From February 16 to February 22, 2024, the faculty and students of Guanghua Law School of Zhejiang University went to Seoul, South Korea for a seven-day winter camp academic trip. A total of 35 students, including 18 graduate students and 17 undergraduates, participated in this winter camp in Korea, led by Prof. Ma Guang and Ms. Meng Tengfei.
During the seven-day trip, our teachers and students visited Koryo University, Korean Commercial Arbitration Court, Seoul National University, National Assembly of Korea, Korean Constitutional Tribunal, Kim Jang Law Firm, Korean Grand Prosecutor's Office, Korean Grand Court, and gained a deeper understanding of Korea's legal system structure as well as its humanistic history.
After arriving at Seoul, the students first took a cruise on the Han River to explore the winter scenery of the Han River and enjoy the beautiful natural scenery of Seoul, which opened the curtain of the study tour in a pleasant atmosphere.
In the morning of February 17th, teachers and students went to Koryo University to visit and listen to Professor Park No-Hyoung's lecture on international law in cyberspace. The importance of the need for security in cyberspace was emphasized by citing the case of Russia's cyber attack on Estonia in 2007. He also recommended students to read the Tallinn Handbook to help them learn international law better. It is worth mentioning that this lecture was Prof.Park No-Hyoung's last lecture before his retirement, which made this study tour even more meaningful.
On the morning of February 19th, the students and teachers of the study group visited the Korean Commercial Arbitration Institute (KCAI). Mr. Steve Kim, Director of the International Arbitration Center of the KCCA, introduced the operation mode of the International Arbitration Center and how to conduct international arbitration to the students. Afterwards, Mr. Kim answered the students' questions in detail and gave them advice on how to become a good lawyer. After that, the group went to Seoul National University, where Prof. Ding Sang Chao welcomed them. Prof. Kang Kwang Moon introduced the development of the law school and the master's degree program of the Seoul National University Law School, and answered the questions of the students. After the visit, the students and faculty went to the Korean Constitutional Tribunal, where Senior Constitutional Law Officer Kim Sung-jin introduced the unique historical background, institutional foundation and practical role of the Korean Constitutional Tribunal, and demonstrated the significance of the existence of the Korean Constitutional Tribunal.
On February 20, a group of teachers and students of the study group visited the National Assembly of Korea and Kim Jang Law Office. In the morning, officials including Lee Bok-woo, Chief of the Legislative Investigation Division of the National Assembly, Kim Sun-hwa, Senior Research Officer of the International Legislative Investigation Division, and Yoo Jae-min, Deputy Director of the National Assembly Office, received our delegation and had a discussion with our teachers and students. First of all, Mr. Lee Bok-woo, the director of the office, expressed his warm welcome to our students and faculty. After that, Senior Research Officer Kim Sang-hwa introduced the National Assembly and the Legislative Investigation Division, which made the students have a more detailed understanding of the composition and functions of the National Assembly of Korea, and they exchanged views on the number of female members of the National Assembly and other issues at the meeting. Immediately after that, the students and teachers visited the National Assembly Hall and the Constitutional Memorial Hall to have a better understanding of the Korean parliamentary system. In the afternoon, the students and faculty went to Kim Chang Law Firm, where Mr. Sun Jinlan and Mr. Zhang Zhihua made a brief introduction to the students and faculty on the general situation of Kim Chang Law Firm and exchanged views with the students, analyzing the differences between the lawyers' profession in China and South Korea with their own career development experience as a starting point and making suggestions for the students' career development in the future.
On the last day of this visit, our faculty and students visited the Grand Court of Korea and the Grand Prosecutor's Office of Korea. Mr. Kim Eun-sil, the International Review Officer of the Grand Court of Korea, welcomed them, and Mr. Cho Shin-min, the Clerk of the Court, gave them a tour of the Court and introduced the daily work of the Court. At the Korea Grand Prosecutor's Office, the spokesperson of Park Hyuk-soo Grand Prosecutor's Office received the students and faculty members and warmly welcomed their visit, and the students gained a deeper understanding of the Grand Prosecutor's Office through the visit to its History Hall. Afterward, the students interacted with theprosecutors.
The seven-day winter camp trip to Korea created an opportunity for our academics to come into contact with the Korean legal system, history and culture, and humanistic customs. The trip to Korea not only broadened the international vision, but also further enabled students to understand the Korean legal system and culture, and encouraged them to combine theory and practice to make their own contribution to the construction of a society based on the rule of law.
