This book sets forth the evolution of Korea's law and legal system from the Chosǒn dynasty through the colonial and postcolonial modern periods. This is the first book in English that comprehensively studies Korean legal history in comparison with European legal history, with particular emphasis on customary law. Korea's passage to Romano-German civil law under Japanese rule marked a drastic departure from its indigenous legal tradition. The transplantation of modern civil law in Korea was facilitated by Japanese colonial jurists who created a Korean customary law; this constructed customary law served as an intermediary regime between tradition and the demands of modern law. The transformation of Korean law by the forces of Westernisation points to new interpretations of colonial history and presents an intriguing case for investigating the spread of law on a global level. In-depth discussions of French customary law and Japanese legal history also provide a solid conceptual framework suitable for comparing European and East Asian legal traditions.

'In conclusion, although this book deals specifically with law and custom in Korea from a historical perspective, it is of general interest and should attract the attention of anyone who is interested in legal pluralism, law and society, legal culture and legal transplants, particularly in East Asia. The book cogently maintains that 'reference to custom in the process of creating a unified legal system was a universal occurrence in history'. It is for this reason that this book is a fascinating read, from a Chinese perspective, given the shared history and culture of Korea and China.'

Lei Chen Source: Comparative Legal History

'Kim’s work is a superb and informative piece of scholarship that only could be completed by a scholar with the breadth of knowledge and understanding that she possesses. Though custom and law is a difficult subject matter, [she] does an excellent job of explaining complex legal terms and ideas in a comprehensible way and in dealing with a sensitive period of history, showing how the Japanese colonial period shaped Korean history without seeking to condone or exonerate imperialism … Those interested in Korean, Japanese, or comparative legal history would likely gain the most from Law and Custom in Korea, but I would also highly recommend it to anyone interested in Korean history from the Chosŏn Dynasty to the present, as Kim ably shows how the impact of the past is still felt keenly today.'

Franklin Rausch Source: Sungkyun Journal of East Asian Studies

'The colonizer’s role still sparks heated debates in Korea, despite little attention to it abroad. Marie Seong-Hak Kim brings new attention to the issue with a spirited polemic about the origins of private or civil law in Korea under Japanese colonial rule (1910–45).'

Dennis L. McNamara Source: The American Historical Review