- First-year students achieve remarkable success, sweeping Best Team, Best Memorial, and Best Oralist awards

- Synergy effect of American-style law school curriculum and peer mentoring system

Students from Handong International Law School (HILS) have cemented their reputation in international legal advocacy, claiming top honors at the 17th Red Cross International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Moot Court Competition. The national rounds were held on September 27, 2025, at Korea University School of Law.

The remarkable HILS team—consisting entirely of first-year law students Min Chan Jeon, Donghyun Lee, and Sung Hun Ryu—achieved a sweeping victory. They secured three major awards: Best Team, Best Memorial (Prosecution), and the coveted Best Oralist, which was awarded to Min Chan Jeon.

The Red Cross IHL Moot Court Competition, co-organized by the Korean Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), challenges students to analyze and apply complex IHL and international criminal law principles. Supported by Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of National Defense, the event is a key platform for training future international lawyers.

The championship team was coached by Assistant Professor Jeong Woo Kim, a former legal advisor to the U.S. Army and an expert in IHL whose recent doctoral research focused on the privileges of combatants in war.

"Our students showed remarkable resilience and sharp oral advocacy skills, masterfully applying international law to a complex set of facts," Prof. Kim stated. "Credit must also be given to the senior students who encouraged the team and assisted as guest judges during practice rounds."

Among those mentors was Yeram Jeon (a second-year student, IHL moot alumna, and last year’s Best Oralist), who provided invaluable support and encouragement to the team, ensuring that the team was prepared for the challenges of mooting.

“Watching the team grow in confidence while engaging more deeply with IHL was both inspiring and profoundly rewarding,” she said.

Best Oralist Min Chan Jeon expressed gratitude for the school's program. “It is an honor to bring home this result for our school. The intensive advocacy training and the advice from professors and alumni were invaluable throughout our preparation,” he said.

This victory underscores HILS's commitment to rigorous, American-style legal education. With this win, HILS has now claimed the national title at the Red Cross IHL Moot Court an incredible eight times (2013, 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025). The distinctly Christian law school consistently produces top results at national and international competitions, preparing graduates to pass the U.S. bar and pursue legal careers worldwide.

[Photo 1] Winning team of the 17th International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition (from left-Donghyun Lee, Minchan Jeon, Yeram Jeon, Seonghun Ryu, and Professor Jeongwoo Kim) 

[Photo 2] Handong University student Minchan Jeon receiving the Best Oralist award at the 17th International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition

[Photo 3] Handong team celebrating after sweeping Best Team, Best Memorial (Prosecution), and Best Oralist awards

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