Sejong News
NOW Sejongin #156 – An Interview with Alumnus Yoo Jae-il - Passed the 14th Korean Bar Exam in 2025
이정은
2025-06-23
▲ Alumnus Yoo Jae-il
We met with Yoo Jae-il (Law, Class of 2015), who passed the 14th Korean Bar Exam in 2025, to hear about his journey and experiences.
Q. Please introduce yourself.
A. I’m Yoo Jae-il, a 2015 undergraduate from the Department of Law at Sejong University. While in school, I steadily prepared for law school admission. In 2020, I served as the head of the law school preparation group, focusing on communication and information-sharing with fellow students. I entered law school in 2021 as part of its 13th cohort and completed the three-year program before taking the 13th bar exam. Although I didn’t pass on the first try, I succeeded in the 14th exam and am now undergoing training with the Korean Bar Association. Including my preparation period, I’ve dedicated about five years to pursuing a legal career, and I would say I took the exam relatively early and passed efficiently. Now, I’m gradually building up my own experiences within the diverse environment of law school and the legal profession.
Q. How did it feel to finally pass the bar exam?
A. I didn’t have a strong sense of confidence during the exam. The bar exam consists of multiple-choice and essay sections, and I felt like I missed a few questions in the multiple-choice part that may have been crucial. I had mentally prepared myself to study for another year, so hearing the news of my passing came as a complete surprise—and brought immense joy. It didn’t feel real for a few days, and my parents were also overjoyed. My first attempt had gone poorly, so I didn’t expect much this time either. I simply hoped it would be better than last time, and I’m relieved that I was able to redeem myself. Because I let go of expectations, the happiness felt even greater.
Q. What kind of exam is the Korean bar exam?
A. The Korean bar exam is a national exam that you can take only after completing a three-year program at a law school. It covers three main fields: public law, criminal law, and civil law. These include subjects such as constitutional and administrative law, criminal law and criminal procedure, and civil law, civil procedure, and commercial law. The exam is divided into multiple-choice (objective), essay-type (case-based), and record-type (legal document drafting) formats. It is administered over five days, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a one-day break in the middle. The breadth of content and the length of the exam make it a highly intense test requiring strong concentration and physical endurance.
Q. Did you have any personal study methods or strategies that worked well for you?
A. The most important thing for me was maintaining a steady pace without burning out. I usually rested in the mornings and studied from the afternoon until 10 p.m. I made sure to study every day without skipping, but rather than cramming, I focused on consistency. I mostly studied in the university’s library reading room, and I took breaks when things got tough. I found that having a steady rhythm and moving forward little by little was more effective than setting overly intense goals. Especially during difficult periods, repeated steady study was more helpful than short bursts of intense focus. That approach helped reduce stress and made it easier to sustain my studies long term.
Also, since there are so many subjects and the scope is wide, the strategy of “consolidating materials into one” was very useful. I focused on one subject per week and created my own summary notes based on what I reviewed. Since the exam spans five days, having systematically organized materials really helped refresh my memory during the exam.
Q. What was the most difficult part of the preparation process?
A. Looking back now, I can say it with a smile, but truthfully, every day of studying was mentally exhausting. It wasn’t a single major crisis, but the ongoing challenge of consistently studying day after day was draining. Giving up hobbies and maintaining work-life balance wasn’t easy either.
In particular, after failing the first exam, walking into the testing center again was incredibly stressful. Seeing familiar faces in the same place made me feel emotionally vulnerable. In the end, I believe the key factor was the ability to stay consistent over time.
Q. Was there a decision during your undergraduate years that helped you on your path to becoming a lawyer?
A. I didn’t start out with a firm conviction that I wanted to be a lawyer. I was a law major and vaguely thought, “It would be nice to become a lawyer,” so I joined the law school prep group. After eventually becoming its head, I naturally developed a sense of responsibility and thought, “Since I’ve started, I should give it a real try.” Those experiences helped clarify my motivation and ultimately led me to pursue a legal career.
The structured support from the prep group was especially helpful. When I was unsure about my future path, being part of the group gave me direction. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I made. For students dreaming of a legal career, I highly recommend joining the law school prep group.
Q. What are your plans going forward?
A. After passing the bar exam, you must complete a six-month “legal practice training period” before you can formally represent clients or appear in court. This training can be completed at a public institution or a law firm, or through a training program offered by the Korean Bar Association.
This period is often a requirement for future employment at law firms or public agencies, so it’s important to complete it diligently. I’m currently participating in a training program to build practical skills, and I plan to continue my career by working in litigation at a law firm or legal office.
Q. Lastly, do you have any words of advice for students who aspire to become lawyers?
A. I don’t think I need to say much to those who already have a firm goal of becoming a lawyer—they’ve likely chosen their path and are preparing for law school and the bar exam.
But for those who are still hesitant or wondering, “Is this really the right path for me?” I want to say this: The bar exam is certainly not easy. But it’s not so overwhelming that you should fear it or give up before even trying.
Although not many people choose to pursue law school and the bar exam yet, that’s all the more reason to take on the challenge. What’s more regrettable than failing the exam is giving up without even trying.
If you’re a student dreaming of becoming a lawyer, feel free to reach out. Just as I once received help from others, I’m more than willing to help you in return.
Also, earning a law license doesn’t limit you to practicing law. It opens doors to many other fields, such as military legal service, police, public institutions, or in-house counsel roles. I hope you approach this path with broader vision and take on the challenge with courage.