 the think tech Hawaii's law across the sea program. Today we're going across the sea to Korea to talk with my good friend Young Moo Shin, the managing partner of SNL Partners, a law firm in Seoul. Young Moo is very knowledgeable and very experienced lawyer. Among his many professional accomplishments, he has been the president of both the Korean Bar Association and the Inter-Pacific Bar Association. I've asked Young Moo to share his inside view of recent events and issues in Korea. Welcome, Young Moo. It's good to see you. How are you? Fine. Thank you, Mark. I'm very honored to be with you today. Well, thank you. I know you're very busy and it's early in the morning in Seoul. Yes, in the morning, yeah. So let's get started because I really want to ask a knowledgeable citizen of Korea, like yourself, about current issues in Korea. Let's first what has life been like in Korea, in Seoul, under COVID, under the pandemic? What is life and the practice of law like in Korea? That is the case in many other countries. Korea enforced, Korean government enforced very strict social distancing requirements. So face-to-face meeting was very limited, but lawyers normally came to office as compared to other employees, office employees, who had some distant working at home. And law practice has been affected, as you can imagine. Face-to-face meeting was very limited, and lawyers, we were not able to make overseas trip. That would be, you can imagine what happened here. Right. How's the economy? How's the South Korean economy? Korean economy was affected severely. Governments put a lot of money into the market. And as a result, we are experiencing very severe inflation because of oversupply of money, as you can imagine. And certain business sectors, especially affected by distancing requirement, they incurred vital damage and loss. So it sounds like very similar to the United States and Hawaii, very similar government actions. Are the people of South Korea, how are they dealing with this? Are they holding together? Are they united? Are there divisions? I mean, we experience a lot in that in the United States. Some type of divisiveness as a result, political divisiveness. How is South Korea holding up people-wise? Yeah, we had experienced quite a division, greater division as compared before. In the past, regional division and generation division was an ideology division. That was the main division factors. But recently, gender division became more severe between men and women, especially on younger generation. I'm sorry, what does that mean? I mean, how does that affect people? Because of gender division, the rate of getting married is very low. Men and women, young men and young women, they don't get together very well. Yeah. And are we hoping that things get better? I guess there's still hope, right? Yeah, I think it's up to the government, the leader of the Korea. You know, I noticed that you were a founder of a group called Citizens Coalition for Social Justice. What was that about? Oh, let me explain the background first. I returned to Korea in only 1980 from the US after completing my advanced studies and getting some practical training at the US law firm. From my setup, I studied my own firm in Korea named Shin-En Kim, which grew one of the top three law firms in Korea in a short period of time. At that time, I was actually influenced by the US law firm. Shin-En Kim was the first law firm to adopt Korean law firms, adapting Western-style partnership arrangements. In that agreement, in order to be more attractive to younger attorneys in Korea, I made retirement age at 65, even including founder himself. I was founder. At the age of 65, I retired. After that, I ran for presidency of KBA, Korean Bar Association. And during the two-year term of presidency of KBA, I really enjoyed doing the different job, not law practice for profit or money, but for social justice in a way. Public interest really worked. I really enjoyed the job I performed at that time. That influenced me. Being a senior advisor to Shin-En Kim, I can do something more important thing for Korea. That's why I thought about forming an NGO. At that time, when I was younger, Korea society has more mobility, social mobility. Later on, it gradually decreased and lowered at the point where young people didn't have any free opportunity to compete for success. So, the first priority was to do the NGO called Social Justice, Citizens' Coalition for Social Justice. The first thing is to reduce corruption and the strengths and the rule of law in Korea to even the playing field, especially for younger generation. The second objective was to contribute educational reform in Korea so that youngsters can devote to develop their talent and to enjoy their lives doing whatever they really enjoy, you know, that goes to main objective, the goal of our NGO. But as you may imagine, I am quite frustrated because, you know, rule of law, we share this kind of backwards. Yeah, let me ask you about that because there was been a lot of news recently about South Korea's National