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荣誉

Chambers Global 2026 - Band 1 in 6 practice areas

Lee & Ko has been recognized once again in the 2026 Chambers Global Guide, securing Band 1 rankings in six practice areas and confirming its top-tier law firm status. As for the individual rankings, 37 attorneys of Lee & Ko have been recognized as leading lawyers for their remarkable performance in their respective practice areas.

Firm Rankings

Banking & Finance

Capital Markets

Corporate/M&A

Intellectual Property

International & cross Border Capabilities: South Korean Firms

International Trade

Ranked Lawyers

Banking & Finance: Yeo Kyoon Yoon, Woo Young Jung, Yong-Jae Chang, Myoung Chul Kwak, Dong Seok Woo

Capital Markets: Hyunjoo Oh, Seunga Hyun, Jun Woo Cho

Capital Markets: Securitisation: Jin Hong Kwon

Corporate/M&A: Sanggon Kim, Ho Joon Moon, Hyeong Gun Lee, Yong Joon Yoon, Daehoon Koo

Dispute Resolution: Arbitration: Saemee Kim, Zachary Sharpe, Sanghoon Han, Grace Yoon

Dispute Resolution: Litigation: Pyoung Keun Song, Dajoo Jung, Seon Tae Kim, Jae Heon Park

IP: Jae Hoon Kim, Un Ho Kim, Keum Nang Park, Hyeon Gil Ryoo, Vera Eun Woo Lee, Hankil D. Kang, Hwansung Park, Jaewoo Kwak

International Trade: Kichang Chung, Hyunsoo Joo, Young Gee Park, Young Jae Cho, Heysoo Kim

North Korea - general business law: Hyung Sub Lim (Foreign Expertise based abroad in South Korea)

Chambers Global Guide is a law firm evaluation publication released by Chambers and Partners, a leading global legal publisher based in England, which selects top law firms and top lawyers in the Asia-Pacific region each year based on a comprehensive analysis of data submitted by law firms, interviews with partner lawyers and clients, and recently accomplished work.

2026.02.13

研讨会/活动

Seminar on "2026 Outlook for the Korean Commercial Real Estate Market."

On February 11, 2026, Lee & Ko hosted a seminar on “2026 Outlook for the Korean Commercial Real Estate Market.”

The seminar covered global capital flow trends and changes in the macroeconomic and interest rate environment, and their implications for investment conditions in the Korean commercial real estate market. The speakers provided an overview of how shifting capital market dynamics are expected to influence investor sentiment, asset allocation strategies, and overall market outlook in 2026.

The seminar also addressed key legal and practical considerations associated with the increasing diversification of real estate investment portfolios. In addition, the speakers also discussed recent regulatory and policy developments in the corporate rental housing sector, offering practical insights into emerging legal issues and key considerations for investors navigating the changing regulatory landscape.

2026.02.13

荣誉

Lee & Ko Named “Best Overall Law Firm” at ABLJ Korea Law Awards 2025

Lee & Ko has been named “Best Overall Law Firm” at the Korea Law Awards 2025, hosted by Asia Business Law Journal (ABLJ). The “Best Overall Law Firm” distinction is awarded to the firm that has earned outstanding evaluations across all practice areas. In addition, Lee & Ko was recognized in a total of 23 categories, including AI, Aviation, Competition & antitrust, Mergers & acquisitions, Private equity & venture capital. This achievement further reinforces Lee & Ko’s position as Korea’s leading full-service law firm, providing seamless one-stop legal services across a broad range of industries.

ABLJ specifically highlighted Lee & Ko’s advisory role in the acquisition of DIG Airgas by Air Liquide, one of the world’s largest industrial gas suppliers, a transaction valued at approximately KRW 4.6 trillion. The deal raised a number of complex issues, including refinancing of existing shareholder loans and acquisition financing, post-merger integration (PMI) considerations, and withholding tax obligations on capital gains realized by foreign sellers. The transaction is regarded as the largest deal announced in Korea in 2025, underscoring Lee & Ko’s capability to handle large-scale, high-stakes cross-border matters. International clients have also praised Lee & Ko’s global competitiveness, noting that the firm “maintains exceptional specialist teams across every practice area and explains Korean legal issues in a manner that incorporates cultural context, enabling foreign clients to pursue their business activities in Korea with confidence.”

