South Korea > Antitrust and competition
Antitrust and competition
KT Jung heads the team at Kim & Chang, which is ‘second to none’, and acts for a number of high-profile clients, particularly from the insurance and telecoms sectors. In 2012, Chang Sik Hwang led advice to eBay Gmarket in obtaining post-merger approval from the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC). Hyung-Sam Lee and Eun-Tack Seo joined from the KFTC.
Lee & Ko’s widely respected team recently advised Seagate on its successful acquisition of Samsung’s hard disk drive business, which involved merger filings in several jurisdictions. In another matter, Hwan Jeong and Jin Hwan Chung are advising Dong-A Pharmaceutical in an appeal before the Seoul High Court, seeking to annul a corrective order by the KFTC. Yong Seok Ahn and Min-Ho Lee are also recommended.
Key contacts at Yoon & Yang LLC include team leader Seong-Sig Kim, managing partner Hoil Yoon, and Sang Mo Koo, who recently joined from Barun Law. The firm also recruited ex-KFTC adviser Dong Eon Cha, and former District Judge Tae Joon Ahn. In 2012, the group continued to assist Intel in its appeal to overturn a KRW26bn correction order imposed by the KFTC for alleged abuse of market dominance.
Yulchon’s 11-partner team is ‘timely and reliable’, and is led by Sai Ree Yun and Hae Sik Park. The group recently assisted Samsung in obtaining full exemption from sanctions, following a global cartel investigation into the production of LCD panels. Other clients include Universal Music and SK Telecom.
Bae, Kim & Lee LLC represents electricity and air cargo clients before the KFTC, and has experience in complex abuse of market dominance cases and exclusive arrangements. Clients include Nippon Steel and Korea Telecom. Keum Seok Oh and Seong Un Yun are the key contacts.
Shin & Kim’s ‘superlative’ practice advised Google on its merger with Motorola, and is defending Qualcomm before the Seoul High Court against charges relating to its business practice. Chang Young Cho, Jooyoung Park, and the ‘efficient and effective’ John Choi form ‘one of the best antitrust teams in Korea’. Practice head Young Chul Yim has significant KFTC experience and is also highly recommended.
In 2012, Barun Law successfully represented Hyundai-Kia Motors in respect of KFTC’s investigation into alleged abuse of its dominant market position. Other clients include Covidien and Texas Instruments.
Hwang Mok Park P.C. handles cartel and insider trading cases for corporate clients.