A Boy Who Dreamed of Becoming a Cartoonist and Film Director Becomes a Judge Specializing in Rehabilitation and Bankruptcy

Interview with Judge Woo Sang-beom of Seoul Bankruptcy Court
"Drawing Helps Understand Bankruptcy Systems and Legal Principles"
"Considering Bankruptcy Systems Suited to Rapidly Changing Market Conditions"

"At first, I was just busy getting used to the unfamiliar insolvency system, but now I constantly think about how the system should change to keep up with the ever-changing market conditions. I found joy in this, which allowed me to work in one field for a long time. I think the habit of pondering 'what and how to draw' led to my persistent personality."

On the 9th, Judge Woo Sang-beom of the Seoul Bankruptcy Court, whom we met at the Seoul Bankruptcy Court, is holding up a notebook and pen. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

These are the words of Judge Woo Sang-beom (40, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 39), whom I met on the 9th at the Seoul Bankruptcy Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. He is considered the longest-serving active judge in the insolvency field in Korea. Another nickname of his is the "Drawing Judge." His original dream was to become a cartoonist and film director. The doodles he started drawing on the back of calendars his mother tore off became his specialty. Judge Woo said, "Even when I was focusing on school lessons mentally, one hand never stopped drawing." He added, "Whenever the Busan International Film Festival was held in my hometown, I would visit directors and ask them 'how to become a director.' I even considered quitting school to focus on drawing cartoons."

Paintings by Judge Woo Sang-beom of the Seoul Bankruptcy Court.

In 2001, just before entering university, he faced reality. His family’s financial situation was so poor that he was separated from his mother, who had gone to work in another region to earn money, since elementary school. Following recommendations from those around him, he entered the law department. Judge Woo said, "I thought that no matter what major I chose, I could always draw. In fact, studying law suited my aptitude." What he mainly draws are people and bodies. Wanting to create drawings that show more personality, he focused on drawing complex and difficult human anatomy. Some of his drawings are anonymously shared on social networking services (SNS). He explained, "Like a habit from my school days, my hand still needs to keep moving for me to solve work-related problems faster and concentrate better. It’s like drawing an overall picture of complex legal principles or logical structures in my mind."

Starting his judicial career in 2013, he was assigned to insolvency work every time he moved workplaces?from the Bankruptcy Division of Busan District Court to Suwon District Court and then to Seoul Bankruptcy Court. Insolvency is a field where legal principles and systems are more unfamiliar than in civil or criminal cases, making it difficult for frontline judges to gain expertise. Judge Woo said, "At first, I applied out of curiosity and a sense of challenge. I also thought that if the current rehabilitation and bankruptcy system had been in place earlier, my family might have stayed together without separation." Through handling many complicated and significant cases, he successfully utilized underused systems to complete corporate M&A or rehabilitation procedures. Thus, he accumulated eight years of experience in the insolvency field. Last year, he also gave a lecture at a corporate rehabilitation orientation for judges nationwide who were handling insolvency work for the first time. He drew complex rehabilitation procedures himself to explain them clearly, earning praise from participating judges.

Paintings by Judge Woo Sang-beom of the Seoul Bankruptcy Court.

Judge Woo explained, "Effective restructuring and rehabilitation/bankruptcy systems allow companies facing financial difficulties to continue operating even if they can survive, while non-productive 'zombie companies' are liquidated. This leads to more corporate investment and job creation." He added, "It is also a system beneficial to creditors because they can receive repayments fairly and efficiently. At the same time, it minimizes moral hazard issues through various investigations and denial rights exercises by trustees, administrators, and other related parties, as well as reviews of dismissal and discharge refusal reasons."

Furthermore, he emphasized, "Because systems that fit market conditions must be introduced in a timely manner, insolvency courts are the most proactive institutions within the judiciary." Recently, the Seoul Bankruptcy Court revised the system so that even debtors who have already received discharge decisions can apply for additional bankruptcy and discharge if there are omitted debts. A task force (TF) was also formed to discuss support measures for victims of Jeonse fraud. Judge Woo said, "The role of the Seoul Bankruptcy Court is to improve social awareness of rehabilitation and bankruptcy systems, lower entry barriers so that debtors can recover in time, and maintain the economically active population to contribute to the overall national economy."

On the 9th, Judge Woo Sang-beom of the Seoul Bankruptcy Court, whom we met at the Seoul Bankruptcy Court, is answering a reporter's question. Photo by Huh Young-han younghan@

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.