Minbyun

{{Short description|South Korean Lawyer Organization}}

{{Multiple issues|{{more footnotes needed|date=January 2013}}}}

{{Infobox organization

|logo=File:Minbyunlogo.png

|logo_size=250px

|full_name=Lawyers for a Democratic Society

|formation=25 May 1988

|founder=

|leader_title=President

|leader_name=Yun Bok-nam{{cite web|title=16대 민변 회장에 윤복남 변호사 당선

|newspaper=Kyunghyang Shinmun |url=https://www.khan.co.kr/article/202403182116001|date=March 18, 2024| author=김혜리|language=ko}}

|type=Non-profit organization

|website={{URL|https://minbyun.org/}}

|headquarters=Seocho District, Seoul

}}

{{Liberalism in South Korea|Organizations}}

Minbyun ({{Korean|hangul=민변|hanja=民辯|labels=no}}) is a progressive South Korean social organization of lawyers.{{Cite web |title=MINBYUN—Lawyers for a Democratic Society |url=https://www.escr-net.org/members/minbyun-lawyers-democratic-society/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=ESCR-Net |language=en}} The organization aims to resolve social inequality in South Korean society through judicial and legislative means.{{cite web|title=소개|url=https://minbyun.org/?page_id=65|website=minbyun.org|access-date=11 February 2025|trans-title=Introduction}} Minbyun is headquartered in Seocho District, Seoul;{{cite web|title=구성|trans-title=Organization|url=https://minbyun.org/?page_id=6|website=minbyun.org|access-date=11 February 2025}} it has 8 regional branches throughout South Korea and 16 committees which specialize in various fields of human rights.{{Cite web |title=English Archives |url=https://minbyun.org/?cat=2188 |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=민주사회를 위한 변호사모임 |language=ko-KR}}

The name Minbyun is the abbreviation of Minju Sahoereul Wihan Byeonhosa Moim ({{Korean|hangul=민주사회를 위한 변호사모임|hanja=民主社會를 爲한 辯護士모임|labels=no}}), which has been translated as "Lawyers for a Democratic Society" in English. Minbyun was founded on May 25, 1988, one year after the collapse of Chun Doo-Hwan's military regime.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}} Member lawyers have engaged in activities for preserving human rights and democracy. Many famous human rights attorneys have been members, and some of them have grown into popular politicians including Roh Moo-hyun, the 16th president of South Korea, Park Won-soon, 35th·36th·37th Mayor of Seoul, and Moon Jae-in, 19th President of South Korea.