ABLJ, a leading legal publication in the Asia-Pacific region, has evaluated Korean law firms since 2021 based on surveys of lawyers at domestic and international law firms and corporations, as well as practice-area performance data submitted by Korean law firms.

[Categories]
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Best Overall Law Firms
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Anti-corruption & anti-bribery
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Aviation

Banking & finance
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Blockchain & Digital Assets
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Capital markets
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Competition & antitrust
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Corporate & commercial
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Data compliance & cybersecurity
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Defense

Energy & natural resources
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Entertainment & sports
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ESG

Healthcare & life sciences
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Inbound investment
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Infrastructure & project finance
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Insolvency & restructuring
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Insurance & reinsurance
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Mergers & acquisitions
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Outbound investment
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Private equity & venture capital
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Structured finance & Securitisation

2026.01.23

荣誉

'Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2026' ranks Lee & Ko in the top tier in 16 practice areas

Lee & Ko was selected as Tier 1 law firm in Korea across 16 fields according to ‘The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2026’. Furthermore, 44 Lee & Ko attorneys were selected as ‘Hall of Fame’, ‘Leading Partners’, ‘Next Generation Partners’, and ‘Leading Associates’ in their respective fields.

Firm Rankings

Antitrust and Competition

Banking & Finance

Capital Markets

Corporate and M&A

Dispute Resolution

Fintech and financial services regulatory

Insurance

Intellectual Property

International Arbitration

Labour and Employment

Projects and Energy

Real Estate

Regulatory: white-collar, compliance and investigations

Shipping

Tax

TMT

Antitrust and Competition: Hwan Jeong, Suruyn Kim, Jung Won Kwon, Jeong Yoon Choi

Banking & Finance: Yeo Kyoon Yoon, Myoung Chul Kwak

Capital Markets: Hyunjoo Oh

Corporate and M&A: Hyeong Gun Lee, Sang Gon Kim, Ho Joon Moon, Kyungchun Kim, Sung Min Kim, Daehoon Koo

Dispute Resolution: Pyoung Keun Song, Seong Won Chang, Jae Heon Park, Yeon Woo Lee

Fintech and financial services regulatory: Seong Hwan Ju

Insurance: Jin-Young Jung, Jin Hong Kwon, Sae Um Kim

Intellectual Property: Un Ho Kim, Keum Nang Park

Intellectual Property: PATMA: Kyungjin Kim, Soo Yeon Park

International Arbitration: Sanghoon Han, Saemee Kim, Han-Earl Woo

Labour and Employment: Chang-Soo Jin, Sang-Hoon Lee, Jae Hoon-Choi, William Kim, Shawn (Seong Ho) Han

Projects and Energy: Hun Ko

Real Estate: Jin Wook Yang, Jee In Kim

Regulatory: white-collar, compliance and investigations:: Tae Yop Lee

Shipping: Jin-Young Jung, Yun Jeong Seo, Yang Ho Yoon, Young Jae Park

TMT: Hwan Kyoung Ko, Kwang Bae Park, Il Shin Lee

The Legal 500 Asia Pacific is annually published by Legalease, a global agency that evaluates the capacity of law firms all over the world based on various standards through a comprehensive review of submitted documents by law firms, interviews with lawyers specialized in each field, and feedback from over 300,000 clients.

2026.01.15

Lee & Ko成员

Recruitment of Former Senior Prosecutor Ho Dong Cha from the Seosan Branch of the Daejeon District Prosecutors’ Office

To strengthen its investigation and trial defense capabilities, Lee & Ko has recruited Ho-dong Cha, former Senior Prosecutor of the Seosan Branch of the Daejeon District Prosecutors’ Office (Judicial Research and Training Institute, Class 38), as a member of its Criminal Practice Group.

