Yulchon > Seoul, South Korea > Firm Profile
Yulchon Offices
PARNAS TOWER 38F, 521 TEHERAN-RO
GANGNAM-GU
SEOUL 06164
South Korea
Yulchon > The Legal 500 Rankings
South Korea > Antitrust and competition: local firms Tier 1
Yulchon’s excellent knowledge of the law’ shines through in a wide range of antitrust and competition work for major domestic and international clients, with the healthcare sector an area of notable expertise for the firm. Behavioural matters, merger controls, abuse of dominance and deceptive labelling are among the areas in which the practice excels. Sung Bom Park steers the team and has a strong track record in handling abuse of dominance cases involving global technology companies. Foreign attorney Seuk Joon Lee is a key contact for pharmaceutical companies, while fellow foreign attorney Cecil Saehoon Chung has a strong focus on international issues in the antitrust space. Woo Yul Lee is a further key contact. Song Ryu joined the practice from Yoon & Yang LLC in summer 2023.Practice head(s):
Sung Bom Park
Other key lawyers:
Seuk Joon Lee; Cecil Saehoon Chung; Seuk Joon Lee; Hae Sik Park; Jeong Keun Yun; Sung Moo Jung; Woo Yul Lee; Song Ryu
Testimonials
‘Cecil Saehoon Chung has excellent knowledge of the law and a practical approach towards dealing with the KFTC. He gives clear advice.’
‘Yulchon is a go-to antitrust practice in Korea. In-depth knowledge and insight into the inner-workings of the KFTC and assists global companies as they navigate the Korean merger review process.’
‘Cecil Saehoon Chung has deep experience and knowledge of the Korean merger review process. He provides business-oriented, practical advice and has worked on many of the highest profile antitrust matters in history.’
Key clients
Qualcomm
Schaeffler AG
Continental AG
Delta Air Lines
Microsoft
Agoda
Hanjin Transportation
GIC
Hitachi Automotive Systems
Woowa Brothers
Korea Telecom (KT)
ESR
SK Telecom
Hanwha
Kakao
Work highlights
- Representing both Microsoft and Activision Blizzard as their jointly-retained Korean merger control counsel in Microsoft’s USD 70 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- Representing VMware as its Korean merger control counsel in its $61bn acquisition by Broadcom.
- Defending Evergreen in the KFTC’s Korea-Southeast Asia route container shipping cartel investigation and ensuing litigation in court.
South Korea > Dispute resolution: local firms Tier 1
Praised as ‘one of the top firms in Korea’, Yulchon houses an ‘outstanding’ practice, handling a broad range of corporate and financial cases, while branching out into cryptocurrency and blockchain-related disputes. The team has an established reputation, representing major Korean conglomerates in domestic disputes and working on the Korean exchange, co-led by post-M&A arbitration specialist Il Bong Moon. Other practice head Yong Pyo Yeom handles debt and equity matters, and advises on contentious construction, tax and real estate disputes. Elsewhere, Sy Nae Kim is an esteemed advocate in public and private international disputes, particularly in the trade and logistics sectors, while Ik Hyun Kim handles trust, white-collar crime and product liability cases. The team has been further boosted with the arrival of arbitration expert David MacArthur.Practice head(s):
Il Bong Moon; Yong Pyo Yeom
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Ik Hyun Kim is top-tier in terms of experience and expertise. He is the leading lawyer for regulation and legislation related to virtual assets in Korea.’
‘The Yulchon team has a great strength in experts from various fields, who organically form a team which provides comprehensive solutions.’
‘Yulchon is one of the top firms in Korea and especially competent to handle complex and highly sophisticated cases. Their performance in domestic litigation is especially remarkable.’
‘Sy Nae Kim is very experienced in all kinds of cross-border disputes, with a focus on insolvency, corporate restructuring, accounting, mobility and shipping-related matters.’
‘Yulchon’s litigation team, led by Yong Pyo Yeom, is outstanding amongst the major Korean law firms.’
