Partner
Eun Sam CHOI
Energy · Natural Resources
Expertise
Recently reviewed Professionals
Eun Sam Choi is a partner in Lee & Ko’s Project Finance & Infrastructure Group and Energy & Natural Resources Group. Since joining Lee & Ko in 2009, he has focused his practice in the field of Banking and Finance, with a particular emphasis on project finance & infrastructure transactions of power plant projects. He has also dealt with domestic and international finance transactions, including leveraged-buyout financing, securitizations of receivables or real estate, project financing and other structured financing.
Mr. Choi successfully advised in connection with SolaSeaDo ESS linked Photovoltaic Power Plant Project, involving 98.39732MW Photovoltaic Power Plant and PCS 78MW-Battery 306.270MWh ESS (world's largest ESS), the size of which is substantially larger than any other solar projects ever in Korea until 2020. This project is the first renewable energy project in Korea that incorporated ESG concerns as it involved the “resident participatory investment”, a new concept introduced by the regulations relating to renewable energy.
Formerly, Mr. Choi had advised the Gangneung 2,080MW Coal Thermal Power Plant Project, which is the largest independent power plant project (IPP) ever in Korea with total project cost of KRW 5.65 trillion (approximate USD 5.14billion), after the Goseong 2,080MW Coal Thermal Power Plant Project, which is the second largest independent power plant project (IPP) in Korea with total project cost of KRW 5.246 trillion (equivalent to USD 4.561 billion).
Mr. Choi successfully advised in connection with SolaSeaDo ESS linked Photovoltaic Power Plant Project, involving 98.39732MW Photovoltaic Power Plant and PCS 78MW-Battery 306.270MWh ESS (world's largest ESS), the size of which is substantially larger than any other solar projects ever in Korea until 2020. This project is the first renewable energy project in Korea that incorporated ESG concerns as it involved the “resident participatory investment”, a new concept introduced by the regulations relating to renewable energy.
Formerly, Mr. Choi had advised the Gangneung 2,080MW Coal Thermal Power Plant Project, which is the largest independent power plant project (IPP) ever in Korea with total project cost of KRW 5.65 trillion (approximate USD 5.14billion), after the Goseong 2,080MW Coal Thermal Power Plant Project, which is the second largest independent power plant project (IPP) in Korea with total project cost of KRW 5.246 trillion (equivalent to USD 4.561 billion).
Representative Cases
- [Energy / Power Plant Projects]
- <Renewable Energy Projects – Offshore Wind Farm>
- Anma Offshore Wind Power Plant Project (2023~)
- Jeju Hanrim 100MW Offshore Wind Power Plant Project (2018~)
- Jeonnam Offshore Wind Power Plant Project (2019~2021)
- 400MW offshore wind farm (BARD Offshore1 in Germany) Acquisition Project (2019)
- <Renewable Energy Projects – Onshore Wind Farm>
- Hwasun Geum-sung Mountain 51.7MW Wind Power Plant Project (2021~)
- Yangsan Wondong 37.6MW Wind Power Plant Project (2020~)
- Acquisition of equity stake in 51.2MW Yeongwol Jeopsan Wind Farm Project (2022)
- Acquisition of equity stake in 40MW Yeongam Wind Farm Project (2021~2022)
- Acquisition of equity stake in 37.6MW Wondong Wind Farm Project (2021~2022)
- Acquisition of equity stake in 20MW Pohang Shingwang Wind Farm Project (2021~2022)
- Acquisition of equity stake in 14MW Geochang Wind Farm Project (2021~2022)
- Yeongwol Ecowind 60MW Wind Power Plant Project (2019~2021)
- Yeongam 40MW Wind Power Plant Refinancing Project (2020)
- Pohang Shingwang 20MW Wind Power Plant Project (2017)
- Yeonggwang Baeksu 40MW Wind Power Plant Refinancing Project (2017, 2021)
- Jeju Gasiri 30MW Wind Power Plant Project (2014) and Refinancing Project (2017)
- Taegisan 40MW Wind Power Plant Refinancing Project (2014)
- <Renewable Energy Projects – Photovoltaic Power Plant >
- Shinan Bigeum Island Photovoltaic Power Plant Project (2020~)
