Partner
Han Kyung LEE
Banking
Expertise
Recently reviewed Professionals
Han Kyung Lee is a partner in the Banking & Finance Group at Lee & Ko. She specializes in financial regulation, structured finance and syndicated loan/ acquisition finance. Prior to joining Lee & Ko in 2009, she served as an associate in the Corporate Disclosure Department and Enforcement Review Office at the Financial Supervisory Services (FSS), gaining extensive practical experience in financial regulatory oversight.
Drawing from her experience at the FSS, Ms. Lee has advised major domestic and international financial institutions—including Woori Bank, Kookmin Bank, KB Securities, and SK Securities—on compliance, regulatory issues, and response strategies related to FSS inspections and sanctions. Her advisory work also prominently features traditional financial regulatory matters, as well as emerging areas such as digital finance, alternative investments, private equity, and virtual assets/NFTs.
Ms. Lee has also advised clients in securitization transactions, including among others, Korea Development Bank (KDB), Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, Hana Bank and Deutsche Bank. She has advised KDB in numerous structured finance & securitization transactions, including the P-CBO/S-CBO owned by KDB, which was the largest ABS transaction in 2009. She also represented Kookmin Bank and other financial institutions in respect of refinancing of KR1 CR-REIT, an investment vehicle of Morgan Stanley, which acquired the Seoul Square Building, one of Seoul's landmark buildings.
Ms. Lee is recognized as a leading professional in her field. She was named a “Rising Star” by Euromoney (2021), a “Rising Star Partner” in Capital Markets (Structured Finance and Securitisation) by IFLR1000 (2021, 2022, 2023), and a “Leading Lawyer” in Securities and Finance by Legal Times (2022, 2024).
Drawing from her experience at the FSS, Ms. Lee has advised major domestic and international financial institutions—including Woori Bank, Kookmin Bank, KB Securities, and SK Securities—on compliance, regulatory issues, and response strategies related to FSS inspections and sanctions. Her advisory work also prominently features traditional financial regulatory matters, as well as emerging areas such as digital finance, alternative investments, private equity, and virtual assets/NFTs.
Ms. Lee has also advised clients in securitization transactions, including among others, Korea Development Bank (KDB), Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, Hana Bank and Deutsche Bank. She has advised KDB in numerous structured finance & securitization transactions, including the P-CBO/S-CBO owned by KDB, which was the largest ABS transaction in 2009. She also represented Kookmin Bank and other financial institutions in respect of refinancing of KR1 CR-REIT, an investment vehicle of Morgan Stanley, which acquired the Seoul Square Building, one of Seoul's landmark buildings.
Ms. Lee is recognized as a leading professional in her field. She was named a “Rising Star” by Euromoney (2021), a “Rising Star Partner” in Capital Markets (Structured Finance and Securitisation) by IFLR1000 (2021, 2022, 2023), and a “Leading Lawyer” in Securities and Finance by Legal Times (2022, 2024).
Representative Cases
- [Major Transactions]
- Advised on the project finance (PF) loan securitization for Shinboondang Subway Line
- Advised on future receivables securitization transactions for Ilsan Sea World, SK Shipping, Korea Line, and HDX
- Advised Kolon Group's P-CBO transaction
- Advised on Korea Development Bank's P-CBO and S-CBO transactions
- Advised on the sale and securitization of non-performing loans (NPLs) by Standard Chartered Bank Korea
- Advised on the sale and securitization of NPLs by Korea Development Bank
- Advised KB Kookmin Bank, Korea Development Bank, and other lenders on a syndicated loan to Alvogen Korea Group
- Advised KR-1 REIT on a syndicated loan for the Seoul Square Building
- Advised Arab Bank PLC (Singapore Branch), Arab Banking Corporation (B.S.C.), Union National Bank PJSC, AHLI United Bank B.S.C., and Ahli United Bank Limited on a syndicated loan to Daewoo Engineering & Construction
- [Financial Regulatory and Compliance]
- Represented 14 asset management companies in investigations by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) regarding alleged violations of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act
- Represented a major domestic bank in FSS investigations involving the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act
- Represented a domestic securities company in FSS investigations related to capital markets compliance
- Represented a former director of a domestic bank in investigations by the FSS and Financial Services Commission (FSC) concerning violations of the Banking Act
- Represented a KRX-listed company in investigations by the FSS and FSC regarding disclosure violations
- Represented a domestic company and its major shareholders in FSS and FSC investigations concerning foreign exchange violations
- Represented a domestic savings bank and its affiliates savings banks in financial audits conducted by the FSS and FSC
Education
| 2015 | UCLA School of Law - LL.M. |
|---|---|
| 2009 | Judicial Research & Training Institute, Supreme Court of Korea |
| 2004 | Yonsei University - B.A. in Law |
Work Experience
| 2009-Present | Lee & Ko |
|---|---|
| 2025-Present | External Evaluation Committee Member for Licensing of Financial Investment Business, Financial Supervisory Service |
| 2023-Present | Legal Advisor, Financial Services Commission |
| 2023-Present | Member, Self-Regulation Review Committee, Financial Services Commission |
| 2004-2009 | Financial Supervisory Services, Seoul, Korea |
Languages
| Korean and English |
Awards & Recognitions
| 2024 | Legal Times 'Leading Lawyer' - Fianance and securitisation |
|---|---|
| 2023 | IFLR1000 2023 Edition 'Rising Star Partner' - Capital markets: Structured finance and securitisation |
| 2022 | Legal Times 'Leading Lawyer' - Fianance and securitisation |
| 2022 | IFLR1000 32nd Edition 'Rising Star Partner' - Capital markets: Structured finance and securitisation |
| 2021 | IFLR1000 31st edition 'Rising Star Partner' - Capital markets: Structured finance and securitization |
| 2021 | Euromoney Rising Stars Asia-Pacific Awards - Practice Area Awards: 'Structured Finance & Securitisation Rising Star', Jurisdiction Awards: 'South Korea' |
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Advisory Services on Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) Registration 2024.06.04Awards Ranking
Tier1 in All Practice Areas of IFLR1000 2023.07.27Press & Releases
[Financial News] Lee & Ko strengthens and reorganizes ‘Virtual Assets Investigation Response Team’ [Recent Developments] 2023.07.26Newsletter
Korea - The FSC’s Announcement of the Guidelines on Security Tokens 2023.03.09Press & Releases
[The Korea Economic Daily] Lee & Ko: Financial Compliance Team includes Former Legal Counsels and Officers from FSS, FSC and Prosecutors Office. Advises on Private Equity Fund Fraud Cases 2022.04.20Seminar/Event
Seminar on "the Current Status and Issues of Regulations on Financial Services Platforms in Korea and Overseas" 2021.11.30