Mr. Cha has served in key positions across major prosecution bodies, including the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, earning deep trust and respect from his colleagues and peers. During his 14-year tenure as a prosecutor, he was recognized for his outstanding expertise in anti-corruption and state-of-the-art investigations, as well as in legal analysis and interpretation within the field of criminal legislation.

In particular, Mr. Cha founded the prosecution’s first AI Blockchain Community and AI Criminal Law Research Society, and published investigation and enforcement manuals on virtual assets, thereby building exceptional expertise in the fields of artificial intelligence and digital assets. More recently, he also led the drafting of the Prosecution’s Serious Industrial Accident Investigation Manual.

Mr. Cha earned his LL.B. and master’s degree in law from Korea University, followed by an LL.M. from Duke University School of Law in the United States, and is also admitted to the New York State Bar. Since his appointment as a prosecutor in 2012, he has served at various key posts, including the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors’ Office, the Special Investigation Division 3 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, the Criminal Litigation Department of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, the Constitutional Issue Research Task Force at the Ministry of Justice’s Prosecution Bureau, the Criminal Division 7 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, the Planning and Coordination Department of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, and as Senior Prosecutor at the Seosan Branch of the Daejeon District Prosecutors’ Office.

Building on his extensive experience, Mr. Cha will handle a wide range of matters within Lee & Ko’s Criminal Practice Group, focusing on sophisticated white collar crimes, including virtual assets, as well as serious industrial accident cases.

Sang Gon Kim, Managing Partner of Lee & Ko, stated, “With the addition of Mr. Cha, we have further strengthened our Criminal Practice Group. We will continue our efforts to maintain Lee & Ko’s position as the leading firm in this practice area.” He added, “Lee & Ko will continue to boldly invest in recruiting and developing top legal talent to ensure that we provide industry-leading legal services across all practice areas, including criminal law.”

Lee & Ko expanded its Criminal Practice Group last September by recruiting Hoo Gon Kim, former Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office, known as one of the top prosecutors in special investigations. The firm has also recently brought on Hun Heo, former Head of the Public Investigation Division at the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office, and Yeong Cheol Kim, former Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors’ Office, further strengthening its competitiveness in criminal practice.

2026.01.09

研讨会/活动

Webinar on “Analysis and Outlook on the Amended Trade Union Act’s Enforcement Decree and Official Interpretation Guidelines”

On January 7, Lee & Ko hosted a client-facing webinar titled “Analysis and Outlook on the Amended Trade Union Act’s Enforcement Decree and Official Interpretation Guidelines”. The webinar opened with welcoming remarks by Kyung Duk An (Senior Advisor at Lee & Ko), followed by three (3) in-depth sessions and a live Q&A.

In the first session, Young Jin Kim (Senior Partner at Lee & Ko) presented an analysis on the “employer status” issue under the interpretation guidelines. This presentation addressed one of the most closely monitored aspects of the amended Trade Union Act—namely, the expanded scope of “employer” – with particular focus on the criteria for determining whether an entity may be deemed a “non-contractual employer”, offering both forecast and insight into how these standards will be applied in practice.

The second session, led by Chang Soo Jin (Head of Employment & Labor Practice Group at Lee & Ko), focused on the scope of “labor disputes” and the concept of “consolidated bargaining channel” under the Interpretation Guidelines. Through case studies and practical examples, this session covered the expanded scope of labor disputes under the amended Trade Union Act as well as the procedural framework for consolidation of bargaining channel, providing practical insights into how the Ministry’s guidance and the amended enforcement decree may operate in real-world scenarios.

In the third session, Min Seok Si (Co-Head of Lee & Ko’s ESG Center) delivered a presentation on “Outlook of the Enforcement Decree and Interpretive Guidelines.” This session explored the current state of preparedness and overall climate amongst various stakeholders – for instance, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, employers, and labor unions – while offering insight into potential developments and challenges that may arise as the amended Trade Union Act is implemented.

