South Korea > TMT
TMT
Kim & Chang’s preeminent TMT practice acts for most of the major Korean telecoms and media companies on contentious and non-contentious matters. Highlights included acting for LG Uplus in defending civil claims brought by individuals alleging misuse of personal data; and advising Sony Pictures Entertainment on a KRW1bn joint venture with a major Korean CATV operator. Dong Shik Choi leads the practice.
Lee & Ko has ‘a strong, high-end team that is streets ahead of others in the TMT field’. It represents the key players in the Korean TMT industry, including KT Corporation, LG Uplus and SK Telecom, and in 2010 advised on the merger of six IT and media companies to form the largest integrated media and content company in the country. Practice head Kwang Bae Park is ‘one of the leading TMT practitioners, and has extensive knowledge of local telecoms law’.
Highlights for Bae, Kim & Lee LLC included advising Sejong Telecom in its acquisition of a 39% stake in Onse Telecom for KRW19.5bn. Kwang Hyun Ryoo heads the team, which was joined by Jae Min Shin from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Shin & Kim represents major telecoms players such as Korea Telecom and SK Telecom, as well as broadcasters KBS, MBC and SBS. Highlights for the 15-partner team included representing SK Telink in its merger with TU Media. Sung Geun Kim heads the practice, which also has niche privacy law expertise.
Yulchon’s service levels are ‘very satisfactory’. Contentious regulatory expertise is a key strength for the team, with 2010 seeing it represent Korea Broadcast Advertising Corporation in a dispute with plaintiff Tae-Jon Broadcasting over the standard used to allocate the revenue generated by terrestrially broadcast advertisements. Hee Woong Yoon heads the practice, and Kumju Son has ‘deep knowledge of communications and competition laws’.
Barun Law’s TMT practice advised ESPN/Star Sports on all aspects of its departure from a joint venture relationship with MBC, a large Korean media company. Other clients include Time Warner and Seoul Shinmunsa.
Hwang Mok Park P.C. handles contentious media law matters.
Jipyong & Jisung provides advice to media and entertainment companies, covering motion pictures, television shows, music, live performances and online games.
Sechang & Co. provides day-to-day commercial advice to China Telecom HK regarding its Korea operations.
Soongki Yi’s team at Yoon & Yang LLC represented the Korea Film Corporation in a major copyright infringement case against eight web hard-storage providers, and acted for OBS Kyungin Broadcasting Co in its establishment and grant of a linear broadcasting licence.