‘Yong Pyo Yeom is the most outstanding lawyer practising in Korea. He has consistently demonstrated the best technical skills and commercial understanding.’
‘Il Bong Moon has abundant knowledge and experience.’
‘Sy Nae Kim is a solid practitioner.’
Key clients
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Mirae Asset Daewoo Co., Ltd.
Coupang Corp.
Hyundai Motor Company
KB Kookmin Bank
KT
Shinhan Bank
Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd.
NH INVESTMENT & SECURITIES CO.,LTD.
Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.
Dunamu
Bithumb
Work highlights
- Advised the Korea Exchange in a Civil Action Brought by the Shareholders of Gamma Nu Inc.
- Advised the largest Security Solutions Provider in Korea, S-1 Corporation in a KRW 68.4 billion claim.
- Advised in a lawsuit seeking Payment for the Construction of in the 3-2 Construction Area for the Metropolitan High-speed Railway.
South Korea > Fintech and financial services regulatory: local firms Tier 1
Praised for being ‘up-to-date on the latest developments in fintech and financial regulations’ and for its ‘deep knowledge’ of blockchain and NFTs, Yulchon advises on fintech issues such as electronic finance, payments and data protection. Traditional financial regulatory work, including general banking and capital markets advisory work is further area of strength. Doil Son and Young Su Shin jointly lead the team, with the former well versed in fintech regulation in Korea and the latter possessing in-depth knowledge of finance ranging from structured finance to insurance-linked securities. Sun Hee Kim is embedded in data and technology.Practice head(s):
Doil Son; Young Su Shin
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The fintech law practice at Yulchon is unique in its focus on the intersection of intellectual property and new technologies, such as blockchain and NFTs. The team has a deep understanding of the legal issues surrounding these technologies.’
‘Potential clients would want to know that the team at Yulchon is up-to-date on the latest developments in fintech and financial regulations, and that they have a proven track record of success in this area.’
‘The individuals I work with at Yulchon are all highly skilled and experienced lawyers who are passionate about fintech law. They are also very approachable and client-oriented.’
‘I believe that the fintech practice at Yulchon is a unique and valuable resource for potential clients. I would highly recommend the team to anyone who is looking for legal advice on fintech matters.’
Key clients
LINE NEXT Inc.
bithumb META Co., Ltd.
Yanolja Cloud PTE. LTD.
Woowa Brothers Corp.
Kurly Inc.
Mathpresso Inc.
Toss Place Co., Ltd. (Affiliate of Viva Republica Co., Ltd.)
Agoda
Bithumb Korea Co., Ltd.
KEB Hana Bank
KB Financial Group Inc., Prudential Life Insurance, KB Life Insurance
Shinhan Bank
Naver Financial Corporation
Hanwha Savings Bank and Double Savings Bank
Hanwha Life Financial Service
Work highlights
- Advised Yanolja Cloud on establishment of “Connectifi Cloud”, a proptech service platform company.
- Independent audit on Naver’s electronic financial business as required by the Specified Financial Information Act.
- Advising Ant Financial on various creative business models for cross-border payment and cross-border remittance services based on Alipay’s global network.
South Korea > Tax: local firms Tier 1
Yulchon’s team regularly advises major Korean and multinational clients in high-stakes tax disputes and litigation. Managing partner Seok Hoon Kang and Dong Soo Kim jointly lead the practice, and Kyu Dong Kim focuses on international tax matters, in addition to the tax elements of cross-border M&As. In a stand out case, Yun Heui Cho and Ki Seon Shin led a team which represented Samsung SDS on the largest royalty withholding tax case in Korean history, seeking the appeal of a corporate tax assessment of $114m. On the advisory side of the practice, US certified accountant Tae Hyoung Kim advises on tax due diligence and risk assessments, while providing support on tax audits and appeals.Practice head(s):
Seok Hoon Kang; Dong Soo Kim
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Yulchon’s tax team boasts deep professional knowledge and collaboration with other practice areas, always achieving great results.’
