Yoon & Yang LLC (Yoon & Yang) has further strengthened its M&A and corporate advisory capabilities with the recruitment of Partner Jin Kook Lee, a veteran dealmaker renowned for his exceptional track record in both domestic and cross-border M&A and capital markets, and rising next-generation star Partner So Yeon Yoon.

These new hires build on the May joining of Managing Partner Hee Woong Yoon, one of Korea’s most prominent M&A practitioners, and Senior Foreign Attorney Myong-Hyon (Brandon) Ryu, a leading cross-border M&A specialist. Together, these high-profile additions substantially reinforce Yoon & Yang’s depth and breadth of expertise in advising clients on complex corporate transactions, positioning the firm as one of the most competitive and comprehensive in Korea with a top-tier lineup of distinguished and proven attorneys in M&A, capital markets and corporate advisory.

Jin Kook Lee is a strategic dealmaker with over 20 years of experience leading a wide range of large-scale domestic and cross-border M&A and capital markets transactions. A graduate of Seoul National University School of Law (Class of 1997), he passed the Korean bar in 1998 and served as a military judge advocate. He joined Yulchon LLC in 2004 and played a pivotal role in Yulchon’s M&A practice as a core member of the Corporate & Finance Group for over two decades.

Mr. Lee possesses a rare combination in corporate advisory expertise and experience for a Korean attorney, with capabilities to advise not only on both inbound and outbound M&A transactions but also on IPOs and other capital markets transactions. He has advised on a number of landmark M&A transactions, including Lotte Group’s sale of Lotte Rental, Hanwha Group’s acquisitions of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (currently Hanwha Ocean) and HDS Engine (currently Hanwha Engine), Naver’s acquisition of U.S.-based Poshmark, various financial investors’ sale of Woowa Brothers (d.b.a. Baemin), and Lotte Group’s acquisition of Ministop, as well as many high-profile IPOs in Korea such as SK IE Technology, Lotte Shopping REITs, Hyundai Autoever, and Hanwha Systems. Notably, he advised MBK Partners on its KRW 7.2 trillion acquisition of Homeplus—the largest private equity M&A deal in Asia to date. His track record has earned him the nickname “big deal maker” among clients and peers alike.

He has consistently been recognized by global legal directories, including Chambers Asia-Pacific, Legal 500, and IFLR1000, as a Leading Individual or Highly Regarded lawyer in M&A and capital markets.

So Yeon Yoon is recognized for her ability to provide tailored advice on M&A and corporate governance matters through a unique blend of external counsel experience handling major deals at a law firm and in-house counsel experience at Korea’s largest platform company, coupled with her specialized expertise in commercial law.  Ms. Yoon graduated as the second-highest in her class from Seoul National University Law School in 2012 and was admitted to Korean bar the same year. Afterward, she has developed her expertise and built a solid track record in M&A and corporate governance practices over more than 10 years at Yulchon LLC. Notable deals include Hanwha Galleria and TimeWorld’s share exchange, KT Group’s media content holding company project, Hillhouse Capital’s investment in Market Kurly, Lotte Capital’s equity sale, MBK Partners’ Homeplus acquisition, and SK IE Technology’s IPO.

In 2018, she earned an LL.M. from Harvard Law School and was subsequently admitted to the New York Bar. She then joined the New York office of Sullivan & Cromwell, gaining hands-on experience in global transactions. From 2022 to 2024, she served as Head of Legal at Naver, where she oversaw a wide range of platform-specific legal matters, including TMT, AI, ESG, and litigation, and spearheaded strategic investment initiatives such as Naver’s largest acquisition to date of U.S.-based Poshmark. In 2025, she completed her Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D.) at Seoul National University Law School, with a dissertation on equity compensation structures such as RSUs and PSUs, further strengthening her commercial law expertise.

With these new additions, Yoon & Yang aims to further enhance its capabilities in response to Korea’s evolving corporate and M&A landscape. Mr. Lee’s seasoned leadership and expertise in M&A transactions and IPOs is expected to elevate the firm’s global competitiveness, while Ms. Yoon’s deep understanding and experience in the tech and platform industries will provide valuable insights into emerging business sectors and support global-facing mandates.

Managing Partner Myung Soo Lee stated, “as client needs grow increasingly sophisticated and deal structures become more complex, it is essential to have experts with strategic insight and differentiated experience. At Yoon & Yang, we are committed to building a client-centric team capable of delivering exceptional legal solutions. We will continue to recruit top talents until Yoon & Yang’s M&A and corporate advisory practice is firmly established as a top-tier player in Korea.”

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Jae Hyuk Yang

Senior Marketing/Communications Manager

Yoon & Yang LLC

Tel: (82-2) 6003-7229

Email: [email protected]

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