Bae Myung-in, former Minister of Justice and co-founder of Taepyeongyang (Bae, Kim & Lee), one of South Korea's largest law firms, died of a prolonged illness on Sunday. He was 94.
Born in Jinhae, South Gyeongsang Province, in 1932, Bae graduated from Jinhae High School and Seoul National University's College of Law before passing the 8th Higher Civil Service Examination (judicial division) in 1956 to begin his legal career. Starting as a prosecutor at the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office, he served in a series of senior posts including chief of the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office Northern Branch, chief of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, director of the Prosecution Bureau at the Ministry of Justice, deputy chief prosecutor at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and chief of the Gwangju High Prosecutors' Office. He served as the 33rd Minister of Justice from June 1982 to February 1985. In December 1986, he co-founded Taepyeongyang Joint Law Office — the predecessor of law firm Taepyeongyang — together with honorary senior partners Kim In-seop and Lee Jeong-hun.
The funeral parlor is located at the Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital. The funeral procession is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday. He is survived by his wife Kang Ae-ja, one son (Bae Ik-jun), and two daughters (Bae Mun-gyeong and Bae Eun-gyeong).