Key clients
Amazon
Microsoft
Qualcomm
Corning
Cadence Design Systems
Koch Industry Group
PTC
Airbnb
Netflix
Agoda
Shutterstock
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Goldman Sachs
TPG capital
Macquarie
Morgan Stanley
L’Oréal International
UPS
Meritz Alternative Investment Management
Hyundai Asset Management
Mirae Asset Global Investments
Coupang
British American Tobacco
Samsung Electronics
SK Hynix
LG Energy Solutions
Lotte Group
IGIS Asset Management
KTB Investment & Securities
Prudential
Kayak (Hotels Combined)
Société Générale
JP Morgan Chase Bank
Mastern Investment Management
ARA Korea Asset Management
Trescal
Agilent
Certa Insurance Partners
Work highlights
- Successfully represented Samsung SDS in a lawsuit seeking cancellation of a KRW 149 billion corporate income tax assessment.
- Successfully represented Renesas Electronics in a Tax Tribunal appeal and re-audit of a transfer pricing related tax assessment and obtained a 90% tax refund.
- Assisted Japan Korea Joint Smelting Co., Ltd. in tax efficient restructuring of a USD 800 million JV.
South Korea > TMT: local firms Tier 1
Yulchon manages to ‘think creatively and look for alternative lines of argument.’ The team advises on a wide range of TMT matters, including corporate transaction and finance regulations, as well as in new and emerging technology fields such as AI, Big Data, and BlockChain. Practice head Doil Son has handles a comprehensive range of TMT issues and M&A transactions, and contributes to government projects dealing with artificial intelligence. Seung Hyuck Han is an expert in both TMT and antitrust matters, and Sun Hee Kim specialises in data, e-commerce, technology, and fintech.Practice head(s):
Doil Son
Other key lawyers:
Seung Hyuck Han; Sun Hee Kim; Jeong Won Kim
Testimonials
‘The Yulchon team is great on data protection matters, and they think creatively and look for alternative lines of arguments.’
‘Sun Hee Kim and Doil Son are excellent.’
Key clients
Naver Corp.
Skylife TV Co. Ltd
Media Genie Co. Ltd
KT Corp
Korea Cable Tv Association
LG HelloVision
Woori Home Shopping Co. Ltd
Gwangju Technopark
Hyundai Motor Company
Kakao Corp.
Korean Intellectual Property Office
Knorr Bremse
Vestiaire Collective
Work highlights
South Korea > Banking and finance: local firms Tier 2
Yulchon is a strong name in acquisition financing, with a depth of experience in both outbound and inbound transactions, including in the real estate, shipping, and aviation industries. The team is co-headed by Young Su Shin and Sung Wook Eun. Senior partner Sung Keun Park and senior foreign legal counsel Christopher Joon Tae Cho‘s work covers the full breadth of the firm’s practice, including financial restructuring and infrastructure related transactions. Ho Jin Lee is another senior attorney advising on acquisition in the construction industry, private equity and loan financing.Practice head(s):
Young Su Shin; Sung Wook Eun
Other key lawyers:
Sung Keun Park; Christopher JoonTae Cho; Ho Jin Lee
Key clients
kakaopay
Naver Financial Corp.
National Pension Service
Multi Asset Global Investments Co., Ltd.
Shinhan Investment Corp.
Korea Development Bank (KDB)
Glenwood Private Equity
K-SURE
Citi Bank
DBS Bank
Hyundai Asset Management Co., Ltd.
Korea Investment & Securities Co., Ltd.
KB Securities Co., Ltd.
KEB Hana Bank
Yuanta Securities Co., Ltd.
Woori Global Asset Management Co., Ltd.
LG Display Co., Ltd.
Meritz Securities Co. Ltd.
