Kye Sung Chung > Kim & Chang > Seoul, South Korea > Lawyer Profile

Kim & Chang
39 SAJIK-RO 8-GIL
JONGNO-GU
SEOUL 03170
South Korea

Work Department

Banking; Mergers & Acquisitions; Hong Kong

Career

Kye Sung Chung is a senior partner and the chair of the Finance Practice at Kim & Chang. Mr. Chung is also the managing partner of the firm’s Hong Kong office.

Mr. Chung’s practice focuses on financial regulatory matters, corporate finance, securities law, and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Chung has extensive transactional experience, representing publicly and privately held multinational and Korean companies in cross-border acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures, securities offerings and financings. In addition, he advises foreign and domestic financial institution clients on commercial banking and investment banking issues, including regulatory matters.

Over the years, Mr. Chung has served as a member on various committees, including International Financial Center Promotion Committee of the Financial Services Commission (2008-2010), Financial Industry Development Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Finance and Economy (1996-2006) and Industrial Deregulation Review Committee of the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (1993-1997). He was also an auditor of Korean Institute of Directors (2002-2004) and an incorporator of the Financial Supervisory Service (1998).

Mr. Chung has published numerous articles on various financing and corporate matters, including regulation of foreign banks, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and insider dealing regulation. He has regularly co-authored the “Getting the Deal Through – Banking Regulation: Korea Chapter” (Law Business Research) and “Inside the Minds: Banking and Finance Client Strategies in Asia – Banking and Finance Law Trends and Tactics in South Korea.”

Mr. Chung is consistently ranked in the top tier as a leading individual for corporate/M&A, banking & finance, and capital markets by various notable legal directories, including IFLR1000, Who’s Who Legal and Asialaw Profiles. In 2013, 2016 and 2018, he was also awarded the Managing Partner of the Year award by the ALB Korea.

Mr. Chung received an LL.B. from the College of Law, Seoul National University in 1973. He also graduated from the Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea in 1976. He is admitted to the Korean bar.

Languages

Korean, English and Japanese

Memberships

Admitted to bar, Korea, 1976

Education

Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea (1976)
Seoul National University (LL.B., 1973)

Lawyer Rankings

South Korea > Capital markets: local firms

Handling high-value transactions, Kim & Chang’s ‘breadth and depth of services are unparalleled’. Noted for its expertise in IPOs on the Korea Exchange and cross-jurisdictional securitisation matters, the team also advises on covered and exchangeable bonds. The practice is led by Kye Sung Chung, while Myoung-Jae Chung works on the full range of equity offerings, as well as structured hybrid instruments and derivatives. Seung Jae Yoo focuses on denominated senior unstructured notes, while Yong-Ho Kim specialises in structured finance. Other key team members include Yong Seung Sun, who advises on receivables transactions, and Tae Min Yun.

South Korea > Fintech and financial services regulatory: local firms

Kim & Chang is praised for combining ‘reliable services on the financial regulatory front’, with a fintech team housing ‘more lawyers and other professionals with science or engineering backgrounds than any other law firm’s team’. Bumkyu Sung is a key contact for internal investigations of financial institutions conducting business in Korea. Foreign attorney Ik Hwan Cho and Oh Hyun Kwon are both equipped to advise on securities regulation, while fintech specialist Joon Young Kim is well versed in legal issues relating to blockchain and cloud computing. IT compliance specialist Jung Min Lee is also recommended. Kye Sung Chung and Sang Hwan Lee  jointly lead the practice.

South Korea > Banking and finance: local firms

Kim & Chang is one of Korea’s most visible firms for the full range of cross-jurisdictional financial transactions, particularly those regarding refinancing deals and direct and covered loans. The team is spearheaded with ‘seamless coordination’ by Kye Sung Chung. Young Min Kim specialises in advising high-profile clients within the aviation industry. Hi Sun Yoon is another authority in acquisition and handles various regulatory and registration issues within the shipping industry. Other key specialists include Ie Hwan Yoo, Young Kyun Cho and Ick Ryol Huh who work on project financing and asset management within the infrastructure and energy industries. Sang Jin Ahn is also recommended.