The Legal 500 > Shin & Kim > Seoul, SOUTH KOREA > Lawyer profiles

Shin & Kim

23TH FLOOR, D-TOWER (D2), 17 JONGNO 3-GIL, JONGNO-GU, SEOUL 03155, SOUTH KOREA

Tel:: Work +82 2 316 4114
Fax:: Fax +82 2 756 6226

Email:

Web:: www.shinkim.com

Beijing, Seoul, Shanghai

Sang-Hyun Lee

Tel:: Work +82 2 316 4068
Email:

Profile
Lawyer Rankings

Work Department

Banking and Finance.

Position

Partner.

Career

Shin & Kim (2000-Present); Member, Investment Review Committee of the Korean Teachers Credit Union (2011- 2016); International Lawyer, White & Case LLP, New York (2005-2006).

Languages

Korean and English.

Member

Korean and Seoul Bar Associations; New York State Bar Association; International Bar Association.

Education

Columbia University Law School (LL.M., 2005); Judicial Research & Training Institute, Supreme Court of Korea (1998-2000); Seoul National University, College of Law (LL.B., 1998).

South Korea: Banking and finance

Banking and finance – Local firms

Within: Banking and finance – Local firms

Shin & Kim continues to have a strong reputation in acquisition and project finance. The team has been active on several significant transactions, in one notable example Yun Seok Jang and Yong Hee Kim advised a syndicate of financial institutions led by long-standing client Woori Bank as lenders on the refinancing of acquisition financing for Doosan Machine Tools valued at over $900m. Senior foreign attorney Hyun Ju Helen Pak frequently advises private equity and asset management firms and sponsors on acquisition finance with a cross-border element. She and Jang advised Korea Trade Insurance on a loan facility extension to Korea Shipping and Maritime Transportation. For project finance transactions, Sang-Hyun Lee is well regarded and has been active on the practices’ largest transactions.

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South Korea: Projects and energy

Projects and energy – Local firms

Within: Leading individuals

Sang-Hyun Lee - Shin & Kim

Within: Projects and energy – Local firms

Shin & Kim continues to be at the forefront of the alternative energy industry while also advising blue-chip corporate clients in domestic and international projects. Highlights include Hyunju Helen Pak and Sang-Hyun Lee acting for the National Pension Service as part of a consortium which acquired full ownership of Helix Holdings, and several Korean lenders in relation to financing the construction of a suspension bridge in Turkey. In investment in renewable energy projects, Michael Chang and Lee advised Korea Electric Power on the acquisition of a solar power facility located in California. In other inbound transactions, Seung-Gyu Yang and Lee lead on project finance for Daesan Green Energy's fuel cell power systems project, as well as advise K Securities, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance and Kyobo Life Insurance on the Younggwang wind farms project financing.

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Legal Developments by:
Shin & Kim

Essilor’s Proposed Combination with an Optical Lens Maker in Korea is Blocked

In its press release on March 17, 2014, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (the "KFTC") blocked the proposed acquisition of 50% shares by Essilor Amera Investment Pte. Ltd. (a subsidiary of Essilor International S.A., the largest optical lens maker in the world) in Daemyung Optical Co., Ltd. (the second largest optical lens maker in Korea) citing inter alia the likely lessening effect on price competition and the probable future abuses of the enhanced market power. On top of the expressed competitive concerns, the KFTC observed that allowing foreign firms to acquire local firms and turn them into their local sub-contractors worsens the competitive market structure of the domestic optical lens industry.

- Shin & Kim

Legal Developments in South Korea

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

Russian Court’s Judgment Recognized for Enforcement in Korea

Recently, based on the premise that requirements for “mutual guarantee” or “reciprocity” in relation to the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments can be allowed between Russia and Korea, a District Court of Korea rendered its decision which allowed a judgment concluded by a Russian court to be enforceable in Korea (see Changwon District Court, Decision 2018Gahap51099 held on January 17, 2019).

- Lee & Ko
Korean National Assembly Passes “Blind Hiring” Bill to Reform Hiring Culture

Recently, the National Assembly of Korea passed legislative amendments to the Fair Recruitment Procedure Act (“FRPA ”) as part of the reform efforts to address the country’s recruitment culture. The latest amendment – dubbed the “blind hiring” bill – expands the FRPA to prohibit any type of recruitment irregularities (e.g., improper solicitation, coercion, pressure) and, more importantly, bars employers from asking jobseekers to provide any information unrelated to the position and the applicant’s merit. The amended FRPA will go into effect starting July 17, 2019.

- Lee & Ko

Korean Financial Supervisory Service Mandating Disclosure of Transaction Documents When Filing Repor

Korean Financial Supervisory Service Mandating Disclosure of Transaction Documents When Filing Report on Material Facts

- Lee & Ko

Successful Challenges to Korean Health Insurance Regulator’s 13-Year Old System...

Successful Challenges to Korean Health Insurance Regulator’s 13-Year Old System of Automatic Reduction of Original Drug Price

- Lee & Ko

Korean Supreme Court Confirms Licensee’s Standing to Challenge Patent Validity

On February 21, 2019, the Supreme Court of Korea issued an en banc decision overruling its prior precedents on the issue of whether a licensee who is continuing to make royalty payments under an existing license agreement nevertheless has standing to challenge the validity of the licensed patent. In short, the Korean Supreme Court held that absent special circumstance, a patent licensee is an “interested party” eligible for challenging the validity of a licensed patent, despite the lack of any threat or potential threat posed by the patent holder against the licensee’s right to use the patented invention. (Supreme Court En Banc Decision No. 2017Hu2819).

- Lee & Ko

Amendments to the KFTC Merger Review Guidelines

The Korea Fair Trade Commission (the “KFTC ”) recently amended its Guidelines for Merger Review (the ”Guidelines ”), which took effect from February 27, 2019. The Guidelines now provide for particular issues relating to “innovation markets” and “big data” that will be considered during the KFTC’s review of mergers within R&D-intensive (i.e. innovative) industries.

- Lee & Ko

Reimplementation of the FSS Comprehensive Audit and Amendment of Korean Anti Money Laundering Laws

I Revival of Comprehensive Audit

- Bae, Kim & Lee LLC

Korea strengthens protection against IP infringement and unfair competition (Amendment of the Patent

Korea strengthens protection against IP infringement and unfair competition (Amendment of the Patent Act and the Unfair Competition Prevention Act)

- Lee & Ko

Korean TR, Finally and Officially Coming Soon

Korean TR, Finally and Officially Coming Soon

- Lee & Ko

Key Changes to Korean Labor Standards Act in 2019

Key Changes to Korean Labor Standards Act in 2019

- Lee & Ko

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