Seocho-gu Holds 'Asia-Pacific Judicial Justice Hub Academic Conference' to Discuss Its Role

"Must Emerge as the Center of Judicial Justice in the Asia-Pacific"

Seocho-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) announced on the 13th that it held the "2nd Asia-Pacific Judicial Justice Hub Academic Conference" at the Seoul Bar Association Building to explore ways to develop the Seocho-dong legal district into a center for legal exchange in the Asia-Pacific region.

The event, held the previous day, was co-hosted by Seocho-gu, the Song Sang-hyun International Justice, Peace and Human Rights Foundation, and the Seoul Bar Association under the theme "Roles and Implementation Plans for Establishing the Asia-Pacific Judicial Justice Hub." This was the second conference following last year's event held under the theme "The Value and Future of Establishing the Asia-Pacific Judicial Justice Hub."

The "Asia-Pacific Judicial Justice Hub" refers to the largest domestic legal district around Banpodaero (Seocho Station to Nue Bridge) and Seocho-daero (former Intelligence Command site to Seocho Station to Gyodae Station). It is one of the five themes of the "Seocho Cultural Belt" promoted by the district.

Seocho-gu Legal District view. Provided by Seocho-gu.

Just as The Hague in the Netherlands has become an international center for judicial justice with institutions such as the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, and the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Seocho-gu is promoting the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Judicial Justice Hub with the vision of creating a vibrant platform for international legal exchange and popularizing judicial services. The district plans to develop this area into the judicial justice center of the Asia-Pacific region based on the human and physical infrastructure of the Seocho legal district.

Seocho-gu aims to make this area the judicial and justice mecca of the Asia-Pacific region. Starting with the "Judicial Justice Hub Establishment Academic Research Project" last year, the district held the first academic conference and officially designated the area as the "Judicial Justice Hub" in March this year. In July, a proclamation ceremony and public hearing for the Asia-Pacific Judicial Justice Hub were held to gather opinions from related organizations and residents, and currently, landscape improvements around the legal district are underway.

About 200 participants including officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Seoul Metropolitan Government, courts, prosecution, legal professionals, and residents attended the conference. Discussions focused on the roles and concrete implementation plans of related ministries, the legal community, and Seocho-gu itself to transform the area into a legal culture hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

Professor Emeritus Song Sang-hyun of Seoul National University (former President of the International Criminal Court and Chairman of the UNICEF Korea Committee), who first proposed the "Asia-Pacific Judicial Justice Hub," stated, "Over the past two years, Seocho-gu has prepared a master plan for establishing the Judicial Justice Hub, achieving remarkable results such as improving the legal district’s landscape and creating symbolic designs." He added, "Just as The Hague has grown into a world-renowned legal city, I hope that an Asian Human Rights Court will be established in Seocho-gu to make Seoul the capital of justice in the Asia-Pacific region," drawing attention.

Following this, discussions continued on related cases such as the creation of specialized streets and attracting international organizations, the master plan for realizing the Asia-Pacific Judicial Justice Hub, and the roles of related institutions and stakeholders. Panelists included Min Il-young, former Supreme Court Justice and representative lawyer of Sejong Law Firm (chair), Kang Byung-geun, Chief Architect of Seoul, and Shin Dong-hwan, Director of International Legal Support Division at the Ministry of Justice.

Particularly, heated debates focused on the necessity of establishing and attracting international organizations such as the Asian Human Rights Court, the conclusion of an Asian human rights treaty, and the direction for building public design for the "Asia-Pacific Judicial Justice Hub." A district official stated, "We will gather the opinions from the academic conference to seek specific cooperation plans with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Seoul Metropolitan Government, and others, and proceed with full-scale implementation." The official also added, "We plan to establish the academic conference as an annual event, regularly held every November."

Mayor Jeon Seong-su said, "To establish the 'Asia-Pacific Judicial Justice Hub,' various related organizations and stakeholders must work as one team." He added, "I hope this academic conference will serve as an opportunity for Seocho-gu to leap forward as the judicial justice center of the Asia-Pacific region by gathering the wisdom of the legal community, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Seoul Metropolitan Government, and other institutions."

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