Curious Partners
IGIS Asset Management Company
Credit Agricole Corporate
Societe Generale
Work highlights
South Korea > Capital markets: local firms Tier 2
Yulchon’s capital markets department advises on structured and project finance mandates, overseas investments, and ABS issuances. The team is co-headed by Young Su Shin and Sung Wook Eun, while Jin Kook Lee advises on high-profile IPOs and equity capital transactions, as well as acquisitions in the shipbuilding and maritime industries. Gun Kim is a trusted adviser on stock and various bond instruments, as well as advising on high-value financing transactions. Another key team member is Geen Kim.Practice head(s):
Young Su Shin; Sung Wook Eun
Other key lawyers:
Jin Kook Lee; Gun Kim; Geen Kim; Kyu Sik Kim
Key clients
KB Securities Co., Ltd.
Mirae Asset Securities (HK)
PS Alliance Co., Ltd.
BMW Group
Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C.
Korea Investment & Securities Co., Ltd.
Lotte Rental
J.P. Morgan
Credit Suisse
Kia Corporation
Hana Bank
Dominus Investment
Hyundai Capital Services
Work highlights
- Acted as Korean counsel to Hana Bank in connection with Hana Bank’s placement of medium term notes in the aggregate principal amount of A$2,000,000,000.
- Advised Dominus Investment Co., Ltd. regarding its subscription of convertible bonds issued by Ace Technology Co., Ltd.
South Korea > Corporate and M&A: local firms Tier 2
Yulchon‘s experienced corporate and M&A team includes ‘a deep bench of excellent practitioners,‘ co-led by Young Su Shin and Sung Wook Eun. The latter advises on complex high-value mergers and partnerships, while Jin Kook Lee handles major acquisitions and shares and stakes transactions for high-profile Korean conglomerate clients. Former judge Jae Hyun Park is experienced in private equity and corporate restructuring matters, while senior foreign counsel Hyung Ki Lee is sought after for work with connections to the world of insolvency.Practice head(s):
Young Su Shin; Sung Wook Eun
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Yulchon’s corporate team has a deep bench of excellent practitioners.’
‘Hyung Ki Lee has a very good understanding of our business and tries to provide practical advice.’
‘Hyung Ki Lee is very commercially savvy and reliable.’
‘The team at Yulchon is very strong on substance and practically oriented. Very client focused. Committed to providing solutions and achieving client’s goals.’
‘Full-service team with capable, responsive and thoughtful lawyers.’
Key clients
Lotte Group
Naver
Hanwha Group
JX Nippon & Metals
Zinus
NH Financial Group
KT
KB Financial Group
Mirae Asset
L’Oreal
Work highlights
- Advised Naver on its acquisition of a US-based fashion e-marketplace Poshmark for $1.6 billion.
- Advised Hanwha Group on the acquisition of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.
- Advised Japan Korea Joint Smelting Co., Ltd., a Japanese company, on its restructuring and sale of its shares in LS-Nikko Copper Inc. in Korea.
South Korea > Insurance: local firms Tier 2
The insurance team at Yulchon is jointly led by Young Su Shin, who is also recognised for his corporate and financial expertise, and Hyeon Hwa Shin. The group has a solid track record in assisting the country's major financial regulators, bolstering the department's strength in handling regulatory reviews for insurance clients. Additionally, the team fields expertise in advising on insurance disputes and insurance and reinsurance arrangements.Practice head(s):
Young Su Shin; Hyeon Hwa Shin
Testimonials
‘Yulchon’s insurance team offers very practical and helpful advice.’
‘Young Su Shin is one of the most prominent legal practitioners in the Korean insurance industry. He has amazing in-depth expertise on insurance matters.’
Key clients
Chubb Insurance
Korean Reinsurance
Mirae Asset Life Insurance
Korea General Insurance Association
Korea Life Insurance Association
DB Insurance Co., Ltd.
DB Life Insurance Co., Ltd.
Seoul Guarantee Insurance Company
Lotte Insurance Co., Ltd.
Hanwha Insurance Co., Ltd.
Hanwha Life Insurance Co., Ltd.
MetLife Insurance Co., Ltd.
KB Life Insurance Co., Ltd.
KB Insurance Co., Ltd.
Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance Co., Ltd.
