The Korea Professional Society (KPS) officially launched its first cohort on August 6, 2026, establishing the country’s first cross-industry coalition of young professionals from the legal, medical, dental, and accounting fields, according to founding organizers. Approximately 150 young experts attended the inaugural ceremony to formalize an organization focused on collaborative public service and cross-sector cooperation rather than lobbying for specific sectoral interests.
Leadership and Organizational Structure of the Korea Professional Society
The coalition brings together leaders from established youth professional groups across all four participating fields. According to the KPS founding committee, the inaugural co-chairpersons are Han Sung-joon, president of the Korean Intern Resident Association, and Hwang Byung-chan, president of the Young Certified Public Accountants. Kim Ji-soo, head of the Young Lawyers Special Committee, and Woo Seung-hee, president of the Korean Dental Resident Association, serve as vice-chairpersons.
To prevent institutional dominance by any single sector, KPS implemented a rotational governance model where co-chairpersons serve two-year terms before handing leadership over to representatives from a different professional track.
Core Operating Principles and Public Service Goals
KPS operates under strict guidelines emphasizing non-commercialism, public benefit, equal standing among member vocations, and strict political neutrality. According to organizational announcements, the society was created to address increasingly complex societal problems that cannot be solved by a single discipline working in isolation.
Members will form mixed-discipline small groups tasked with designing and executing year-long public interest projects. Planned initiatives include:
- Joint financial, accounting, and legal consultations for small business owners provided by accountants and lawyers.
- Integrated health screening and oral hygiene campaigns in local communities led by medical doctors and dentists.
- Combined legal, financial, and medical support programs targeted at vulnerable populations.
- Cross-sector professional ethics training programs for junior practitioners.
Future Outlook and Expansion Plans
Co-chairpersons Han Sung-joon and Hwang Byung-chan stated during the launch event that professional qualifications carry a societal trust that demands active responsibility. “We want to start doing this now while we are young and most active, rather than putting it off,” they said, emphasizing that specialized knowledge should serve as a broader asset for society.
The coalition plans to recruit a new cohort of members annually, allowing participants to pass accumulated community service experience and project frameworks on to succeeding classes. Furthermore, KPS intends to formulate and release joint expert commentary on major domestic social issues as the organization grows.