Following the presentations, the webinar ended with a live Q&A session to address questions submitted during the session. All presenters together with William Kim (Senior Foreign Counsel at Lee & Ko) responded to a wide range of highly fact-specific inquiries, offering practical guidance and perspectives on the interpretation of the law that could readily apply in day-to-day operations.

2026.01.07

媒体中心

[JoongAng Ilbo] Lee & Ko Wins NDMA-related Unjust Enrichment Lawsuit Against the National Health Insurance Service

On January 27, 2026, JoongAng Ilbo reported that Lee & Ko, representing pharmaceutical companies, prevailed in an unjust enrichment lawsuit against the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) concerning NDMA (N-nitrosodimethylamine)-related pharmaceutical impurities. The article noted that the ruling, issued on January 16, 2026, by the Seoul Central District Court at the first-instance level, has drawn significant attention within the industry, as Lee & Ko successfully obtained a favorable judgment in the unjust enrichment action filed against the NHIS in connection with NDMA-related impurities.

According to JoongAng Ilbo, the court held that “even if impurities are detected in a pharmaceutical product, the health authorities cannot impose re-prescription or re-dispensing costs on pharmaceutical companies, provided there is no manufacturing or quality control negligence on the part of the company and no harm to human health.” The article further explained that “the court ruling departs from prior decisions in similar cases, where courts had broadly deferred to the professional discretion of health authorities and found pharmaceutical companies liable.”

2026.01.27

[Daily Pharm] Unprotected Drug Price Cuts Threaten Pharmaceutical Industry Sustainability...

On January 22, 2026, Daily Pharm published a detailed report on the participation of Chung Jin Hwan, an attorney at Lee & Ko, in the 55th Future Forum held under the theme “How We Should Position Ourselves in the Era of Major Drug Pricing Reform.” At the forum, Chung presented both legal and industrial analysis of the drug pricing reform proposal announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare last November. He expressed concerns about the government’s proposal to lower the generic drug pricing benchmark from the current 53.55% to the 40% range, noting that “while the government cites Japan and France as reference cases, it remains open to question whether a horizontal comparison is appropriate given differences in industrial structure and the proportion of globally innovative drugs in those markets.” Attorney Chung further emphasized the need to carefully examine whether the proposed reduction to the 40% range is supported by a sound rationale, particularly in terms of how such a cut would contribute to promoting new drug development by domestic pharmaceutical companies.

2026.01.22

[The Asia Business Dailey] [Law Firm Now] Lee&Ko Successfully Concludes Seminar on Analysis and Outlook of Yellow Envelope Act Enforcement Decree and Interpretation Guidelines

On January 9, 2026, The Asia Business Dailey reported on the client seminar titled “Analysis and Outlook on the Amended Enforcement Decree and Interpretive Guidelines of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act,” hosted by Lee&Ko. According to the article, the seminar was organized to provide a clear and accessible explanation of the interpretative guidelines and proposed amendments to the Enforcement Decree of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act (the so called “Yellow Envelope Act”), which were announced by the Ministry of Employment and Labor at the end of last year and are scheduled to be implemented on March 10. The Seminar aimed to offer practical guidance to corporate representatives preparing for the new regulatory framework.

The article further noted that the seminar attracted more than 1,000 participants, reflecting the high level of interest among companies in the upcoming legislation.

2026.01.09

Lee & Ko’s Digital Asset Center Featured in Seoul Economic Daily as “The First Year of Institutionalization for Virtual Assets Begins”

On January 4, 2026, Seoul Economic Daily featured Lee & Ko’s Digital Asset Center in a report highlighting 2026 as the inaugural year of institutionalization for virtual assets in Korea and the beginning of a major regulatory and market transition, particularly in the stablecoin sector.