KDB Life Insurance Co., Ltd.
Samsung Life Insurance Co., Ltd.
Financial Supervisory Service / Financial Services Commission (Korean Government)
Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance
Kyobo Life Insurance Co., Ltd.
Tongyang Life Insurance Co., Ltd.
Korea Insurance Institute
Hanwha Life Financial Service
ABL Life Insurance Co., Ltd.
Work highlights
- Advised Samsung Life Insurance on its purchase of a minority interest in Meridiam SAS, a French infrastructure investment manager.
- Advised KB Financial Holding Company’s Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, KB Life Insurance and Prudential Life Insurance on a merger.
- Advised on the acquisition of People Life by Hanwha Life Financial Service.
South Korea > Intellectual property: local firms Tier 2
With a multidisciplinary practice that represents leading companies across various industries, Yulchon is a reliable firm for all matters concerning IP litigation and transactions. Heading the IP and technology group is Jeong Yeol Choe, who served as a judge for 21 years before joining the firm. Kyung Ae Yoon, a seasoned patent attorney, regularly handles patent strategic counselling, patent portfolio development, and licensing. Hyeong Joo Lim has ‘a very good understanding of new technologies’ and is recommended for cases involving trade secrets, technology leakage, and internal investigations. Ji Haeng Hwang is especially experienced with IP matters in the fields of electrical and computer engineering, while associate Min Ju Park has an in-depth knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry. Samuel Sungmok Lee, Da Woo Lee, and Min Seung Ku are also noted for the expertise they bring to the team.Practice head(s):
Doil Son
Other key lawyers:
Samuel Sungmok Lee; Yong Min Lee; Hyeong Joo Lim; Min Ju Park; Jeong Yeol Choe; Kyung Ae Yoon; Jin Son; Ji Haeng Hwang; Da Woo Lee; Min Seung Ku
Testimonials
‘The lawyers at Yulchon have a high level of expertise and a lot of work experience that clients need. Their work is high quality, and they always produce good results. Compared to other law firms, they perform business at a higher level
‘Hyeong Joo Lim is one of the lawyers who have been working in intellectual property for a long time in Korea. He is of the top tier in terms of work experience and expertise. He has a very good understanding of new technologies and is passionate about explaining them well to clients.’
‘Yulchon has excellent capabilities in intellectual property litigation.’
‘Samuel Sungmok Lee took on the overall responsibilities for our case. With his expertise in the IP sector, he provided valuable legal advice from a technical perspective and skilfully crafted a strategy to counter the counterparty. His tenacious character made a significant impact on the case’s outcome.’
‘Yulchon’s intellectual property team has excellent capabilities in trade secrets and technology leakage. The intellectual property team is led by lawyers from computer science or pharmacy. It has the advantage of having a high understanding of the company’s technology and trade secrets. It also presents creative and professional opinions on disputes over new IT technologies such as AI and Metabus that have not existed before.’
‘The IP field has a fast-paced atmosphere. Therefore, you have to follow and study the trends in order to stay professional. Yulchon’s profound professionalism made it possible to design the next-step-roadmap of our business.’
‘Compared to other big firms in Korea, Yulchon gives quite flawless legal counsel.’
Key clients
Samsung Group
Corning Inc.
Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
SK Group
Hanwha Group
Hyundai Group
LG Group
Daesang Corporation
Coupang Inc.
Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO)
Work highlights
- Represented Corning in multi-jurisdictional patent cases involving patents relating to strengthened cover glass used on more than 7 billion devices worldwide, including nearly every premium smartphone.
- Representing the Korean Intellectual Property Office in an administrative suit filed against the Commissioner of KIPO seeking the validity of a patent application which named an AI as the inventor.
- Represented GS Construction Co., Ltd., the fifth-largest construction company in Korea, in a trademark infringement case involving a pet name for luxury apartment complexes.
South Korea > Labour and employment: local firms Tier 2
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:
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).
