More than 20 students from KDI School visited South Korea's IP High Court in Daejeon City this month, at the invitation of Presiding Judge Young Gi Kim, a current MIPD student and Director of the International Intellectual Property Law Research Center (IIPLRC).

Judge Yun presents an overview of the IP High Court to visiting students.

In the first part of the visit, Judge Joung Woon Yun provided a complete overview of the court, including its history, structure, procedures, and functions within the country’s legal system. South Korea was the first Asian country to establish a specialized intellectual property court in 1998, and the institution has since become a regional benchmark for IP adjudication. The session also covered how the court is organized, how cases are brought and decided, and what sets it apart from general courts.

The IIPLRC, established under the court in 2017, supports comparative legal research and international engagement, and it was in this capacity that the Center  hosted KDIS students

For many students, the experience brought understanding to concepts that had merely existed in textbooks. "Intellectual property was largely theoretical for me," said Hana Mohamed Sayed Shallaly (PhD in Development Policy, Egypt). "Seeing how it applies in real courtroom settings showed me just how dynamic and economically critical IP protection really is."

Adiyasuren Solongo (MIPD, Mongolia) also drew a similar conclusion. "Visiting an institution like these exposes you to how a specialized court is actually designed, its own rules, expertise, procedures, and why that specialization matters for both legal certainty and innovation, she said. Both students also noted the court's adoption of technology and AI tools in court proceedings, from case management to session organization, reflects an institution that sees modernization as a core part of how justice should be delivered.

Judge Kim, for his part, viewed the invitation as both an institutional responsibility and a personal commitment. As a current MIPD student, he wanted to share a meaningful opportunity after being invited to the IP Forum organized by MIPD students last month. He stated, "I wanted my fellow students to experience firsthand what I see every day. Intellectual property is the fundamental engine powering economic development, innovation, and international trade. Since KDIS students focus on public policy and global development, they represent the future policymakers who will shape how IP systems operate worldwide."

The court visit was organized to coincide with the IIPLRC's 2026 Special Seminar with principal guest, Professor Daryl Lim, H. Laddie Montague Jr. Chair in Law at Penn State Dickinson Law, United States.

Judge Kim, Professor Lim, and Judge Yi, pictured from left to right.

Professor Lim participated in a moderated panel discussion alongside High Court Judge Jiyoung Yi and Presiding Judge Kim, addressing issues in global IP policy such as the emerging legal tensions between AI and fair use, and the Standard Essential Patent (SEP), among others.

For Agung Harish Bastoro (MIPD), the visit was especially relevant to his background as a legal analyst at Indonesia’s Intellectual Property Office. Drawing on the speakers’ expertise in intellectual property law, he stated, "With this experience, I intend to do comparative research on trademark dispute resolution between Indonesia and South Korea, and develop concrete policy recommendations."

MPP students Boamah Berlinda Akosua (left) and Bradley Ndibnu Beckley (right) during the Special Seminar Q&A session.

Student participation in the seminar was substantive and insightful. Their participation promoted dialogue, and reflected their understanding and interest in the topics discussed.

In a subsequent interview, Judge Kim reiterated the larger purpose of IP law: 'IP law is a tool for protecting corporate assets and also an instrument of public policy. We should balance technical proficiency with a commitment to fair access and sustainable development.  He also encouraged students to develop a comparative perspective and stay ahead of the technological curve since contemporary IP issues transcend national boundaries In this regard, the IIPLRC also formally invited KDIS students to participate in its International Summer Seminar on July 23.