Next Generation Partners

Regulatory: compliance and investigations: local firms in South Korea

Kim & Chang

Kim & Chang‘s market-leading practice handles the full breadth of corporate investigations and white-collar defence work, and evidences broad sector expertise. Highly esteemed criminal defence lawyer Kook Hyun Yoo leads the practice, and continues to be involved in major corporate criminal investigations. Criminal defence expert Ho Keun Ryu handles occupational negligence and criminal investigations into tax evasion, while Sung Won Hong focuses on cases within industrials and manufacturing and consumer goods industries. Senior associate Miji Song advises on corporate investigations, anti-corruption prosecution, and compliance cases for both public and private companies.

Practice head(s):

Kook Hyun Yoo


Other key lawyers:

Ho Keun Ryu; Sung Won Hong; Miji Song


Testimonials

‘Kim & Chang has expertise in criminal law, along with deep industry knowledge, particularly in the automotive industry.’

‘The firm does seamless work in both Korean and English, and has the ability to work with other global and domestic law firms.’ 

Work highlights


Lee & Ko

Boasting a deep bench of former regulatory agency experts and attorneys, Lee & Ko‘s regulatory and compliance group provides a full service for international and domestic clients. Kyunghoon Lee and former prosecutor Tae Yop Lee lead the internal investigations and white-collar crime team, which handles various regulatory compliance mandates. Sedong Min heads the business compliance team focusing on cross-border and overseas investment, anti-corruption, and global corporate compliance work. Senior associate Jung Han Nam focuses on corporate embezzlement and professional misconduct. Senior associate Jae Woo Jung is also recommended.

Practice head(s):

Kyunghoon Lee; Tae Yop Lee; Sedong Min


Other key lawyers:

Jung Han Nam; Jae Woo Jung


Testimonials

‘The team at Lee & Ko is very talented, and has excellent insight in the regulatory sector. The team is composed of lawyers who have much experience in the area.’ 

Key clients

Dunamu Inc.


Coinone Inc.


Korbit Inc.


Discovery Asset Management Co., Ltd.


SK Telecom Co., Ltd.


Naver Corporation


Gmarket Corporation


Ilsan Grand Bridge Corp


Alvogen Lux Holdings


Lotus Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.


Alvogen Korea Co., Ltd.


LG Electronics Inc.


JW Pharmaceutical


Financial Intelligence Unit


Work highlights


  • Represented the domestic crypto currency exchanges, including Dunamu Inc., Coinone Inc.,and Korbit Inc, in a lawsuit, the first case involving the criteria of de-listing for virtual currency, seeking a provisional injunction for the suspension of effect of de-listing crypto currency.
  • Represented Discovery Asset Management Co., Ltd (“DAM”) in a USD 227 million fund fraud case.

Bae, Kim & Lee LLC

Noted in particular for its strength in financial sector crime investigations, Bae, Kim & Lee LLC‘s large and experienced white-collar defence team handles cases across multiple disciplines and jurisdictions. Soo Bong Jung heads the practice. Sangchul Lee focuses on international arbitration and litigation. Foreign attorney Jiyoung Sohn advises multinational corporations in criminal investigations, white-collar criminal defence, and the full range of regulatory matters including industry regulations. Jinwon Choi‘s practice focuses on economic crimes, intellectual property rights, and industrial safety crimes.

Practice head(s):

Soo Bong Jung


Other key lawyers:

Sangchul Lee; Jiyoung Sohn; Jinwon Choi


Key clients

Coinone


KG Mobilians


Work highlights


  • Advised KG Mobilians on prosecution’s investigation regarding unpaid charges of small-amount payment charges on mobile phones.
  • Advised Coinone on comprehensive inspection of money laundering for virtual asset operators by the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit of the Korea Financial Services Commission.

Shin & Kim

Shin & Kim‘s experienced criminal defence and investigations team ‘perform outstandingly,’ in the full range of white-collar defence trials, industrial safety accident cases, and police investigations among others. Keonjoo Lee heads the practice. Former prosecutor Dong-Shin Yeom specialises in handling high profile financial criminal investigations and corruption decades, with over two decades of experience in the field. Tak-Kyun Hong is an expert in cross-border white-collar litigation and criminal IP infringements. Seong-Jin Choi heads the international criminal defence practice, and handles the full range of financial, high-tech, and corporate crimes.

Practice head(s):

Keonjoo Lee


Other key lawyers:

Dong-Shin Yeom; Tak-Kyun Hong; Seong-Jin Choi


Testimonials

‘The team has substantial experience in handling regulatory matters and performs outstandingly in handling client matters.’

‘The lawyers have a strong work ethic, and are excellent professionally.’

‘The team is more human, compared with competitors. They give us advice not only in a professional manner but also personal manner.’

‘Shin & Kim do their best to reflect client needs as much as possible to produce good results in difficult situations.’

‘They have been very responsive in dealing with my requests, and always sought to deliver the product required.’

Work highlights


Yulchon

The continuously expanding criminal defence team at Yulchon houses a deep bench of former regulatory specialists and prosecutors, handling the full depth and breadth of compliance and investigation work. Managing partner Dong Ryul Choi co-heads the practice alongside Il Bong Moon and Yong Pyo Yeom. Former prosecutor Hak Seok Kim handles the full range of corporate and white-collar crimes, and financial regulation and prosecution. Seung Hyun Lee, who is also a former prosecutor, specialises in environmental criminal investigations and trials.

Practice head(s):

Dong Ryul Choi; Il Bong Moon; Yong Pyo Yeom


Other key lawyers:

Hak Seok Kim; Seung Hyun Lee


Testimonials

‘Seung Hyun Lee was outstanding in solving the case by presenting me with sharp and brilliant questions, ideas and corresponding solutions.’

‘Yulchon’s criminal team has developed dramatically over the past three years. It has secured a large number of the most competent people with experience in regulatory agencies.’

‘I was impressed by the partner’s passion for the work!’

Key clients

Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd.


Hyundai Motor Company


GC Pharma


GS E&C Corp.


KEB Hana Bank


SOCAR


Hanwha Aerospace Co., Ltd.


Hanwha Solutions


Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.


Posco E&C Co., Ltd.


Lotte Shopping Co., Ltd.


LG Chem


Work highlights


  • Represented Seoul Semiconductor Co. Ltd. against Everlight Electronics Co. Ltd., a Taiwanese company that hired former employees of Seoul Semiconductor who divulged trade secrets.
  • Defended Hyundai E&C in an investigation regarding an industrial accident caused by occupational negligence.
  • Represented the No. 1 implant manufacturing company O in Korea, and prosecuted the former employee who divulged trade secrets.

Yoon & Yang LLC

Yoon & Yang LLC‘s white collar crime practice is renowned for its litigation expertise, and boasts major financial institutions and corporate conglomerates as clients. The practice is led by criminal law specialist Sun Bong Lee, who has experience in criminal allegations and investigations into medical malpractice. Former prosecutors Dong Gyu Lee and Hee Sik Yoon focus on criminal financial sector violations and trade secret disclosures within the industrial, banking, and energy industries.

Practice head(s):

Sun Bong Lee


Other key lawyers:

Dong Gyu Lee; Hee Sik Yoon


Key clients

Samsung Electronics Service Co., LTD.


Samsung C&T Corporation


Kolon Life Science


Deutsche Securities Korea


Shinhan Investment Corp


KB Securities


Daeshin Securities


Work highlights