Assembly stripping prosecutors of investigatory powers. What's that all about? I mean, is that what you're talking about? Yes, I include that also. That's the worst thing we have experienced today. What is that about? You know, prosecutors are quite capable professionals who have low degree pass-by exam in Korea, licensed attorneys. And they are together with judges in Korea, they are the two important artists implementing very important part of rule of law. And as prosecutors' job has become more important, their power, exercise of power sometimes abused. That's the point where the ruling party wanted to limit their power. But they went too far. The prosecutors have two important jobs. One is investigation. The other one is prosecution, including attendance and ordinary at court. That those powers cannot be reduced or changed in order to maintain rule of law in Korea. But the ruling party and some of them were worried, worried about for themselves. They made some, many people in Korea suspicious about they wanted to avoid prison. Okay, so there's a self-interest within politics, within politicians, and they're worried about the prosecutors finding out some bad things they've done. Now, it's been mentioned that a lot of prosecutors resigned. Are there any prosecutors left? What's the status of prosecutors? Initially, at first stage, a lot of prosecutors wanted to express their resignation. But it was reduced gradually and only a few resigned. And most of them remained. And you know, the act become effect four months later, the passage. So they have four months, actually, they wanted to do their job efficiently and effectively during the four months. So they are very eager now to find out, investigate, and prosecute wrongdoings committed. I see. So the legislative act actually rebounded in a way that the legislators weren't anticipating. Of course, I wonder how it'll what the result will ultimately be. Yeah. I hope it will be normalized during this government or later when the majority of the National Assembly is transferred to the ruling party. Now they are possible to amend the law. Well, we'll watch that. That'd be very interesting to see what happens. But it sounds like you've got some dedicated prosecutors that, you know, are really looking to do the right thing. And that's, you know, that's important. Now, you recently had a new president, Yoon Suk Yul, elected. What's that? I mean, how did he get elected? Then what's what are his plans for Korea? He has a attorney general on the Moon's government. He, he stand up for justice. He didn't comply with some kind of pressure given by the ruling party or the maybe, maybe he not directed by President Moon, but she didn't follow the intent of the ruling party. So she got quite a respect from the Korean people in short period of time. She got suffered a lot, including some kind of sanction given by the Minister of Justice under President Moon, but he fight against it successfully. So in such a short period of time, a attorney general became a most favorite candidate for President. This is really a good lesson. This would be the first time forever in history in Korea. So he's now the president. And that I mean, what you're telling me is actually very hopeful. And it shows that that Korean people are really watching this closely and that they want somebody respectful and follows the law. That sounds really good. Yes, we are very encouraged and hopeful too. One of the things that President Yoon mentioned was an audacious deal for North Korea. What's that? Oh, that is if North Korea abandon nuclear arms, then South Korea will do its best to have North Korea be successful economically. And North Korean people will enjoy their lives. So it's a proposal. Has it been formalized or is it just that's what he's talking about? Orally committed. But it can be formalized depending on the progress of the situation. Now, President, U.S. President Joe Biden just was in South Korea and met with President Yoon. How did that go? How was that meeting? And how did the people of Korea look at that? It was great actually. The visit of U.S. Biden was timely. Only 10 days after the inauguration of New President. And Biden was very good in making a visit to Samsung Electronics Company and had a meeting with Hyundai Motor in addition to political gesture. He wanted to have both strengthened ties between two countries and give some influence to North Korean government by ensuring the national security of Korea. And economically, the U.S. and Korea will make more stronger alliance. So it sounds like Korean people felt positive about Biden's trip to Korea. It sounds like it was a positive step. Okay, that's good. And the issues basically economic and North Korea, that President Biden, those are important issues for President Biden to address for Korea. Yes, I see. Now, we had a prior president who had a relationship with Kim Jong-un in North Korea. How did the citizens of South Korea think about that, President Trump's relationship with Kim Jong-un? Most Korean people, Trump's effort was