South Korea > Real estate: local firms Tier 2
Advising on the full range of inbound and outbound real estate investments, Yulchon’s team has experience in handling cross-jurisdictional acquisition and financing work. Tae Jin Cha, who advises on asset management, collective investment and REITs, jointly leads the team alongside Ju Bong Park, who handles a range of construction mandates. Jin Seok Choi advises on real estate deals and finance matters, while Geen Kim is praised for her 'vast experience in overseas transactions'. Other key contacts in the group include Sung You Choi and Young Joon Yoon.Practice head(s):
Tae Jin Cha; Ju Bong Park
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Yulchon is one of the top firms in real estate, especially for overseas investment deals. It is a highly organised team.’
‘The Yulchon team is exceptional in all aspects. They are available 24/7 around the clock, which is very important upon executing overseas transactions. They are able to apply their vast experience on overseas transactions and easily adapt to any changes that occur during a transaction.’
‘Geen Kim has vast experience in overseas transactions.’
Key clients
ARA Korea
ADF Asset Management
AM Plus Asset Development Inc.
BentallGreenOak
BNK Asset Management Co. Ltd
Capstone Asset Management
Coupang Corp.
CBRE Investment Management (Korea) Ltd. (formerly known as CBRE Global Investors (Korea) Limited)
Daol Asset Management Co., Ltd.
DB Insurance Co., ltd.
Dbloc Asset Management Co., Ltd.
Digital Edge
DWS Asset Management (Korea) Co. Ltd. (changed name from Deutsche Asset Management (Korea) Co., Ltd.)
Edn Investment Management
Gaw Capital
Gravity Asset Management
Hana Alternative Asset Management Co., Ltd.
Hana Asset Trust Co., Ltd.
Hana Financial Investment Co., Ltd.
Hangang Asset Management Co., Ltd.
Hanwha Asset Management Co., Ltd.
Hanwha Investment & Securities Co., Ltd.
Heritage Asset Management
HHR Asset Management
Homeplus Co., Ltd.
Hotel Lotte Co., Ltd.
IGIS Asset Management Co., Ltd.
Inmark Asset Management Co. Ltd
Inmark REITs Management Co. Ltd
JB Asset Management
JR AMC Co., Ltd
Koramco Asset Management Co., Ltd.
Korea International Trade Association
Keppel Investment Management Co., Ltd.
Korea Asset In Trust Co., Ltd.
Korean Teachers’ Credit Union
Kreits Investment Management Co., Ltd.
KY Asset Management Co., Ltd.
LaSalle Investment Management
LB Asset Management
Logos Property
Lotte AMC
Lotte Corporation
Morgan Stanley
Mirae Asset Global Investments Co., Ltd.
Mirae Asset Securities Co., Ltd.
NH-Amundi Asset Management
NH Investment & Securities Co., Ltd.
NH REITs Management
Oaktree
Pacific Asset Management Company
Pacific Investment Management
Pebblestone Asset Management
RIFA Asset Management
Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co., ltd.
Samsung SRA Asset Management
Seraya Partners
Shinhan Investment Corp.
Shinhan REITs Management
Smart Square D&I
Tiger Alternative Investors
Vestas Investment Management
Woori Global Asset Management Co., Ltd.
Work highlights
- Advised Mirae Asset Global Investments on sale of Office Building in São Paulo, Brazil.
- Advised POSCO O&M on acquisition of Jack Nicklaus Golf Course in Incheon.
- Advised Samsung SRA Asset Management on acquisition of Office Building (450 Park Ave.) in New York.
South Korea > Regulatory: compliance and investigations: local firms Tier 2
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:
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.
South Korea > International arbitration Tier 3
Yulchon‘s international arbitration team is headed by esteemed arbitration counsel and arbitrator Yun Jae Baek, who in addition to his counsel work is currently serving as an arbitrator number of arbitral institutions, including the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board and the ICC. Jeonghye Sophie Ahn handles a range of corporate and commercial disputes, including matters with intellectual property and media elements. Jae Hyong Woo deals with treaty arbitration cases, international construction projects and pharmaceuticals. Woo Suk Jung is another key team member, who handles a broad range of commercial arbitrations.Practice head(s):
Yun Jae Baek; Jeonghye Sophie Ahn
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
KT
Hyundai Engineering & Construction
Daelim Industrial
APEX Group
Siemens AG
POSCO Daewoo
Republic of Korea
Hanwha Corp.