The article explained that the Center was established based on the principles of integration and efficiency, following the expansion and reorganization of Lee & Ko’s former Digital Assets Team and Virtual Asset Regulation & Investigations Team. Through this integration, the Center now offers a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary legal platform covering regulatory compliance, transactions, investigations, and dispute resolution across the digital asset industry.

The Center operates under a dual leadership structure jointly led by Jongsoo(Jay) YOON and Eun Pyo HONG.

Mr. Yoon, a former judge, is a recognized authority in digital asset and fintech regulation and serves as an advisory member to the Digital Asset eXchange Alliance (DAXA) and the Cultural Finance Subcommittee of the Korea Fintech Industry Association.

Mr. Hong served for over 20 years in the judiciary, including as a Research Judge at the Supreme Court of Korea, and currently serves as President of the Korea Blockchain Law Society.

The regulatory practice is led by Partners Wooyoung CHOI and Seohee HAN, widely regarded as first-generation specialists in Korea’s virtual asset regulatory regime, with extensive experience in virtual asset issuance regulations, disclosure frameworks, and supervisory matters.

With its strengthened structure and market-leading expertise, Lee & Ko’s Digital Asset Center is positioned to provide sophisticated legal solutions to clients navigating Korea’s rapidly evolving digital asset and stablecoin regulatory landscape.

2026.01.04

最新案例

Lee & Ko Advises Korean Consortium on USD 1.3 Billion Financing of Panama Metro Tunnel

Lee & Ko has advised the Korean consortium (as borrower) comprised of Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., POSCO Eco & Challenge Co. Ltd. and Hyundai Engineering Co., Ltd., in connection with the consortium’s Syndicated Discounted Repurchase Facility financing for the construction of the Panama Metro Line 3.

The financing was structured as a securitization of government payment certificates (Certificados de No Objeción, or CDNOs) via three separate facilities provided by KEXIM, IDB Invest (the private sector arm of the Inter-American Development Bank), and a syndicate of seven international banks covered by K-Sure.

The funding will be used by the consortium to extend the Panama Metro Line 3 under the Panama Canal and further demonstrates the trust that international financiers place in the technical expertise of Korean contractors exporting their skills and know-how worldwide.

2026.01.30

Lee & Ko Secures Full Victory for Korean Entertainment Company in SHIAC Arbitration against Chinese Firm

Lee & Ko successfully represented a prominent Korean entertainment company in an international arbitration administered by the Shanghai International Arbitration Center (“SHIAC”) against a Chinese software company, securing a full award in favor of the client. The dispute arose from a licensing agreement under which the Korean entertainment company granted the Chinese firm the right to develop games utilizing the intellectual property of its affiliated artists. The case involved complex factual and legal contentions, centered primarily on the attribution of liability for significant development delays and the fulfillment of contractual conditions for termination.

As the governing law of the contract was Chinese law, the case demanded a meticulous and nuanced analysis of the local legal framework and contract law principles. Furthermore, because both the seat of arbitration and the arbitral institution were located in China, the proceedings required extensive experience and strategic expertise in navigating the specific procedural nuances of Chinese international arbitration.

Leveraging its deep track record of handling high-stakes disputes in China, Lee & Ko’s International Arbitration Team acted as sole counsel throughout the proceedings. The team successfully led all written submissions and hearing proceedings against local Chinese counsel, ultimately securing a "complete victory" for the client. This outcome underscores Lee & Ko’s dominant capability in China-related disputes and its proven ability to deliver favorable results in challenging foreign jurisdictions.

2025.12.16

Full Acquittal on Appeal in Prosecution for Violation of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act

Lee & Ko represented SK Multi Utility Co., Ltd. (a power generation subsidiary of SK Chemicals), together with its Chief Executive Officer and Plant Manager, in a criminal prosecution alleging violations of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (“SAPA”) and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”) arising from a fatal accident at a coal unloading facility involving an employee of a contractor. Following a full acquittal at first instance, Lee & Ko secured dismissal of the prosecution’s appeal, and the appellate court affirmed the acquittal in full.

