee is a fair trade law specialist with extensive hands-on experience at the Korea Fair Trade Commission in investigation and disposition work, as well as case representation at law firms.

The firm has also added Shin Jae-moon and Kim Do-kyung as partner attorneys, both of whom bring experience in police investigation work, bolstering its capacity to handle corporate criminal risk and serious accident investigations as it continues to recruit specialists across practice areas.