GS Engineering & Construction
POSCO
South Korea > Projects and energy: local firms Tier 3
The ‘nimble and versatile’ team at Yulchon is noted for its expertise in greenfield development projects, advising on a range of matters concerning investment structure, tax structuring and commercial agreement negotiations, as well as financing and exit strategies. Senior foreign counsel Raymond Kang, who has experience advising on domestic and international greenfield and brownfield energy and infrastructure projects, jointly leads the team alongside Kum Ju Son. Hong Kim is another key contact in the group.Practice head(s):
Raymond Kang; Kum Ju Son
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Nimble and versatile.’
Key clients
Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO)
Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC)
Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS)
Korea Western Power Co., Ltd.
Korea South East Power Co., Ltd.
Korea Midland Power Co., Ltd.
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power
GS Engineering & Construction Corp.
GS Power Co., Ltd.
POSCO
POSCO Engineering & Construction
Hyundai Oilbank
Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.
POSCO International
Hanwha General Chemicals
SK Chemicals
BayWa r.e.
Mirae Asset
Asia Development Bank (ADB)
wpd AG
Korea Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corporation
Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.
Hanwha Energy
Myungwoon Industries Development Co., Ltd.
Samhae Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.
Nakwol Blueheart Co., Ltd.
Korea Floating Wind Power Co., Ltd.
East Blue Power Co., Ltd.
Firefly Floating Offshore Wind Co., Ltd.
MunmuBaram Co., Ltd.
Ocean Winds
South Korea > Shipping: local firms Tier 3
Yulchon combines its strong shipping background with the expertise of the firm's other practice groups to provide its clients with comprehensive support on any matter that may arise, including both contentious and non-contentious issues. The firm is well versed in wet and dry shipping law, including ship financing and shipping-related restructurings. Young Su Shin and Sung Wook Eun jointly lead the shipping group.Practice head(s):
Young Su Shin; Sung Wook Eun
Testimonials
‘They have knowledge of not only their area but also of the entire issue, and they review and give their opinions comprehensively.’
‘Quick and appropriate responses.’
‘They deal with many case about ship finance, so I think they work very efficiently.’
‘The Yulchon team is very experienced in the field of ship finance. They are very efficient and user-friendly.’
Yulchon > Firm Profile
The firm: Yulchon is a full-service international law firm headquartered in Seoul, Korea. It employs over 490 professionals, including more than 60 licensed in jurisdictions outside of Korea. The firm’s perspective is international and its reach is global. Yulchon advises on a full range of specialized practice areas, including corporate and finance, antitrust, tax, real estate and construction, dispute resolution, intellectual property, and labor and employment. In addition to its main office in Seoul, Yulchon maintains offices in Russia, China, Myanmar, Vietnam and Indonesia, and has 11 regional practice teams covering the world.
In addition to deep industry and international expertise, Yulchon’s culture of innovation and collaboration offers excellence in legal service that puts client needs first. Among the recognitions received, Yulchon was honored by the Financial Times as “Most Innovative Asia Pacific Law Firm” in 2018 and Korea’s “Most Innovative Law Firm” for two consecutive years (2015-2016), recognized by Chambers & Partners as “Law Firm of the Year in Korea” in 2017 and selected by the American Lawyer as the “Asian Law Firm of the Year” at the 2016 Asia Legal Awards.
