Attorney at law, Youm Hyung-kuk’s parents did not agree with their son’s choice. It was not easy to find previous examples of public lawyers. In addition, it has a long way to go. However, he has lived until now with his belief for his choice without regret. When he was young, he wanted to do something that he could enjoy. He said that he is especially happy when he contributes his life to society. ‘Like when I first decided’ is his life motto. It is hard to keep one’s mind as it was when he first chose his job. He said that keeping one’s first intention is important because humanity is very weak and easily affected by one’s environment. He said that if he had a chance to go back to the days of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, he would have made the same decision. The reporter naturally smiled while looking at his humble attitude about what he is doing. -Ed
 
‘The Beautiful Foundation’ and everyone held out their hands

 The non-profit foundation, ‘The Beautiful Foundation’, was established to support activities for public interest and to help a neglected class of people. They have supported the Public Interest Lawyer Fund since the public interest lawyer’s group, ‘Gong-gam’, initially opened in 2003. When I decided to be a public interest lawyer, I visited several civil groups’ offices to find somebody who needed help, and I finally met the executive director of ‘The Beautiful Foundation’, Park Won-soon. He was also thinking about that fund, and when I visited him, he really empathized with my idea that made ‘The Beautiful Foundation’ support us until now. ‘Gong-gam’ members have been able to gather in this place due to many individual and corporate donors who have been supporting us.
 I named our office ‘Gong-gam’ because I carefully considered that the worries of minorities and the disadvantaged are excluded from society and law. I think we can live together with our neighbors when we empathize with their problems as they have basic problems in our society. ‘Gong-gam’ came into the world with empathy of citizens and many public interest lawyers’ beliefs, which are that they can make society better. 7 lawyers and 2 assistant administrators are working for our office. We usually serve legal consultation and work as attorneys at law about social problems such as human rights of the disabled, refugees, poverty and welfare, and labor of vulnerable social groups. In addition, we research on the improvement of our legal system and we give lectures anywhere they are needed. We long to guarantee detailed human rights about the disadvantaged and minorities. Besides, we want to expand the boundary of social human rights through the process of improvement of institutional problems.

Korea is still in a cultural lag

 Korea guarantees human rights with law. However, the law does not always strongly act on the problems. The law solves social problems, which other social methods could not solve, as a last resort, but finally it reaches the limit. The law is considered as a tool which humanity created rather than an objective outline. Thus, we make judgments with our personal values. Those who administer justice suffer a cultural lag. It is recommended to change their perception. Civil servants, judges and prosecutors are discriminative and conservative when they take the case such as emigrant workers, the disabled and refugees. The privileged classes make me realize that we still have high walls in this era. What ‘Gong-gam’ wants to say is that Korea still needs an improvement of these perceptions.
 
We can see the sprouts of change in Korea

 Korea still needs to improve aspects about human rights though Korea is richer than before. However, Korea has improved much more than the past. The legislations about human rights for the disabled are as advanced as developed countries. We especially have the legislation about human rights for mentally deficient people in which advanced countries are still in the low levels. For example, ‘Gong-gam’ improved systems of civil rights for the disabled such as a support program for undeveloped disabled persons and The Disability Discrimination Act. Civil groups and NGOs prepare bills to enact them through members of the National Assembly, and we produce research papers for improvement of legislation and policies.
 On the 12th of last July, Law Revision of the Attorneys at Law Act contained contents about the new foundation of a corporate public interest lawyer’s group for vitalization of public interest activities with exclusive responsibility of lawyers. Society is becoming more stable, so more public interest lawyers can work. Social perception is not being developed by an individual’s effort. I can say that overall perceptions of citizens are becoming mature. Every Korean is leading the change of Korea.

The way of empathizing with ‘Gong-gam’

 I recommend supporting public interest groups such as many NGOs and ‘Gong-gam’ if you want to share and empathize with the value which ‘Gong-gam’ has. As you participate in social evolution through supporting them, you can make your lives rich and meaningful. Another way to share values of ‘Gong-gam’ is joining an internship. Since 2005, we have recruited more than 20 interns at the beginning of every semester. As 170 people applied for about 20 seats, it was highly competitive in the recruiting last February. The selection criteria of the ‘Gong-gam’ internship are interest and passion for public interest, and they are more important than school grades. We did not make room for a school name on the application to judge applicants without prejudice. One of our interns, Song Ji-eun(24, graduate of Department of Law in Kyung Hee University), was waiting for an application date as soon as she found out about public interest groups. Dreaming of being a lawyer, she said, “I did not know what public interest lawyers do, but I could clarify my dream and goal by learning from their activities during the internship.” You can check notices for internship recruitment on the homepage of ‘Gong-gam’, http://www.kpil.org/.
 From the 26th to the 27th of July, a lecture for the law of human rights was held. To anybody who is interested in human rights, this was held to induce empathy and to boost perception about human rights. We are consistently trying to carry forward the lectures and events for human rights. In addition, we are preparing a release of a book which expresses the values of human rights. Furthermore, we have a plan to teach human rights to those who are in the field of law as they go into influential positions. I am invited to the classes in the law schools or some universities. I am always ready to visit schools if they ask me to give lectures as the university is a place of greater learning. 

Feel lost and worry!
 
 It is very important to have the time to feel lost and to be concerned about the paths to take at the time for a life decision. Youths often avoid and disregard thinking of what they want and how they want to live due to pressure from grades in school and TOEIC scores. It is pitiful that young students think that being a civil servant or joining a major company is worldwide business in their lives. Finding a job is actually not everything in life. As youths have plenty of time ahead of them, they need to have time to worry about their remaining lives. It is meaningless without that time. These days, our society is overflowing with anxieties about taking a path which others usually do not take or being ready later than others. However, we do not need to compare ourselves with others because we do not stand at the same starting lines and we go separate ways. Although we can be lawyers or civil servants, if we are just satisfied with economic affluence but not finding real meaning of our lives, it is meaningless.
 If you want to be a lawyer, question yourself, “Why do you want to be a lawyer?” Then, you will be able to find what you really want in your mind. I hope there will be many conscious lawyers. I also hope they will improve their skills so they can fulfill their goals. I know many institutions for future lawyers that are increasing the number of buildings, and I hope they will foster a lot of future lawyers who can change society with devotion and passion.