Handong International Law School (HILS)

What Handong International Law School (HILS) does

Handong International Law School (HILS) is a private Christian law school located within the Handong Global University campus at 558 Handong-ro in Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. Founded in 2002, HILS is positioned as Korea's first and only US-style law school integrated with a Christian worldview. It delivers two core degree programs: a three-year Juris Doctor (JD) requiring 83 credit hours across six semesters and three summer sessions, and a two-year Master of Arts (MA) in International Legal Studies requiring 32 credit hours plus a thesis and comprehensive examination. The curriculum combines US substantive law courses (Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Evidence, Property, Torts), public and private international law, Korea-specific electives, and a distinctive Christianity and Law course sequence repeated every semester. The full-time faculty of 12 — plus 1 Dean Emeritus, approximately 7 adjunct/visiting faculty, and 8 administrative staff — is composed entirely of US-trained, US-licensed legal professionals from institutions including Yale, Harvard, Princeton, NYU, Emory, Regent, and Oxford.

HILS monetizes primarily through JD tuition at 8,900,000 KRW per semester (Spring and Fall), MA tuition at 4,326,000 KRW per semester, summer intensive credits at 494,000 KRW each, and a 900,000 KRW admission confirmation fee. Application fees are 100,000 KRW for domestic and USD 100 for international applicants. Auxiliary revenue comes from on-campus dormitories (Creation Hall and Papyrus Basket Hall), meal plans, books and materials, and donations routed through the HGU USA Foundation (a US-based 501(c)-equivalent fundraising vehicle in Irvine, California) sourced from US churches, parent prayer groups, and benefactors. The go-to-market is sales-led and admissions-driven: domestic candidates apply via the Jinhak Apply platform with document screening, an English proficiency exam, and a personal interview, while international candidates submit mail-based applications under a separate Special Admission track. Reported outcomes support the value proposition — approximately 70% of graduates pass a US Bar Exam and every graduate since 2004 has qualified for a US bar examination.

Operationally, HILS runs on a conventional education-technology stack (Zoom-class video conferencing, Lexis and Westlaw for legal research, YouTube as a content channel, and Jinhak Apply for admissions) with no proprietary technology platform. The school is led by Dean Hee Eun Lee (appointed June 7, 2024; fourth dean overall) and is governed under Handong Global University's Board of Trustees. It is ABA non-accredited; consequently, graduates route through partner ABA-approved institutions (notably the HILS-Regent University Co-op Program) to qualify for US bar examinations. An Advisory Board comprising partners from Lee & Ko, O'Melveny & Myers, Shin & Kim, Peter & Kim, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Yoon & Yang, and Yulchon underwrites quality assurance and employer relationships. Alumni placement spans Korean elite law firms (Kim & Chang, Yulchon, Lee & Ko, Barun, Logos, DR & AJU), Korean chaebol legal departments (Samsung, LG, SK, Hyundai, CJ, POSCO), and international and nonprofit organizations (UN, UNHCR, KCAB, APIL). All fees disclosed are 2026 academic-year figures and are set annually by the university trustees.

Name

Handong International Law School (HILS)

Legal name

Handong International Law School

Website

https://lawschool.handong.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Handong International Law School (HILS) is a private Christian law school in Pohang, South Korea, offering a three-year US-style Juris Doctor and a two-year MA in International Legal Studies. It serves Korean and international students pursuing US bar qualification and cross-border legal careers integrated with a Christian worldview.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Non-ABA / State-Accredited JD-Granting Law Schools (EDAHAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Law Schools (e.g., Tax, IP, International, Trial Advocacy) (EDAHAIAF), Online / Hybrid Law Schools & Programs (EDAHAIAE)

Keywords

• Legal education services
• Juris doctor programs
• International law studies
• Bar exam preparation
• Christian legal education

Headquarters

HQ city

Pohang

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue from student tuition. JD program charges 8,900,000 KRW per semester for Spring and Fall terms. Summer intensives charged at 494,000 KRW per credit. MA program tuition is 4,326,000 KRW per semester.
2. Donations and Contributions: Financial support from donors including churches in the United States, parent prayer groups, and benefactors. Capital needs include scholarships, law school building expansion, and student facilities.
3. Application Fees: Non-refundable application fees: 100,000 KRW for domestic applicants, 100 USD for international applicants.
4. Dormitory and Related Services: On-campus housing fees including Creation Hall (1,848,000 KRW single), Papyrus Basket Hall (2,137,000 KRW single, 1,089,000 KRW twin), meal options, and dorm deposit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Handong International Law School (HILS) is a Christian-affiliated law school offering a three-year, full-time Juris Doctor (JD) program and a two-year Master of Arts (MA) in International Legal Studies. The JD requires 83 credit hours across six semesters and three summer intensives; the MA requires 32 credit hours plus a thesis and comprehensive examination. Curricula integrate Christianity and Law courses with US Substantive Law, International Law, and Legal Skills to prepare students for cross-border legal practice and eligibility to petition US bar examiners.