Areas of practice: Yulchon is structured around seven major practice groups: antitrust and competition, corporate and finance, tax, dispute resolution, real estate and construction, labour and employment, and intellectual property. Each group is recognised as a leader in its respective field and consistently ranks among the best practices in Korea for their work on high-profile and landmark transactions. These groups are supplemented by a number of smaller practice teams focusing on a specific industry, region or subject matter which has enabled the firm’s clients to benefit from the comprehensive breadth of a full-service law firm and the expertise and experience of a specialist practice. The firm develops new practice teams to meet clients’ needs in the ever changing business and regulatory environments. The healthcare practice team and cyber security and privacy practice team are excellent examples. With extensive experience and influential government and regulatory resources, the firm’s attorneys are equipped to provide unparalleled legal, strategic and business advice. The success is grounded in its devotion to provide technical expertise and service capabilities at the highest level, supplemented by the industry know-how essential to achieve clients’ business objectives. Furthermore, in co-operation with a network of reputable international law firms, it provides clients, both domestic and foreign, with integrated and comprehensive services found only in preeminent international firms.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Antitrust and competition | Sung Bom Park | sbpark@yulchon.com | |
Antitrust and competition | Cecil Saehoon Chung | cschung@yulchon.com | |
Banking and finance, capital markets | Kyu Sik Kim | kyusik@yulchon.com | |
Banking and finance, shipping | Christopher Cho | jtcho@yulchon.com | |
Capital markets, corporate and M&A | Jin Kook Lee | jklee@yulchon.com | |
Corporate and M&A, insurance | Young Su Shin | ysshin@yulchon.com | |
Corporate and M&A | Sung Wook Eun | sweun@yulchon.com | |
Corporate and M&A, TMT | Doil Son | dison@yulchon.com | |
Dispute resolution | Dong Ryul Choi | drchoi@yulchon.com | |
Dispute resolution | Il Bong Moon | ibmoon@yulchon.com | |
Insurance | Hyeon Hwa Shin | hhshin@yulchon.com | |
Intellectual property | Jeong Yeol Choe | jychoe@yulchon.com | |
Intellectual property | Samuel Sung Mok Lee | samuellee@yulchon.com | |
Intellectual property | Hyeong Joo Lim | hjlim@yulchon.com | |
International arbitration | Yun Jae Baek | yjbaek@yulchon.com | |
Labour and employment | Sang Wook Cho | swcho@yulchon.com | |
Projects and energy | Raymond M. Kang | rkang@yulchon.com | |
Real estate and construction | Ju Bong Park | jbpark@yulchon.com | |
Real estate | Tae Jin Cha | tjcha@yulchon.com | |
Real estate | Jin Seok Choi | choijs@yulchon.com | |
White-collar crime | Eun Jae Park | ejpark@yulchon.com | |
Tax | Dong Soo Kim | dskim@yulchon.com | |
Tax | Yun Heui Cho | yhcho@yulchon.com | |
Tax | Kyu Dong Kim | kdkim@yulchon.com | |
Antitrust and competition, TMT | Seung Hyuck Han | shhan@yulchon.com | |
Corporate and M&A, TMT | Sun Hee Kim | kimsh@yulchon.com | |
Restructuring and insolvency | Chul Man Kim | cmkim@yulchon.com | |
Restructuring and insolvency | Sun Kyoung Kim | skkim@yulchon.com |
Lawyer Profiles
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 490+Languages
Burmese Cambodian Chinese English French German Japanese Korean Portuguese Russian Spanish VietnameseOther
Contacts : Seok Hoon Kang (Co-managing Partner) Contacts : Hee Woong Yoon (Co-managing Partner)Comparative Guides
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South Korea: Litigation
Published: July 2023
Authors: Mr. Yong Pyo YeomMr. Chul Ki MinMs. Hyun Ah ParkMs. Yun A Choe
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Litigation laws and regulations applicable in South Korea.
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South Korea: Tax
Published: October 2023
Authors: Dong Soo KimKyu Dong KimYong Whan ChoiJeremy Everett
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Tax laws and regulations applicable in South Korea.
- Antitrust and competition: local firms
- Dispute resolution: local firms
- Fintech and financial services regulatory: local firms
- Tax: local firms
- TMT: local firms