Handong Univ. achieves 1st Korean win at int'l moot court competition

A Handong International Law School team poses after wining the 24th Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Moot Competition in Hong Kong, Saturday. Courtesy of Hangdong University

A team from the International Law School at Handong University won the 24th Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Moot Competition Saturday in Hong Kong — the first time a Korean team has taken the top prize since the competition began in 2003.

The competition, jointly organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross and national Red Cross societies, is widely regarded as the region’s leading moot court in international humanitarian law.

It brings together regional champions and invited law schools to argue complex legal questions drawn from simulated armed conflict scenarios.

This year’s problem addressed contemporary issues in international humanitarian law, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare, forced conscription and the civilian toll of nuclear weapons.

Participants were required to analyze and argue cases in English, applying the Geneva Conventions, customary international law, rules of engagement and principles of international criminal responsibility in written briefs and oral arguments modeled on proceedings before international courts.

The Handong University team qualified for the international competition after winning the national round, held at Korea University in Seoul last September. In Hong Kong, the team advanced through the preliminary and knockout rounds, defeating teams from Hong Kong, Taiwan, China and Australia before overcoming a Japanese team in the final.

Lee Dong-hyun was named Best Mooter, taking top individual honors in addition to the team’s overall victory.

The team was guided by its faculty adviser, professor Kim Jung-woo, an expert in international humanitarian law who earned his doctorate from the National University of Singapore. He also served as a legal adviser to the United States Army, providing counsel on the law of armed conflict and related issues.

Kim credited the students’ perseverance and teamwork for the victory, highlighting the contributions of each member to the final outcome.

“The victory reflects the school’s commitment to cultivating globally competitive legal professionals with strong advocacy skills,” Lee Hee-eon, dean of Handong University International Law School, said.

“The institution will continue to support students and alumni in pursuing impactful careers in international law, from armed conflict to complex commercial disputes.”

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.