Eighth Army legal practitioners discuss military law with ROK counterparts

By Kenji ThuloweitDecember 3, 2021

Soldiers and civilians from across Eighth Army’s Judge Advocate General's offices joined their Republic of Korea Army counterparts at the annual International Symposium on Security and Military Law held at the ROK Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan, Seoul, South Korea, Nov. 24, 2021.
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers and civilians from across Eighth Army’s Judge Advocate General's offices joined their Republic of Korea Army counterparts at the annual International Symposium on Security and Military Law held at the ROK Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan, Seoul, South Korea, Nov. 24, 2021. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers and civilians from across Eighth Army’s Judge Advocate General's offices pose for a group photo with their Republic of Korea Army counterparts at the annual International Symposium on Security and Military Law held at the ROK Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan, Seoul, Nov. 24, 2021.
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers and civilians from across Eighth Army’s Judge Advocate General's offices pose for a group photo with their Republic of Korea Army counterparts at the annual International Symposium on Security and Military Law held at the ROK Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan, Seoul, Nov. 24, 2021. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers from Eighth Army’s Judge Advocate General's office pose for a photo with their Republic of Korea Army counterparts at the annual International Symposium on Security and Military Law held at the ROK Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan, Seoul, Nov. 24, 2021.
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from Eighth Army’s Judge Advocate General's office pose for a photo with their Republic of Korea Army counterparts at the annual International Symposium on Security and Military Law held at the ROK Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan, Seoul, Nov. 24, 2021. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Soldiers and civilians from across Eighth Army and U.S. Forces Korea's legal offices joined their Republic of Korea Army counterparts at the annual International Symposium on Security and Military Law Nov. 24.

This year’s symposium took place at the ROK Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan, Seoul. The ROK Army Judge Advocate General, Brig. Gen. Park, Yong Seuk, hosted the conference.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s meeting of legal minds was limited to 100 participants, 30 of which were U.S. legal professionals including judge advocates, civilian attorneys, military and civilian paralegals, and legal administrators from Eighth Army. The U.S. Navy and Air Force also were represented.

The theme for this year’s symposium was “Legal Support in Future Battlefield Environments,” and the ROK Army requested presentations focused on practical application as the ROK Army moves forward in enhancing its operational law capabilities.

“The symposium was a tremendous success for legal interoperability and efforts to further strengthen the U.S. and ROK Alliance,” said Lt. Col. Emily Roman, Eighth Army, National Security Law chief.

Law professionals from each military discussed several contemporary subjects regarding military law. Topics included the ROK establishing an operational law center, the role of military judge advocates in operational environments, and the future of legal operations in large-scale combat operations and multi-domain operations.

“Overall, the ISSML provided a phenomenal engagement opportunity for joint and multinational discussions and sharing of practices and ideas among the U.S. and ROK legal communities, and helped provide momentum for the ROK Army’s efforts to expand its operational law capabilities moving forward,” Roman said.