Partner
Sunghee CHAE
Data Privacy & Cybersecurity
Expertise
Recently reviewed Professionals
As a partner at Lee & Ko whose practice covers a broad range of technology-related matter, Ms. Sunghee Chae is actively
involved in the following practice groups: Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT), Data Protection & Privacy,
IP, Fintech, Regulatory Compliance.
Since being admitted to the Korean Bar in 2006, Ms. Chae has developed special expertise concerning regulatory
compliance especially in connection with data protection and privacy matters. She has advised numerous businesses on
a wide range of data protection issues, including cross-border data transfers, online behavioral advertising, big data systems
and employee monitoring. Recently, she has also advised a leading Korean financial institution on issues related to Fintech
and blockchain technology.
Ms. Chae also has extensive experience in IP matters, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and
employee inventions, and has handled many high-profile court litigation cases and international arbitration cases. As of late,
she has been actively advising clients on copyright issues related to open-source software.
involved in the following practice groups: Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT), Data Protection & Privacy,
IP, Fintech, Regulatory Compliance.
Since being admitted to the Korean Bar in 2006, Ms. Chae has developed special expertise concerning regulatory
compliance especially in connection with data protection and privacy matters. She has advised numerous businesses on
a wide range of data protection issues, including cross-border data transfers, online behavioral advertising, big data systems
and employee monitoring. Recently, she has also advised a leading Korean financial institution on issues related to Fintech
and blockchain technology.
Ms. Chae also has extensive experience in IP matters, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and
employee inventions, and has handled many high-profile court litigation cases and international arbitration cases. As of late,
she has been actively advising clients on copyright issues related to open-source software.
Representative Cases
- Advised Samsung Electronics on its global data protection strategy and policy as head of the Global Data Protection Compliance Taskforce
- Advising the largest financial group in Korea on issues related to data protection, Fintech, and blockchain technology
- Advising multinational pharmaceutical companies on global data protection issues
- Advised a German car manufacturer on various data protection issues
- Advised a leading Korean heavy industry company on open source software issues
- Represented a Korean financial company in data breach litigation
- Represented a leading Korean heavy industry company in a trade secrets case
- Represented a Korean game company in a copyright infringement case against a Japanese game company
- Represented a Korean car manufacturer in an international arbitration matter
Education
| 2017 | Master of Laws, Seoul National University, Graduate School of Law |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea |
| 2001 | Bachelor of Laws, Seoul National University, College of Law |
Work Experience
| 2016-Present | Lee & Ko |
|---|---|
| 2010-2016 | Samsung Electronics |
| 2006-2009 | BAE, KIM &LEE LLC |
Admissions
| 2006 | Admitted to bar, Korea |
|---|---|
| [MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATION] | |
| Member, The Evaluation of Laws and Regulations Committee | |
| (The ELRC is a committee, established under the Personal Information Protection Act of Korea by the Personal Information Protection Committee, which examines all laws and regulations proposed by the K | |
| Advisory Counsel of the Personal Information Protection Committee | |
| Member, Korea Association for Informedia Law | |
| 2015 - 2016 | CIPP (EU) |
Languages
| Korean, English, German(written), Japanese |
Awards and Recognitions
| 2024 | The Best Lawyer, The Legal Times Consumer Report |
|---|---|
| 2023 ~ 2025 | Ranked Lawyer (Band4) Technology, Media, Telecommunication (Chambers Asia Pacific) |
| 2018 | Leading lawyer for Intellectual Property, Asialaw Leading Lawyers |
Publications / Presentations / ETC
- Right to be forgotten in Google ECJ ruling(case No. C-131/12): from a Korean perspective (Law & Technology Vol.10, No.4, 2014)
- A comparative study between European laws and Korean laws on purpose limitation and restriction to profiling and automated individual decision making (Law&Technology Vol.12, No.1, 2016)
- On the concept of the right on informational self-determination in Korea and Germany (Journal of Korea Information Law, Vol.20, No.3, 2016)
- On the concept of personal information: comparative study of the data protection laws of EU, Germany, UK, Japan and Korea (master's thesis, Seoul National University, 2017)
- Main Issues in Korea regarding consent for the Processing of Personal Information, with Emphasis on Recent Supreme Court Cases (Journal of Korean Law, Vol.17, No.1, 2017)
- [Lecture and Speaking Engagement]The New Data Protection Strategy in the Era of Big Data (Privacy Global Edge, July 2016)
- Anonymization of Personal Data in Korea: Overview of the De-identification Guidelines (Data Privacy Asia, November 2016)
- On the Concept of Personal Data and the Relevant Issues including De-identification Measures and Online Behavioural Target Advertisement (In-House Counsel Forum, April 2017)
- Privacy by Design under the GDPR and Korean Data Protection Laws (Privacy Global Edge, June 2017)
- Comparative study on data protection requirements under the GDPR and Korean data protection laws (In-House Counsel Forum, April 2018)
- Regulations on Cross-border Transfers of Data in Korea (Asia Privacy Forum, May 2018)
- Lectures for many private companies including IT, logistics, financial and pharmaceutical companies
Related news
Awards Ranking
Sunghee Chae, selected as 'Asia Super 50 TMT Lawyers 2025' by ALB 2025.03.27Newsletter
A New Era for AI: Republic of Korea Takes a Bold Step with AI Regulation 2025.01.07Awards Ranking
'Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025’ Band 1 in 11 practice areas 2024.12.13Seminar/Event
Seminar on 'Exploring Legal and Policy Support Measures for Space Security and the Development of the Space Industry' 2024.11.12Seminar/Event
Webinar on ‘Digital Health and AI: Regulatory Innovation’ 2024.06.04Newsletter
Concretizing Rights of Data Subjects in the AI Era 2024.05.20Press & Releases
[Chosun Biz] Lee & Ko Launches South Korea’s Largest Tech & AI Team 2024.04.22Newsletter
PIPC’s Policy Direction in Online Behavioral Advertising 2024.02.22Awards Ranking
'Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024’ Band 1 in 13 practice areas 2023.12.15Newsletter
Amended Enforcement Decree of the Personal Information Protection Act of Korea 2023.09.26Seminar/Event
[Legal Times] [Seminar coverage] Lee & Ko hosts 'The Present and Future of Digital Health' webinar 2023.06.01Seminar/Event
Lee & Ko hosts 'The Present and Future of Digital Health' webinar 2023.05.17Newsletter
Second Major Amendment to the Personal Information Protection Act Passed by National Assembly (III) 2023.03.16Seminar/Event
[Edaily] Lee & Ko Hosts Webinars on Amendments to the Personal Information Protection Act 2023.03.09Newsletter
Second Major Amendment to the Personal Information Protection Act Passed by National Assembly (II) 2023.03.08Newsletter
Second Major Amendment to the Personal Information Protection Act Passed by National Assembly (I) 2023.02.28Newsletter
PIPC Imposes Record Fines on Google and Meta for Privacy Violations 2022.09.16