The School of Law welcomes Kyong-Whan “Kenny” Ahn as a Distinguished Visiting Professor. Professor Ahn is taking a leave from his position as Dean and Professor of Law at the Faculty of Law at Seoul National University. Spring semester, he is teaching a seminar in Comparative Constitutional Law, drawing on his depth of knowledge and extensive publications in constitutional law issues. Professor Ahn is staying through the summer to complete research for two new publications.
Professor Ahn, referred to as “Kenny” by his colleagues and friends, is an alumnus of Santa Clara University School of Law (’85), which he added to his law degree from Seoul National University (LL.B. 1970) and his Master of Laws degree from University of Pennsylvania Law School (LL.M. 1982). Professor Ahn practiced law in California for a few years after graduation from Santa Clara University, before returning to Seoul National University as an administrator. In addition to his administrative interests, Professor Ahn has remained active in academia, as a visiting scholar to the London School of Economics, as a visiting professor of law at Southern Illinois University Law School, and as a publisher of 21 books and over 100 articles on Constitutional Law, Anglo-American Law, Law and Literature, and Jurisprudence.
Professor Ahn has been a friend, supporter, and professor to the many students who have participated in the summer law studies overseas program in Seoul, South Korea, sponsored by the Institute of International and Comparative Law at the School of Law. Professor Philip Jimenez, who founded the Seoul summer abroad program and who remains actively involved with the Seoul program, observes that, “Our students [in the Seoul summer overseas program] have an enriched experience in the program due to Kenny’s support and input.” Professor Ahn has many friends among the students who either met him in Seoul as part of their summer overseas experience, or who know of him by reputation in South Korea.
Seoul National University is generally regarded as the most prestigious university in Seoul. The Faculty of Law is distinguished in South Korea for the quality of its professors and programs.
The School of Law has found another treasure among its many distinguished alumni in Professor Ahn. Professor Ahn’s office on campus is Bergin 113.
