In this blog post, I will outline my academic experiences, school activities, examples of kindness and community service, as well as my motivation for applying to a law program and my career plans.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
In high school, I took a keen interest in the social studies curriculum and enjoyed studying it. While the variety of social studies subjects made it complex to cover everything at once, that very diversity sparked a passion in me to learn more. The school curriculum required all students to take Economics, Social Culture, and Korean History as core courses in their first year, and in their second year, students were encouraged to pursue in-depth learning through elective courses such as Ethics, Modern and Contemporary History, and Law and Politics.
I chose to study four subjects: Social Culture, Law and Politics, Ethics and Philosophy, and Economics. This choice came naturally because I had always been very interested in law and politics and enjoyed thinking critically about social issues on my own. In the Law and Politics class, I was exposed to the basic concepts of the Constitution, democracy, and international politics, which helped me organize my thoughts more systematically.
One activity that stands out in my memory was the mock National Assembly. We held debates on whether to pass a constitutional amendment based on a theme for the semester, and I primarily took on the role of the Speaker of the National Assembly, mediating when discussions became heated. As the mediator, I guided participants to follow the rules when debates became emotional, and I personally felt the importance of law and procedure even in small situations. This experience led me to analyze scenes of actual politicians in the National Assembly to identify irrationalities or areas for improvement, and to consider more ideal ways to conduct meetings.
In my Ethics and Philosophy class, I compared Korean and Western ethical systems, gaining an understanding of how ethics and morality are shaped within their social and historical contexts. Through this course, I was able to reflect on the process by which new ideas emerge where ethics are lacking, and how ethics develop in societies with insufficient social order, eventually taking root as law.
In the Social Studies and Culture class, I developed the ability to view social phenomena from diverse perspectives by engaging with the viewpoints of various theorists and practicing the interpretation of statistics and graphs. In economics, I strove to understand economic theories by applying them to social and political phenomena rather than simply memorizing them, and I cultivated the habit of thinking holistically by connecting the subject with other social studies courses. By studying each subject in this interconnected manner, I was able to build a deep foundation of knowledge in social studies.
Major School Activities and Reflections
The activity that further fueled my interest in law was participating in the school’s law club. In the club, we engaged in various activities such as constitutional debates, analysis of unsolved cases, and reviews of miscarriages of justice. We also practiced drafting court rulings, evaluating each other’s work, and presenting our findings. Additionally, we actively participated in field-related activities, including visits to legal institutions, off-campus mock trial competitions, and preparing for policy forums.
Among these, the visit to the Judicial Research and Training Institute was the most memorable experience. As this is the institution where those who pass the bar exam receive their training, it was a place I was eager to visit as someone aspiring to become a legal professional. Through a legal education program for high school students, I participated in a variety of hands-on activities over a two-night, three-day period. The process of applying—which involved gathering internal applicants and submitting a personal statement—was part of the experience, and it provided an opportunity to broaden my perspective by interacting with students from other regions.
On the first day of the program, we introduced ourselves, formed teams, and prepared for a mock trial. Each team assigned roles such as judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, and witness. We met with judges directly within the Institute to discuss the definition of justice and engage in debates. As we held team discussions based on movies and real-life cases, I felt that the topics we usually covered in our club were expanding into new perspectives.
On the second day, we had the opportunity to observe a real courtroom and speak with the prosecutor and defense attorney who had handled the case. Experiencing firsthand the solemn atmosphere and procedures of the courtroom—which I had previously only seen in the media—made me realize just how different the perspectives of legal professionals are when viewing a case. Hearing directly from them that even among legal professionals, judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys interpret and approach cases differently broadened my understanding.
On the final day, there was a team-based mock trial demonstration. I took on the role of the judge, tasked with drafting and reading the verdict. Through this process, I deeply felt the impartiality, composure, and sense of responsibility that a judge must possess. I also came to understand how much patience, knowledge, and sound judgment are required to make decisions while adhering to procedures and avoiding emotional responses. Through these experiences, I have become even more determined to attend law school and subsequently undergo training at the Judicial Research and Training Institute.
Examples of Compassion, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
In class activities, I served as vice president during my first and second years of high school, and in my senior year, I was elected president by my peers to help manage the class. As president, I developed a strong sense of responsibility by maintaining order during study periods, communicating school announcements, and coordinating school schedules. Thanks to my cheerful and friendly demeanor, I was able to build strong relationships of trust with my classmates.
One day, my homeroom teacher called me aside to inform me that a classmate’s father had been hospitalized following a sudden traffic accident. The teacher also mentioned that the family’s financial situation was strained, and the burden of medical expenses could be significant. Together, the teacher and I decided to hold a class meeting to find a way to help. I carefully explained the situation to avoid causing alarm or anxiety among the students and convened an emergency class meeting.
During the meeting, the students offered various heartfelt suggestions, such as visiting the family, sending words of comfort, and collecting money to help with the hospital bills. Ultimately, we agreed that everyone should contribute whatever they could, no matter how small, to help with the medical expenses. The very next day, every single student in the class collected and delivered the donations. The students who went with me offered words of comfort to the mother and cheered up their friend, who was deeply distressed.
Throughout that week, I visited the hospital with the homeroom teacher whenever possible to encourage my classmate, and I took notes on the class material, organized them into printouts, and delivered them to him. Witnessing firsthand how small acts of help can come together to form great comfort, I deeply felt the value of mutual support and cooperation. This experience served as a reminder of the importance of responsibility and solidarity within a community.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
My motivation to apply to the Law School stems from my interest in law and my club activities during high school. Through mock trials and case analysis in my club and the Judicial Research and Training Institute program, my understanding of the structure and procedures of the law deepened. In particular, my experience with a mock trial involving tax evasion charges sparked my interest in tax law. The fact that many of the cases discussed in the club involved significant economic issues further fueled my interest in tax law.
What particularly piqued my interest were legal issues connected to economic activities within broader social phenomena. As I studied the types of taxes and tax payment rules in detail, my interest in various legal fields related to economic activities—such as constitutional law and labor law—grew, ultimately leading to the specific goal of handling trials primarily involving tax-related cases, such as inheritance tax and property tax.
My academic plan after admission is to prioritize building a solid foundation in law during my undergraduate studies. Starting in my first year, I plan to systematically organize basic theories and terminology, and as I progress through the program, I intend to diligently complete advanced courses to develop a comprehensive understanding of the law. In particular, for property law courses such as property law and contract law, I plan to focus on in-depth study centered on case law. To this end, I plan to organize a study group to analyze and discuss various case law precedents.
After successfully completing my undergraduate studies, my goal is to attend a law school specializing in tax law to develop my expertise. To prepare for law school, I will consistently practice skills such as mock trials, case analysis, and quantitative data interpretation starting in my undergraduate years. I also intend to cultivate an international perspective by studying foreign case law and international tax issues. Through this step-by-step preparation, I aim to grow into a legal professional specializing in tax law.
