Kim & Chang is recognised as a leader in the market, praised by clients for its ‘proven track record in managing high-stakes government investigations and enforcement actions’. The firm is distinguished by its extensive experience in corporate investigations, as well as its expertise in cross-border investigations. Practice head Kook Hyun Yoo is a key contact for senior executives of global companies on complex investigations and enforcement actions. Myungsuk Sean Choi regularly oversees investigations at the firm, as well as criminal defence and corporate crisis cases. Seasoned criminal defence attorney Seung Ho Lee is another name to note, and Sang Hyuk Park has corporate investigation expertise with multi-national companies in Korea. Jung-Il Han is noted for his work on criminal investigations and related complex crises for domestic and global companies. For clients in the life sciences and technology industries, Jong-Won Jeon is a key practitioner and praised by clients for his ’exceptional professionalism and discretion’. Ho Keun Ryu and Sung Won Hong are other key lawyers in the team.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
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Profile

Profile

Work Department
Corporate Investigations & White Collar Defense; Anti-Corruption & Corporate Compliance; Privacy & Data Security; Life Sciences and Healthcare; Industrial Security and Export Control
Career

Myungsuk Sean Choi is an attorney who is leading Kim & Chang’s Corporate Investigations & White Collar Defense Practice and the Anti-Corruption & Corporate Compliance Practice.

Mr. Choi’s practice focuses on white collar criminal defense, anti-corruption, and regulatory compliance issues. He also has extensive experience in advising clients on compliance, internal corporate audits, crisis management, and digital evidence discovery. Mr. Choi also assists and advises clients on internal investigations to determine compliance with applicable laws and regulations (including issues regarding the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act).

Mr. Choi joined the firm after a distinguished 12-year career as a prosecutor. He was involved in many complex criminal investigations including white collar crime and intellectual property infringement cases. He represented the Korean Government at the Working Group Conferences for the OECD Anti-Corruption Convention. In addition to his experience as a prosecutor, Mr. Choi worked at several law firms serving as a counsel for major domestic and foreign corporations in regulatory disputes and criminal cases.

Mr. Choi frequently gives presentations and delivers speeches at many international anti-corruption conferences, including the Second Asia Anti-Corruption Congress in 2009 and Singapore Summit on Anti-Corruption Compliance in 2012. In July of 2013, Mr. Choi gave a presentation titled “Localizing Your Gifts and Entertainment Policy to Match Market Risks in ASIA: Gift and Entertainment Policies in South Korea” at the Fourth Global Forum Anti-Corruption Compliance in High Risk Markets. Mr. Choi has been recognized as a leading lawyer in this field. He has been selected as the top-tier lawyer in the corporate criminal field for ten consecutive years starting from 2015, when he was first selected as the Leading Individual in the Corporate Criminal field in the Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide, published by the UK law publisher Chambers and Partners. Additionally has also been selected as the Litigation Star in media published by Euromoney.

Mr. Choi received his LL.M. from Harvard Law School in 1996 and his LL.B. from Seoul National University College of Law in 1985. He completed his two-year training at the Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea in 1989. Mr. Choi is admitted to practice in Korea and the State of New York.

Languages
Korean and English
Memberships
Admitted to bar, Korea, 1989; New York, 2005
Education

Harvard Law School (Visiting Scholar, 2003-2005)

College of Law, Seoul National University (Internet and Law Program for Professionals, 2001)

Harvard Law School (LL.M., 1996)

Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea (1989)

Graduate School of Law, Seoul National University (Completed Coursework, LL.M., 1987)

College of Law, Seoul National University (LL.B., 1985)

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Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Kim & Chang is the largest law firm in South Korea and has both capable lawyers and a strong network with relevant stakeholders. This strength usually brings more and better information in advance than other firms.’

  • 'Jong-Won Jeon stands out for his exceptional professionalism and discretion, qualities that are rare even among top-tier firms. He consistently demonstrates sound judgement in high-stakes, sensitive matters and is not only technically brilliant but also incredibly responsive and practical in his advice.’

Key clients

  • GlaxoSmithKline Korea Ltd.