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Recently reviewed Professionals
Un Ho Kim is a partner in the IP Practice Group at Lee & Ko and is highly reputed as a brilliant legal analyst and scholar, whose expertise in patent infringement and invalidation cases are well-known among IP litigators in Korea. Prior to joining Lee & Ko in 2009, he served in the bench for fifteen years as a judge for the Seoul High Court's Intellectual Property Division, and a research judge for the Supreme Court's Intellectual Property Division.

Mr. Kim's representation covers all major technical fields. In IP Litigation, he represents top-tier multinational and domestic companies including electrical, mechanical, chemical, pharmaceutical, bio and software corporations. His expertise also extends to Trademark, Copyright and Unfair Competition. For example, he has represented global trademark owners in worldwide trademark disputes and the Korea Music Copyright Association in enforcing musical copyrights. He is well known for assuring his clients by coming up with successful results in Trade Secret litigations. In addition to his litigation and trial prowess, he is renowned for rendering strategic legal advice to the clients in all areas of intellectual property rights.

On the bench, Mr. Kim wrote many theses on Intellectual Property issues and lectured at the Korea Patent Attorneys Association from 2005 to 2008. He was also a lecturer on IP litigation and IP damages at the Judicial Research & Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea, a training institute for candidates to be commissioned to the bench and Prosecutor's Office. He also lectures at Yonsei Law School in Korea on the subjects of trademark law and patent law. In addition, He co-authored several popular publications, including "Commentary to Patent Law" in 2010, "Commentary to Trademark Law" in 2018,"and two reference books, namely "Litigation for Damage" and "How to Draft Civil Appellate Court Decisions" that is used by many judges, prosecutors and lawyers.
Representative Cases
LG Electronics in display device-related patent infringement suit
Coway water purifier related patent infringement suits
Samsung in a patent infringement suit against Apple
Coway in sterilizer water purifier-related patent invalidation and infringement suits
Microsoft in a patent infringement suit
Eli Lilly in osteoporosis prevention and treatment-related patent invalidation suit
Astrazeneca in Forxiga (diabetes treatment)-related patent invalidation suit and negative scope confirmation action
Sanofi-Aventis in diabetes treatment syringe-related patent infringement suit
LCD related international patent infringement/invalidation suit
Polymer related patent infringement suit
Crystallized drug related patent infringement/invalidation suit
Streptococcus pneumoniae patent-related preliminary injunction against infringement and patent invalidation suit
Renowned multinational pharmaceutical company in a patent invalidation suit
Global pharmaceutical company in a scope confirmation action
Cushion cosmetics related patent infringement/invalidation suit
Automobile compressor related patent infringement/invalidation suit
Telecommunications related patent infringement/invalidation suit
IP TV related patent invalidation suit
Ericsson in base transceiver station-related patent infringement suit
LNG related patent invalidation suit
Air cleaner related patent invalidation suit
Biodegradable polymer micro-particle manufacturing method related patent invalidation suit
BTS in an injunction suit for trademark infringement and a preliminary injunction suit for unfair competition
Lacoste in a trademark invalidation and cancellation suit
Hyundai Group in a trademark infringement suit
Daewoo E&C in a trademark infringement suit
SU:M in a trademark infringement and cancellation suit
WHOO in a trademark infringement suit
Belif in suit for unfair competition and copyright infringement
TPAY in a preliminary injunction suit for trademark infringement
Sariwon in a preliminary injunction suit for trademark infringement and trademark invalidation suit
Poltrona Frau in an injunction suit against use of the trademark
Kaneku trademark related preliminary injunction suit
My Other Bag design related suit for trademark infringement (Trademark Parody)
Coin tissue trademark suit
Haeundae Amso Galbi restaurant name related unfair competition suit
Franchise trademark related criminal suit
'PUMPING' in a trademark infringement suit
Press and media report related copyright suit
Starbucks music related copyright suit
Textbook related preliminary injunction suit for copyright infringement
Official English level test related copyright infringement suit
Gospel copyright infringement suit
UV-blocking cosmetic product trade secret-related injunction against misappropriation and damages compensation suit