- Saemangeum 3rd district 99MW Photovoltaic Power Plant Project (2020~)
- Taean Iwon lake 30MW Residents-participated Floating Photovoltaic Power Plant Project (2020~2022)
- Saemangeum Solar Power 300MW Photovoltaic Power Plant Project (2019~)
- Shinan Imja Island 99.94MW Photovoltaic Power Plant Project (2019~)
- SolaSeaDo ESS-linked Photovoltaic Power Plant Project (98MW Photovoltaic /306MWh ESS) (2019~2020)
- Yeongam ESS-linked Photovoltaic Power Plant Project (93MW Photovoltaic /242.19MWh ESS) (2019) and Refinancing Project (2021)
- Doosan ESS-linked Photovoltaic Power Plant Project (2018)
- Haenam 33MW ESS-linked Photovoltaic Power Plant Project (2017)
- Eunsung & Gwangjin 72MW Photovoltaic Power Plant Project (2017)
- Jinyang & Hyungjin 58MW Photovoltaic Power Plant Project (2015)
- 1st Publicly Offered Seoul Citizen Photovoltaic Power Plant Project (2015)
- Geogeum 25MW Solar Park Solar Power Project (2013)
- More than 50 Photovoltaic Power Projects Financing (REC-linked projects) (2011~)
- <Renewable Energy Projects – Fuel Cell >
- Chilgok Fuel Cell Power Plant Project(2020~)
- Godeok 19MW(PAFC) Fuel Cell Power Plant Project(2019~2021)
- Incheon 39.6MW(PAFC) Fuel Cell Power Plant Project(2018~2020)
- <Thermal Power Plant Projects>
- GS Donghae 1,000MW Coal Thermal Power Plant Project (2019~)
- Gangneung 2,080MW Coal Thermal Power Plant Project (2016~)
- Goseong 2,080MW Coal Thermal Power Plant Project (2016~)
- Dongducheon 1,880MW LNG Combined Cycle Power Plant Project (2012) and Refinancing Project (2015)
- < Integrated Energy Power Plant Projects>
- Ulsan 300MW SK Multi-Utility Combined Heat and Power Plant Project (2021~)
- Ulsan GPS 1GW LNG/LPG Combined Cycle Power Plant Project (2020~2022)
- Shin-Pyeongtak 940MW Combined Cycle Power Plant Refinancing (2021)
- Seokmun 39MW Integrated Energy Power Plant Refinancing Project (2017, 2021)
- Cheongna Integrated Energy Power Plant Refinancing Project (2020)
- Hyangnam-Homaesil district Combined Cycle Power Plant Refinancing Project (2020)
- Osan(DS Power) 436MW Integrated Energy Power Plant Acquisition Project (2017)
- Daegu Green Power 408MW Integrated Energy Power Plant Acquisition & Refinancing Project (2016~2017)
- [Public Private Partnership / Private Infrastructure Projects/ SOC ABS]
- Busan- Sanseong Tunnel Refinancing Project (SCS Restructuring including SOC ABS) (2019)
- Busan-Changwon Highway Refinancing Project (SCS Restructuring including SOC ABS) (2018)
- UK High Speed 1 Rail Infrastructure Project Mezzanine Investment (2017)
- Ulsan Harbour Bridge SOC ABS (SCS Restructuring) (2017)
- Incheon Airport Railroad Express Refinancing Project (SCS Restructuring) (2015)
- Busan-Geoje Fixed Link Refinancing Project (SCS Restructuring including SOC ABS) (2013)
- Eulsukdo Bridge SOC ABS (SCS Restructuring) (2013)
- Busan-Changwon Highway SOC ABS (2012)
Education
| 2014 | UCLA School of Law - LL.M. |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Judicial Research & Training Institute, Supreme Court of Korea |
| 2001 | Seoul National University - B.A. in College of Law |
Work Experience
| 2009-Present | Lee & Ko |
|---|---|
| 2007-2009 | Judge Advocate General, Army Welfare Service Group(Bok-ji-dan in Korean)-Legal Counsel |
| 2006-2007 | Judge Advocate General, Prosecutors Office of Korean 12th Infantry Division-Public Prosecutor |
Languages
| Korean and English |
Awards and Recognitions
| 2022 | Selected as 'Notable Practitioner' by IFLR 1000 32nd Edition (Project Development, Project Finance) |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Selected as 'Notable Practitioner' by IFLR 1000 31th Edition (Project Development, Project Finance) |
| 2020 | Selected as 'Notable Practitioner' by IFLR 1000 30th Edition (Project Development, Project Finance) |
| 2020 | Selected as 'Notable Practitioner' by IFLR 1000 (Project Finance, Project Development) |
| 2019 | Selected as 'Notable Practitioner' by IFLR 1000 (Banking & Finance, Project Development) |
