Rising Stars

Labour and employment: local firms in South Korea

Bae, Kim & Lee LLC

With an excellent reputation for its full-service labour and employment offering, Bae, Kim & Lee LLC‘s team of experts regularly acts for international clients and has a strong relationship with the Ministry of Employment and Labour. Seong Soo Kim heads up the group, which is home to the highly regarded practitioner Wookrae, who is a key name for handling management disputes. Wrongful dismissal disputes are also prominent in the department's workload. Kyunghan Kim and Jeong Han Lee are key names; Sang Min Kim advises on wage-related disputes, collective bargainings and dismissals.

Practice head(s):

Seong Soo Kim


Other key lawyers:

Wookrae Lee; Kyunghan Kim; Jeong Han Lee; Sang Min Kim


Key clients

CJ Logistics


Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering


Hana Securities


Hyundai Motor Company


Hyundai Steel


Kumho Tire


Posco


Samsung Electronics


Samsung Heavy Industries


Samsung SDI


Kim & Chang

Kim & Chang maintains its strong full-service credentials, with the labour and employment team handling class actions, wrongful dismissals, and various contentious labour union matters, to name a few areas of instruction. Chun Wook Hyun co-heads the practice with Weon Jung Kim, who has an excellent reputation for advising on contentious employment matters, industrial relations and collective bargaining. Hyun Jae Park focuses on employment policies and benefits, performance management and terminations, and employee data privacy. Dong Min Cho and Do-Yoon Kim are key names.

Practice head(s):

Chun Wook Hyun; Weon Jung Kim


Other key lawyers:

Hyun Jae Park; Dong Min Cho; Do-Yoon Kim


Key clients

Hyundai Motor Company


POSCO


Hyundai Heavy Industries


Citibank


Oracle Corporation


Pfizer Inc.


Hana Bank


SK Hynix


Asiana Airlines


eBay Inc.


Work highlights


  • Representing Hyundai Motor Company in a class action for damages filed by the retirees against the Company.
  • Advised IGIS Asset Management on the employment aspects of its acquisition of the Millennium Hilton Hotel.

Lee & Ko

Lee & Ko is best known for advising on contentious HR issues, as well as a wider spectrum of labour and employment litigation. The team, which is co-led by Chang Soo Jin and litigation expert Sang-Hoon Lee, handles severance and pension disputes, wrongful termination claims, and regularly advises on complex labour law matters. Senior associate Shawn (Seong Ho) Han handles employment-related regulatory compliance matters, internal HR issues, and occupational safety matters. Foreign attorney William Kim continues to assist with the employment aspects of M&A and corporate restructuring matters. Jae Hoon-Choi is another key member of the team.

Practice head(s):

Sanghoon Lee; Changsoo Jin


Other key lawyers:

Jae Hoon Choi; William Kim; Shawn (Seong Ho) Han


Testimonials

‘The team is very strategic and pays close attention to the client’s specific needs.’

‘William Kim is an excellent communicator and provides practical solutions. ’

‘The firm’s attention to detail and personalized counseling is outstanding. William Kim and his team go above and beyond what I have experienced with other firms – domestic and international. The difference in their advice, attentiveness, expertise is notable.’

‘William blends sound expertise across all facets of the law and real empathy to the issues that is very unique. His counsel on matters has been spot on and I have gone into negotiations fully armed and at ease.’

Key clients

Samsung Electronics


KORAIL


Hyundai Motor Company & Kia Motors


Hyundai Engineering Co., Ltd.


Hyundai Motor Company


Korea Mineral Resource Corporation


Ralph Lauren


Nexteel Co., Ltd.


POSCO


SK Geo Centric Co., Ltd.


Shin & Kim

Housing a team of specialised employment and labour lawyers, Shin & Kim fields a strong labour and employment and litigation practice. Dong-Wook Kim leads the team and advises on the full range of contentious collective labour relations matters. Hye-Young Yun is another key name for employment litigation, while Sery Lee focuses on advising major domestic and multi-national companies on labour disputes. Young-Seok Ki is particularly active in wage disputes.

Practice head(s):

Dong-Wook Kim


Other key lawyers:

Hye-Young Yun; Sery Lee; Young-Seok Ki; Jong-Hyun Kim


Testimonials

‘The firm’s labor and employment team is excellent at organizing and allocating time and personnel resources. Jong-Hyun Kim is meticulously well-versed in current labor law issues in Korea, and always has the most up-to-date knowledge as to the latest legal developments. His multilingual communication skills serve best the needs of global clients, and has incredible dedication to delivering the best solutions in time-pressured situations.’ 

Key clients

Bank of Korea


Valeo Electrical Systems Korea Co., Ltd.


Lotte GRS Co., Ltd.


KB Securities Co., Ltd.