OLEFLEX process related trade secret misappropriation suit
AMOLED related injunction suit for non-compete and trade secret misappropriation
Plastic AMOLED related injunction suit for non-compete and trade secret misappropriation
Atomic Layer Deposition related injunction suit for non-compete and trade secret misappropriation
FPSO related injunction suit for non-compete and trade secret misappropriation
E-commerce related injunction suit for non-compete and trade secret misappropriation
LCD Display related injunction suit for trade secret misappropriation
Laser Drilling software related injunction and civil and criminal suits for non-compete and trade secret misappropriation
3D curved wall panels construction technology related injunction suit for non-compete and trade secret misappropriation
OTC derivatives investment brokerage related injunction suit for non-compete
Franchise executive officer related injunction suit for non-compete
Automobile fuel cell related injunction suit for non-compete and trade secret misappropriation
Non-motorized treadmill related injunction and civil and criminal suits for non-compete and trade secret misappropriation
LCD silica related injunction and criminal suits for trade secret misappropriation
Ventilation product related injunction suit and damages suit for trade secret misappropriation
Non-compete agreement-related damages (including, contractual damages) compensation suit
ADEN game related suit for unfair competition
MU online game related copyright infringement/unfair competition suit
MMORPG Game related copyright infringement suit
Telecommunication related suit for employee invention compensation
Private academy textbook-related publication rights infringement suit
Damages suit for unjust attachment
Academy lecture related injunction and damages suit
Press release related defamation suit
Novel related defamation suit
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Education
2003 Duke University Law School - LL.M.
1994 Judicial Research & Training Institute, Supreme Court of Korea
1992 Korea University, College of Law - LL.B.
1991 Passed the 33rd Korean Bar Examination
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Work Experience
2009-Present Lee & Ko
2023-Present Chairman of Korean Intellectual Property Lawyers Association
2007-2009 Supreme Court Judicial Researcher(Judge) (Exclusive Division for Intellectual Property)
2005-2007 Seoul High Court Judge (Exclusive Division for Intellectual Property)
2003-2005 Seoul District Court Judge
2001-2003 Seoul Family Court Judge
1994-2001 District Court Judge including Busan District Court etc.
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Admissions
1994 Admitted to bar, Korea
2009 Admitted to the Korean patent bar
2023-Present President, Korean Intellectual Property Lawyers Association
2016-Present Patent Court Mediator
2012-Present Korean Commercial Arbitration Board Arbitrator
2012-Present Ministry of Justice, Intellectual Property Legal Advisory Council
2010-Present Trademark Association Member
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Languages
English and Korean
Awards and Recognitions
2024 The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Leading Individuals - Intellectual Property
2019-2024 Chambers Asia-Pacific, Ranked Lawyer(Band 1) - Intellectual Property
2020-2023 Asialaw Leading Layers, Distinguished practitioner for Intellectual Property
2023 Legal Times, IP Lawyer of the Year
2023 Managing Intellectual Property Asia Pacific, South Korea IP Practitioner of the Year
2020-2023 Chambers Global, Ranked Lawyers - Intellectual Property
2018-2023 Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific, Litigation Star for Intellectual Property
2018-2023 Managing Intellectual Property, IP Star for Patent
2018-2023 IAM Patent 1000, Silver rank - Litigation
2022 Managing Intellectual Property Asia Pacific, Asia Pacific IP Practitioner of the Year
2022 Asia IP Magazine, Top 50 IP Experts of South Korea
2022 Asian Legal Business, Asia's TOP 15 IP Lawyers
2020-2022 World Trademark Review 1000, Gold rank - Enforcement and Litigation
2021 Hankyung Business, Best Lawyer of the Year in Trademark & Intellectual Property by Korean In-House Counsel Association
2017 Managing Intellectual Property, IP Star for Trademark and Copyright
2017 Apex Asia Media, Asia IP Patents Experts
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Publications / Presentations / ETC
'Commentary to Patent Law', co-author
'Commentary to Trademark Law', co-author
'Exercise of SEP Patentee's Rights and Its Limitations', Thesis (to be published) to commemorate the Patent Court's 20th Anniversary
'With regards to 'Functional Claim'', Special Act Research, Special Litigation Practice Research Society
Theory and Practice for Trademark Infringement Suit, co-author, Korea Intellectual Property Society, Bobmunsa