not fruitful at all. He was deceived by Kim Jong-un in a way. And his approach was unrealistic. Ah, so he got fooled. He got taken advantage of and he didn't see, and that's the Korean citizen's viewpoint of that. Former President Moon tried to obey Mr. Trump to be a friend of North Korea. I see. It's leaving him. North Korea doesn't have nuclear power, nuclear energy and even if it has, in the process of developing it up to final stage, we can persuade successfully North Korean leader to abandon it. But that's not the case at all. Well, I mean, what do the people of South Korea think about North Korea's goals and strategies on the Korean Peninsula? Do South Koreans believe that North Korea will be a friend or use nuclear weapons? What is the viewpoint? We cannot exclude the possibility of North Korea using nuclear towards South. You know, so we have to be very careful. North Korea cannot compete with South Korea. North Korean people in general are the same as South Korean people, basically. Only the leading group, they enjoy quite a privilege and wealth. They are enjoying their lives under the sacrifice of the general public in North Korea, you know. Yeah, so the privileged few of North Korea take advantage of that privilege. Yeah. I see. And do the people in South Korea ever believe that there will be reunification? Or do they really want it? I mean, what's the reality of that picture? Reunification? Yes, no. Do they really want it? Eventually, we will be reunified. We don't know when it will happen, but most Koreans still want to have Korea reunified. If reunified, Korean people will be out of any threat of war. You know, we can develop more efficiently nationally. North Korea has quite a labor, young labor, South capital and technology. So combining it will be very much better. So it's still something that is hoped for the future and bringing the people together with their different talents would be a great thing for all the Korean people. That's what I hear you telling me. Yes, yes. Only the leader of North Korea doesn't want to do that, to enjoy his regime. So there has to be some sort of change in the leadership. And you would, the people of South Korea would welcome reunification on the right terms is what I hear you telling me. Basically, yes. But the younger generation has somewhat different view. Some of them, oh, we, if we reunify, we have to give a lot of economic assistance to North, then we are suffering. We should just get suffering. That is some of the worry younger generation have. But that's the majority, I think. There's still a long way to go, sounds like it's still a hope for the future. Yes. Okay. And it's something that most Koreans, you have this hope, but they realize realistically it'll take a long time. Yeah, I think so. The average North Korean people will be hopeful for reunification because they can be better off on the reunified Korea. The life-living standard will get improved. Let me ask you about North Korea and the COVID pandemic. What do we really know about it? Do you know anything more about it that's happening than we do over here? No. North Korea is a very peculiar country. No free-flow information at all. So we don't know anything about what's happening exactly there. We know there is a COVID. It has acquired an important thing for them to cure. But they don't have good facility and medicine, inspection, equipment, etc. But South Korea has offered to help, right? Yeah, but they didn't say anything yet. No answer yet. Is that a possibility you think, or is that not going to happen? Depending on the progress. They are receiving quite a few assistance from China. If that turns out to be not good enough, then that time they will ask for Korean South Korea to give some help. Do you think they're afraid to do that? Do you think they're worried that if they ask for help it'll make them look weak? They didn't say anything yet. I see. Okay. All right. So that's still out there on the table, possibly that could help to bring Korea's more friendly relationship? Yeah. Now, we have about a minute left and I'd be interested if there are any Korean words of wisdom, like a Korean motto or something from Korea that you could share with us today? A friend is a true friend in difficult times. As we experienced the Korean War and the U.S. led the alliance to help Korea to overcome the war and recovery thereafter of South Korea, we believe U.S. is really a good friend of, true friend of South Korea. And that's Korean words of wisdom? Yes. How do you say that in Korean? Okay. A friend, a true friend is a friend of a real friend. I'm sorry. Say that one more time, please. And in English? English, a direct translation would be a friend at a difficult time is a real friend. I like that. I like that motto. I like that words of wisdom. Thank you very much. Oh, thank you. Young Lucian, I appreciate your time and sharing your knowledge with us and your expertise. So look forward to the next time we can actually see each other in person. Oh yes, either in Hawaii or in Seoul. That'd be great.