IECL Lunchtime Seminar with Taejin Kim – Rethinking Corporate Governance in the Age of AI - Focus on Korean AI Framework Act

The IECL Lunchtime Seminar Series offers our Academic Visitors an opportunity to share their research, exchange ideas, and connect with colleagues on both substantive and methodological aspects of their work. 

Each seminar usually lasts 30–45 minutes, with 20–30 minutes for the presentation followed by 10–15 minutes for Q&A. A light sandwich lunch will be provided.

Prof Taejin Kim
Rethinking Corporate Governance in the Age of AI - Focus on Korean AI Framework Act

Abstract: This presentation rethinks corporate governance in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) on the premise that AI functions as an embedded element within corporate activities-including decision-making and internal oversight processes-facilitating autonomous decision-making rather than entirely displacing human directors. As an increasing number of companies are adopting AI in their daily operations, the presentation examines how its integration may reshape traditional governance structures and affect the allocation of legal responsibility under corporate law. The discussion also introduces AI related regulations including Korea’s AI Basic Act, enacted on January 22, 2026.

*TAEJIN KIM is a Professor of Law at Korea University School of Law, the oldest law school in Korea with a history spanning over 120 years. She specializes in corporate law and corporate finance law, with expertise in corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, commercial law and trust law. She served as the Dean of Interdisciplinary Studies at Korea University until July 2025, and as Vice Dean of Planning and Student Affairs of the Law School until 2023.

Professor Kim received her LL.M. from New York University School of Law after graduating from Korea University College of Law in 1995 and obtained her doctoral degree from the University of Tokyo in Japan. Before joining Korea University in 2011, she taught at Hanyang University Law School and Konkuk University College of Law starting in 2007. Prior to entering academia, she practiced corporate law for seven years at Kim & Chang, Korea’s largest law firm, following her legal career's start in the Korean judiciary at the Seoul Central District Court.

Additionally, she served as an Expert Judicial Researcher at the Supreme Court of Korea, analyzing complex corporate and financial cases. She has played an instrumental role in national policy and administrative decision-making, serving as a commissioner and/or advisor for key government bodies, including the Ministry of Justice, the Financial Services Commission, the Personal Information Protection Commission, and the Central Administrative Appeals Commission. She has also worked with two Korean listed companies as an outside director. Remaining actively engaged in both public policy and corporate governance practice, she was an Academic Visitor at Waseda University and the University of Tokyo in Japan, and UNSW (University of New South Wales) in Australia. Currently, she is an Academic Visitor at the Institute of European and Comparative Law (IECL) at the University of Oxford.

Professor Kim is an active member of leading Korean academic associations, including the Korea Commercial Law Association, the Korea Business Law Association, and the Korea Financial Law Association. She also serves on the editorial boards of the Asian Business Lawyer Journal and the Korea Commercial Law Journal.