'Litigation for Damages (collision, industrial accidents)', co-author, Seoul District Court, Korea Judicial Administration Society
'How to Draft Civil Appellate Court Decisions', co-author, Judicial Research Support Foundation
'Debt Inheritance' (Problems in Inheritance Law), Trial Materials Vol. 78, Court Library
'Examination on Framing in the Cyberspace from the Point of Copyright Infringement', Foreign Judicial Training Theses (24), Trial Materials Vol. 105, Court Library
'Examination on Claim Seeking Transfer of Custody of Underage Children', Practice Research 8 (Oct. 2002), Seoul Family Court
'Counter-Confusion of Trademarks', Intellectual Property Issue No. 13 (May 2006)
'Case Research on the Standards for Determining Inventiveness in Utility Models', Intellectual Property Issue No. 22 (Nov. 2007), Intellectual Property Law Research Society
'Establishment of Compulsory Transfer of Domain Name Pursuant to UDRP Decision and Unjust Enrichment', Supreme Court Case Commentaries Issue No. 75 (2008)
'Specifying the Elements of Invention for Purposes of Determining the Elements of Patent', Supreme Court Case Commentaries Issue No. 70 (2007)
'Scope of Prior Arts Referenced in Determining Inventiveness of Utility Models', Supreme Court Case Commentaries Issue No. 69 (2007)
'Description Requirements for Specifications of Selection Inventions', Supreme Court Case Commentaries Issue No. 74 (2007)
'Determining Whether a Trademark is a Functional Mark or a Mark that is Likely to Cause Confusion as to the Quality of Goods', Supreme Court Case Commentaries Issue No. 69 (2007)
'Office Action on New Grounds for Rejection during Re-Examination after Correction,' Intellectual Property Law Research Institute (2008)
'Correction, Partition Application, and Intentional Exclusion for Purposes of Overcoming Insufficiency of Description and Inventiveness', Supreme Court Case Commentaries Issue No. 75 (2008)
“Legal Elements of Patent Scope of an Invention, including Specifying Products by Function, Effect, and Defining Technological Elements in Determining Patent Elements”, Supreme Court Case Commentaries Issue No. 74 (2007)
'Timing for Ruling on Amendment where an Amendment was Filed during Patent Invalidation or Opposition Proceedings', Supreme Court Case Commentaries Issue No. 76 (2008)
'Narrow Interpretation of Patent Scope in Patent Scope Confirmation Trials', Intellectual Property Issue No. 29 (Jan. 2009)
'Claims for Damages in Automobile Accidents and Auto Insurance', Trial Materials Vol. 112, Training Materials for Judges in Specialty Fields
'Trade Secrecy of Materials Submitted to Government Agencies', Presentation before the Information Law Society (Mar. 2008)
“Case Commentary on Preliminary Injunction Against Infringement of Utility Model and the Crime of Rendering Null and Void Official Symbol During Public Service(Case No. 2006 Do 1819, S. Ct. Dec. 24, 2008),” Legal Newspaper (Sep. 21, 2009)
Korea strengthens protection against IP infringement and unfair competition (Amendment of the Patent Act and the Unfair Competition Prevention Act), Legal500 Article, 2019
'First Ever Decision by the Supreme Court of Korea to Find Copyright Infringement in the Selection, Arrangement or Combination of Game Elements', Legal500 Article, 2019
'Lee & Ko successfully represents Big Hit Entertainment against unauthorized use of BTS' photos', Legal500 Article, 2019
Practical Law Cross-border Intellectual Property-South Korea, intellectual property right licenses Q and A
Practical Law - Cross-border Intellectual Property-South Korea, intellectual property right assignment Q and A
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IP Issues and Implications Relating to ChatGPT 2023.05.26

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Successfully resolved a copyright infringement and unfair competition dispute related to a television show format 2023.03.21

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Top tier law firm by IAM Patent 1000 2022.06.30

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“Law Firm of the Year” at the 2022 MIP Asia Awards 2022.06.02

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[Chosun Biz] A dispute over the use of ‘Bar Graph’ in labelling ingredients of cosmetic products… Lee & Ko steering ‘Belief’ to victory in a lawsuit against Tonymoly 2022.02.23

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[Korean economy] The reason why we were involved in a legal dispute over "Haeundae Amso Galbijip". 2022.01.16

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Lee & Ko Successfully Obtains Favorable IPTAB Decision for DMB Services of Major Broadcasting Companies including KBS, MBC, SBS and YTN in a Patent Dispute Involving MPEG Standard Essential Patent 2021.11.30
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