Product overview

Handong International Law School (HILS) is a Christian law school offering two primary academic degree programs: the Juris Doctor (J.D.) Program—a comprehensive three-year full-time degree requiring 83 credit hours—and the Master of Arts (M.A.) in International Legal Studies—a two-year program requiring 32 credit hours, a thesis, and comprehensive examination. The institution provides a structured curriculum combining U.S. Substantive Law courses (Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Evidence, Property, Torts), International Law courses, Christianity and Law courses, and Legal Skills courses. Supporting services include Career Services for employment assistance, Summer Programs for experiential learning, 1L Orientation for new students, and the HILS Library for legal research resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Juris Doctor (JD) Program A three-year, full-time Juris Doctor degree program requiring satisfactory completion of 83 credit hours (typically 1,162 hours of classroom instruction) across six semesters and three mandatory summer sessions; designed for Korean and international students seeking eligibility to petition US state bar examiners and practice cross-border law.
• Master of Arts (MA) in International Legal Studies A two-year Master of Arts in International Legal Studies requiring 32 credit hours plus a thesis and comprehensive examination; designed for professionals and students seeking to enhance their understanding of Western and international law from a Christian perspective.
• Career Services Career Services assists students and alumni with résumé preparation, cover letter drafting, job opportunity research, networking advice, workshops, panels, and individualized counseling; facilitates internships, summer associate placements, and on-campus recruiting by law firms and corporations.
• HILS Law Library The HILS Law Library supports the academic program with extensive resources including an Asian Collection and digital legal research tools (Lexis and Westlaw), open to HILS students for legal research and coursework support.
• Summer Intensives Program Required summer programming within the JD track that pairs the 1L summer program with the 2L experiential summer program, offering credit-bearing practical experiences (e.g., 5 credits first-year, 6 credits second-year, 8 credits third-year at 494,000 KRW per credit).

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 70% of graduates pass the US Bar Exam
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• National University of Mongolia School of LawminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2019MOU for academic cooperation and exchange. Dean Dr. ERDENEBULGAN Juujaa and colleagues Dr. BYAMBAJARGAL Altangerel and Dr. AMARSANAA Batbold visited HILS for the signing.
• HGU USA FoundationOthersUS-based fundraising organization for Handong Global University. Located at 2025 Alton Pkwy, Irvine, CA 92606. Handles overseas donations and tax-deductible contributions for HILS.
• Regent University School of LawminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHILS-Regent University Co-op Program allows students to earn academic credit through joint courses. Professor David Mundy holds degrees from Regent University.
• Advisory Board MemberscoreOthersAdvisory board includes partners from major Korean and international law firms: Lee & Ko, O'Melveny & Myers, Shin & Kim, Peter & Kim, NYU School of Law, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Yoon & Yang, and Yulchon. They assist in reviewing programs and assuring highest standards.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Yonsei University Law School: One of Korea's top-tier law schools based in Seoul. Directly comparable as a Korean JD-granting institution competing for the same domestic applicant pool that HILS targets, but with greater scale, Seoul location and brand recognition.
• Peking University School of Transnational Law: Asia-based JD program modeled on US legal education with an international/transnational focus. Closest functional peer to HILS outside Korea: same US-style JD pedagogy, English-language instruction and cross-border practice orientation.
• Korea University Law School: Top-three Seoul-based Korean law school. Competes with HILS for applicants targeting legal careers in Korea, including placement into major Korean law firms and government positions.
• Hanyang University Law School: Seoul-based Korean law school competing for similar domestic students and producing graduates placed at Korean law firms and corporate legal departments.
• Sungkyunkwan University Law School: Major Seoul-based Korean law school that competes with HILS for domestic JD applicants and placement into major Korean law firms like Kim & Chang and Yulchon.
• Ewha Womans University Law School: Established Seoul-based Korean law school with a strong JD program. Competes in the same domestic admissions funnel and places graduates into top Korean law firms.
• Seoul National University College of Law: Korea's most prestigious law school and the dominant player in legal education. Comparable as a JD-granting institution serving Korean students, and sets the benchmark HILS competes against for top domestic talent.

Broad incumbents

• Singapore Management University Yong Pung How School of Law: Asian law school with strong international and common-law orientation. Comparable as an Asian institution offering English-language legal education with global employer placement, though broader and Singapore-based rather than Korea-focused.

Emerging players

• Duke Kunshan University: Joint US-China graduate university delivering US-style programs in Asia. An emerging comparator whose international-student recruiting and English-language legal adjacent programs overlap with HILS's specialty international positioning.

Others

• Regent University School of Law: US-based Christian law school with which HILS has an existing co-op program. Comparable by virtue of shared Christian legal education mission and a credit-transfer pathway that supports HILS bar-exam qualification strategy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwHnxjrwdNQQB6ZMwiFznUA
• Facebookfacebook.com/hilslaw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/handonginternationallawschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/hilslaw_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Handong International Law School (HILS)