IRVINE, Calif. (May 12, 2025) — Every year, the University of California, Irvine School of Law hosts an extraordinary group of visiting scholars from across the world. These distinguished academics contribute to the intellectual vibrancy of the law school by engaging in cutting-edge research and fostering cross-jurisdictional dialogue on pressing legal issues, including conducting specialized research in their respective fields. Some arrive for a week or two, and others for an entire semester or academic year.
In the fall, Professor Veena Dubal hosted María Luz Rodríguez Fernández, a Full Professor of Labour and Social Security Law at the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain. During her stay, Professor Rodríguez Fernández explored legal avenues to attribute ownership of workers’ personal data captured by digital labor platforms to the workers themselves. She also researched legal avenues for distributing benefits gained from commercialization using workers’ personal data to workers.
In the spring, Professor Ann Southworth hosted Professor Fabiana Luci de Oliveira, an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the Federal University of São Carlos in São Paulo, Brazil. Professor Oliveira’s research, titled “The Brazilian Federal Supreme Court (STF) in the Context of Democratic Backsliding and Resistance,” examines the STF’s role in shaping democratic governance amid political challenges. During her three-month residency at the Center for Empirical Research on the Legal Profession (CERLP), she explored the parallels between judicial mechanisms influencing the STF and those affecting the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Korea Law Center at UC Irvine Law continues its tradition of welcoming visiting scholars each academic year. These scholars pursue advanced research projects at the intersection of U.S. and Korean law, enriching discussions on comparative legal studies. Their expertise spans multiple legal disciplines, including criminal law, constitutional law, and privacy law, enhancing the global exchange of legal ideas and best practices.
The Korea Law Center hosted the following distinguished visiting scholars this year:
- Gwansung Bae: Prosecutor, Ministry of Justice
- Sunghwan Cho: Attorney at Law, Shin & Kim LLC
- Sheungho Choi: Judge, Sokcho Branch Court of Chuncheon District Court
- Seung Heo: Judge, Supreme Court of the Republic of Korea
- Youngmok Kang: Court Official, Supreme Court of Korea
- Seonha Kim: Officer, Seoul Regional Tax Office
- Taehyun Kim: Judge, Supreme Court of the Republic of Korea
- Taesang Kweon: Professor, Ewha Womans University
- Dong Kwan Kim: Program Advisor, Korea Law Center, UC Irvine Law
- Hwa Song Lee: Judge, National Court Administration, Supreme Court of Korea
- Hyejung Lee: Court Official, Supreme Court of Korea
- Joonghyun Lee: Director of Smart City Division, Sejong City Government
- Junseok Lee: Prosecutor, Ministry of Justice
- Sang Mi Lee: Public Prosecutor, Ministry of Justice
- Seunghyeon Lee: Public Prosecutor, Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea
- Sujeong Lee: Office of Justice Eunae Lee/Senior Secretary, Constitutional Court of Korea
- Sungmin Lim: Court Official, Supreme Court of Korea
- Yujin Lee: Attorney/Partner, ClassHankyul law firm
- Soo Yeon Min: Judge, Seoul Northern District Court
- Sae Hyun Nam: Principal Counsel, Netflix Entertainment Korea
- Hye Yeon Park: Constitutional Rapporteur Judge, Constitutional Court of Korea
- Jeongyo Seo: High Court Judge, Supreme Court of Korea
- Yeonuk Son: Senior Legal Counsel, Samsung Electronics
UC Irvine Law’s distinguished visiting scholars underscore the Law School’s commitment to fostering a diverse, globally engaged academic community. Their research and collaboration contribute significantly to the Law School’s mission of advancing legal scholarship worldwide.
About the University of California, Irvine School of Law
The University of California, Irvine School of Law is a visionary law school that provides an innovative and comprehensive curriculum, prioritizes public service, and demonstrates a commitment to equity within the legal profession. At UC Irvine Law, we are driven to improve our local, national, and global communities by grappling with important issues as scholars, as practitioners, and as teachers who are preparing the next generation of leaders. The collaborative and interdisciplinary community at UC Irvine Law includes extraordinary students, world-renowned faculty, dedicated staff, engaged alumni, and enthusiastic supporters. Connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Threads, and sign up for our monthly newsletter for the latest news and events at UC Irvine School of Law.