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| A bill legalising a partial opening of the domestic legal services market has been passed by the Korean National Assembly according to the Ministry of Justice of the nation, and is set to take effect as early as September. The bill will apply only to law firms from countries that have signed a free trade agreement with South Korea.
Foreigners wishing to consult are required to have at least three years work experience overseas. They will also be required to spend at least 180 days each year in Korea. Those who have practised in the country for more than two years will be required to work in another country for one year regardless of the number of years they have already spent working in Korea, as the government has decided to acknowledge only two years of the period spent practising in the nation. The Ministry has noted that the move does not constitute an immediate market opening, as this development will be contingent on the passing of relevant bills by counterparts to the free trade agreements. |
