Seoul ADR Festival 2026 by KCAB International, Seoul (26-30 October 2026)

Seoul ADR Festival (SAF) is organised by KCAB International, the Seoul-based arbitral institution, and runs from 26 to 30 October 2026 in Seoul. Made up of sessions that look at dispute resolution from different perspectives, the festival gives legal professionals, academics and users of ADR a platform to meet and exchange ideas on meeting the growing demand for ADR services and developing dispute resolution practice around the world.

According to the festival website, the 2025 edition drew over 1,500 participants from 40+ jurisdictions, and the festival marks 10 years, with 120+ sessions held.

The flagship event of the festival is the 15th Asia-Pacific ADR Conference, "Mapping the Modern Architecture of International Arbitration", on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, 9:00 am to 6:30 pm (Seoul time), at Josun Palace Seoul Gangnam, 3F The Great Hall. It is organised by KCAB International and co-hosted by the Ministry of Justice of Korea, UNCITRAL RCAP and the ICC.

• In Conversation with Justice Youngjoon Kwon, Supreme Court of Korea: Arbitration in Korea, a Judicial Perspective.
• Who Guards the Guardians? Ethical Oversight and Accountability in International Arbitration.
• A session on the practical use of AI in arbitration and its interaction with existing arbitral rules.
• Debate: Should arbitrators have the power to sanction counsel for procedural misconduct?

• Welcome Reception: Monday, 26 October 2026, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, 6F Nuri Ballroom.
• The Asia Civil Law Summit: Tuesday, 27 October 2026, Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas, described by the organiser as an inaugural global platform for arbitral institutions to discuss the future of international arbitration in Asia.
• Partner events across the week hosted by arbitral institutions, law firms and other bodies, including sessions by HKIAC, SIMC, SCMA, DIS, ICC, Young ICSID, the Ministry of Justice of Japan, the Ministry of Justice of Korea and a session by Peter & Kim with the Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration on the India-Korea relationship.

The full day-by-day list is on the official festival calendar.

The festival is aimed at legal professionals, academics and users of dispute resolution. The official registration form asks each participant for a country of residence and offers an international country list, so Indian lawyers, arbitration practitioners, academics and students may register. All events are held in person in Seoul.

As listed in the official SAF 2026 registration system:

• The 15th Asia-Pacific ADR Conference: KRW 88,000 (Regular rate), on sale until 16 October 2026, 2:55 pm (Seoul time).
• Welcome Reception: KRW 44,000 (Regular rate), on sale until 15 October 2026, 3:00 pm (Seoul time).
• The Asia Civil Law Summit and the partner events carry no registration fee in the official registration system; each has its own capacity and closing date.

Register online on the official Seoul ADR Festival website (Register Now): enter your participant details once, then select the official events and partner events you wish to attend. Registration for the 15th Asia-Pacific ADR Conference closes on 16 October 2026 at 2:55 pm (Seoul time), according to the official registration system; partner events close on their own dates during the festival week. Queries go to the SAF Secretariat at saf@kcab.or.kr.