SK Hynix


ByteDance LLC


Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance


Samsung C&T Corporation


Government of Korea


Hyundai Motor Company


eCredible


Vestiaire Collective


Sejong Hotel


SSG.COM


Heungkuk Fire & Marine Insurance


Novotech


Continental Automotive


Sungrak Church


Yoon & Yang LLC

With strength and depth in contentious and non-contentious employment matters, Yoon & Yang LLC‘s team advises foreign and domestic clients on restructurings, health and safety matters, cases of alleged discrimination, industrial accident claims, wage cases and the employment aspects of M&A mandates. Tae Hwan Oh is a key name for employment litigation. Chan-Keun Park and Seong Hong are names to note in the department.

Practice head(s):

Tae Hwan Oh; Chan-Keun Park


Other key lawyers:

Seong Hong


Testimonials

‘At Yoon & Yang LLC, the team provides precise responses in any situation and excel in communication with clients.’

‘They have experts with a wide range of experience. The quality of their work always exceeds expectations.’ 

‘The team is comprised of a variety of experts specializing in the field of labor, so it is possible to systematically solve legal problems that arise.’

‘Seong Hong is a top lawyer with a wealth of experience and expertise in advising and litigating various types of HR issues.’

Key clients

Samsung Electronics


Samsung C&T Corp.


Hyundai Motor Company


Kia Motors Corporation


SK Hynix Inc.


Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd.


British American Tobacco Korea


IBM Korea


GM Korea


AstraZeneca Korea


Yulchon

Yulchon's labour and employment practice, led by Sang Wook Cho, has established strength in handling health and safety matters, as well as workplace accident claims and compliance matters concerning the Serious Accidents Punishment Act. Jung Woo Lee and foreign attorney Christopher Mandel advise on labour relation issues and restructurings, and Soojung Lee assists domestic and international clients with employee terminations, downsizings, and market exits with subsequent redundancy issues. Kwang-Sun Lee and Ja Hyeong Ku joined the team in February 2023.

Practice head(s):

Sang Wook Cho


Other key lawyers:

Kwang-Sun Lee; Ja Hyeong Ku; Christopher Mandel; Soojung Lee


Testimonials

‘This team is highly professional, and provides customised solutions for any Korean labor law related matters.’ 

Key clients

ASML


Canon Korea


Chanel


CJ Group


Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co.,Ltd.


Damiani Group


Dell


DXC Technology


Eland Retail


Hanwha Life Corp


Hyundai Mobis


Hyundai Wia


Hyundai Motors Group


Intercos


Lotte Group


LVMH


Munich Re


Naver


Paris Croissant


PERSOL Kelly Korea


Siemens Energy


Samsung Electronics


Standard Chartered Security


SK Hynix


SK Telecom


Starbucks Korea


Synopsys


Volkswagen Group Korea


ZF Automotives


Work highlights


  • Successfully defended SK Telecom before the Supreme Court against claims brought by employees of its subsidiary.
  • Advised Hyundai Mobis on a subsidiary conversion matter.
     
  • Assisted ZF Automotive throughout the entire process of designing and implementing a voluntary retirement program (VRP).

Dentons Lee

Dentons Lee's labour and employment practice assists a client base of domestic and international companies with a range of contentious and non-contentious matters. Practice head Yong-Moon Kim advises on corporate restructuring, individual employment matters, and cases of alleged workplace discrimination and harassment. Senior associates Yo-Sub Shim and Si-Won Lee assist corporate entities with HR matters, particularly on work concerning the Labour Standards Act and the Dispatch Act. Hye-In Kim is also recommended.

Practice head(s):

Yong-Moon Kim


Other key lawyers:

Yo-Sub Shim; Si-Won Lee; Hye-In Kim


Key clients

Hyundai Heavy Industry


Hyundai Steel


Hotel Lotte Group


Ikea Korea


Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power


Mirae Asset


Ildong Pharmaceutical


Sampyo Cement


Korea University Medicine


SPC GFS


Jipyong LLC

With expertise in management and HR issues, the labour and employment practice at Jipyong LLC is co-led by Soo Saeng Moon and Young Hwan Kwon. The group advises on unlawful dismissals, wage claims, collective labour union and disciplinary matters. Experienced litigator Chang Young Kwon handles corporate and labour relations disputes. Firm managing partner Ji Hyung Kim is a highly regarded practitioner in the employment law arena.

Practice head(s):

Soo Saeng Moon; Young Hwan Kwon


Other key lawyers:

Chang Young Kwon; Ji Hyung Kim


Key clients

NEXTEEL


Dong-A University Foundation


Hyundai Motor Company


Paris Croissant


Kia Corp.


Korea Maritime Environment Management Corporation


Korea Airports Corporation (KAC)


SCK


Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.


Woori Bank


KT


Dong-Ah Geological Engineering Company Ltd.


Work highlights


  • Represented NEXTEEL in an appeal concerning a retrial decision arising from an unfair dismissal case.
  • Represented Dong-A University Foundation before the Supreme Court, which decided in favour of the client to quash and remand a decision of the lower court.