23.07.21 17:05
Kim Ye‑won is a public‑interest lawyer who refuses to charge fees, leading a Disability Rights Law Center that provides free legal support to social minorities—people with disabilities, women, and children. A former public interest lawyer at a major foundation and a founder of her own center, she chose independence over donations so she can act without outside pressure. Now a visiting scholar at Duke and a mother of three, Kim balances litigation, advocacy and public education while sustaining her work through lectures, books and research contracts.

Her practice focuses on the hardest, most overlooked cases others won’t take: severe disability, sexual exploitation, and complex family or guardianship situations. Kim combines traditional legal work—evidence collection, criminal complaints and courtroom representation—with social‑work style interventions, coordinating with welfare offices, shelters and local agencies to relocate and protect clients. One striking example: she uncovered an organized sexual exploitation ring targeting a disabled woman, secured arrests, and arranged safe housing and ongoing supports.

Beyond individual cases, Kim pursues system fixes through both urgent administrative measures and long‑term law reform: contacting government departments, filing petitions, requesting legal interpretations, and pushing institutions to close procedural gaps that put vulnerable people at risk. She highlights how piecemeal government responses often miss people in crisis and stresses the need for integrated supports—employment programs for crime‑affected disabled women, safer account‑management rules, and clearer interagency pathways. Her model shows how uncompromised, holistic legal work can plug institutional holes and produce life‑changing outcomes for those left behind.

Original source: 제도의 구멍 때우는 0원짜리 변호사 (Source: the news outlet; please refer to the original article.)