National Assembly to Discuss 'Super Lawyer' Document Automation

National Assembly to Discuss 'Super Lawyer' Document Automation…Expectations for Increased Efficiency in the Legal Profession

On October 28, 2025, the National Assembly is scheduled to discuss the 'Super Lawyer Document Automation (Rom Pong)' program, which is expected to significantly improve document creation efficiency in the legal profession. There is growing anticipation both inside and outside the legal community that the Super Lawyer Document Automation program will reduce the workload of lawyers and enable more efficient provision of legal services. In particular, document automation using artificial intelligence technology is expected to strengthen the competitiveness of the legal market and ultimately contribute to providing better legal services to the public. The National Assembly discussion is expected to involve in-depth discussions on the introduction effects of the Super Lawyer Document Automation program, as well as anticipated problems and solutions. Some are raising concerns about the potential job losses in the legal profession due to the introduction of artificial intelligence technology, making it important to reach a social consensus on this issue. Nevertheless, the Super Lawyer Document Automation program has the potential to drive innovation in the legal profession, and its progress is attracting attention.

U.S.-Korea Trade Negotiations Face Difficulties…Senior Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs Kim Yong-beom Says, "Key Issues Remain Tense"

Senior Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs Kim Yong-beom stated on October 28, 2025, that "the positions between the two countries remain tense on key issues" regarding the $350 billion trade negotiations currently underway between the U.S. and Korea. This statement, made ahead of the U.S.-Korea summit scheduled for October 29, 2025, is attracting even more attention. Upon returning home on October 24, 2025, Secretary Kim indirectly revealed the difficulties in the negotiation process by suggesting that it may be difficult to reach an agreement before the APEC summit. The core issue of these negotiations is focused on the proportion of cash investment and the investment period of the $350 billion U.S. investment fund promised by Korea to the U.S. While the U.S. is demanding full cash and lump-sum investment, Korea is proposing a plan to pay in installments of $7 billion per year over 10 years, emphasizing a realistic level of affordability. The two countries are conducting last-minute negotiations to narrow these differences, but have not yet reached an agreement. In this situation, attention is focused on whether the leaders of the two countries will directly discuss this issue at the scheduled U.S.-Korea summit and find a compromise.

Secretary Kim Yong-beom Visits the U.S. with Minister Kim Jeong-kwan…Final Negotiations with Commerce Secretary Luttnick

To resolve the difficulties in the trade negotiations, Senior Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs Kim Yong-beom, along with Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-kwan, visited Washington D.C. on October 22, 2025, for final negotiations with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Luttnick. This visit is interpreted as part of the effort to narrow the differences between the two countries as much as possible ahead of the U.S.-Korea summit scheduled for October 29, 2025. During the negotiation process, the U.S. side is known to be strongly demanding full cash and lump-sum investment in Korea's U.S. investment fund. This appears to be related to U.S. President Donald Trump's core policy of reviving U.S. manufacturing and creating jobs. On the other hand, Korea is proposing a plan to pay in installments of $7 billion per year over 10 years, requesting that the realistic situation of the Korean economy be taken into consideration. Secretary Kim Yong-beom and Minister Kim Jeong-kwan reportedly made efforts to explain Korea's position to the U.S. side as much as possible during this visit and find a compromise at a reasonable level. However, there are also forecasts that it will be difficult to reach a dramatic agreement because the differences between the two countries are so great.

U.S.-Korea Summit D-2…Attention Focused on Whether Trade Negotiations Will Be Concluded

With the U.S.-Korea summit scheduled for October 29, 2025, just two days away, attention is focused on whether the trade negotiations between the two countries will be concluded. White House Spokesperson Caroline Leavitt officially announced that U.S. President Donald Trump will travel to Busan on October 29, 2025, to hold bilateral talks with Republic of Korea President Lee Jae-myung. While various agendas are expected to be discussed at this summit, including strengthening the U.S.-Korea alliance, resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, and expanding economic cooperation, the biggest focus is still on whether the trade negotiations will be concluded. If the leaders of the two countries reach a political agreement on the trade negotiations at this summit, the working-level negotiating teams are expected to be able to coordinate the details based on this and reach a final agreement. However, it is uncertain whether a dramatic agreement can be reached given that the differences between the two countries are still significant. Some predict that the leaders of the two countries will only present a concrete roadmap for concluding the trade negotiations at this meeting and provide guidelines for future negotiations.

Pacific Island Nations Strongly Protest Fukushima Wastewater Discharge into the Ocean…"Our Ocean is Not a Laboratory"

Since the Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company forcibly discharged Fukushima wastewater into the ocean in August 2023, opposition from Pacific Island nations has continued. Pacific Island nations are calling on the international community to stop Japan's wastewater discharge into the ocean, using the slogan "Our ocean is not a laboratory." They criticize that the wastewater discharge into the ocean destroys the marine ecosystem and threatens the survival rights of the people of Pacific Island nations. In particular, Pacific Island nations are highly dependent on fisheries, and there are major concerns about reduced catches and seafood safety due to wastewater discharge into the ocean. They also argue that the Japanese government has not properly verified the safety of wastewater purification technology and has neglected transparent information disclosure, and are calling for a joint response from the international community. This opposition from Pacific Island nations is spreading in various forms, including filing a lawsuit with the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and alliances with international environmental organizations, and international pressure on the Japanese government's wastewater discharge into the ocean is expected to intensify further in the future. The Republic of Korea government has also expressed concern about wastewater discharge into the ocean and is seeking active responses to this issue in cooperation with the international community.