On December 20, 2022, at a coal unloading facility of Company A, a dump truck loaded with coal overturned during the unloading process when the driver, employed by a transportation company, raised the truck bed without opening the rear gate. A contractor employee who was present at the site was crushed by the coal and the vehicle and died.

The appellate court held that a causal link could not be established between the fatal accident and the alleged breaches, including an alleged failure to protect workers from falling-object hazards and an alleged failure to establish an adequate safety and health management system under SAPA. The court further reasoned that, where the accident was clearly attributable to the driver’s operational error, imposing criminal liability on management solely by reason of the occurrence of the harmful result would be unwarranted, underscoring that SAPA does not impose strict result-based liability.

In circumstances where there were no settled judicial principles on causation under SAPA, Lee & Ko conducted a detailed analysis of the accident mechanism and surrounding facts, and presented a reasoned case that criminal liability requires proof of causation between any breach of statutory safety and health obligations and the fatal outcome.

This judgment is expected to serve as an important reference point in assessing causation in ongoing SAPA prosecutions and in future cases arising from fatal industrial accidents.

2025.12.11

LG Chem’s sale of its Water Solutions Business

On June 13, 2025, LG Chem entered into a Business Transfer Agreement to sell its Water Solutions business to Korea Water Solution Holdings, a subsidiary of Glenwood Private Equity, with the rights and obligations of the business subsequently transferred to NanoH2O, Inc. As legal counsel to LG Chem, Lee & Ko successfully provided comprehensive legal services throughout the entire process leading to the successful closing of the transaction.

This carve-out transaction involved significant complexities, as the seller was required not only to divide and transfer part of the site it currently occupies but also to transfer contracts, workforce, licenses, assets, rights, and obligations on a detailed, item-by-item basis. Additionally, to ensure a smooth transition, both parties had to agree on various operational matters, such as joint use of facilities, utility supply, and transition support.

Throughout the process, Lee & Ko provided swift and effective legal counsel on issues ranging from the division and sale of the factory site, the review of regulatory requirements for business and environmental permits, to negotiating and executing ancillary agreements essential for the seamless execution of the business transfer. The firm’s prompt and strategic advice played a critical role in the successful completion of the transaction.

2025.12.01

Representation in an International Dispute Concerning a Medical Device Supply Agreement

Lee & Ko is representing a Taiwanese medical device supplier in appellate proceedings arising from an international civil dispute against a Korean diagnostic kit manufacturer in connection with a medical device supply agreement.

The dispute concerns the supply of COVID-19 antigen rapid diagnostic test kits to the Taiwanese market during the COVID-19 pandemic. The key issues include performance of contractual obligations, alleged deficiencies in product performance, and the corresponding scope of payment obligations under the agreement. In the first instance, the court ruled against the supplier, finding that no defect in the rapid diagnostic kits had been established. Following its appointment at the appellate stage, Lee & Ko has undertaken a comprehensive review of the trial court’s reasoning and overall analytical framework.

In the appellate proceedings, Lee & Ko is addressing not only issues of contractual interpretation relating to claims for payment, but also a range of complex legal and technical questions. These include applicable medical device performance standards, the adequacy of quality management systems, and the extent to which actions taken by overseas regulatory authorities may influence the assessment of civil liability.

Drawing on its understanding of Taiwan’s regulatory framework and academic environment, the firm has worked in close coordination with local regulatory and academic experts to obtain authoritative expert opinions. These materials have been carefully integrated into the appellate strategy to ensure that the court is presented with a scientifically grounded and legally coherent analysis.

This case represents a multifaceted cross-border dispute involving international distribution arrangements, product performance issues, and foreign regulatory considerations. In the appellate proceedings, Lee & Ko is systematically organizing both the factual record and the governing legal principles, and advancing persuasive arguments from legal and technical perspectives to support a reasoned and balanced determination.

2025.11.28

Lee & Ko Represents Alvogen in Multinational Pharmaceutical Collusion Investigation; Secures Partial Victory on Appeal

Lee & Ko represented Alvogen in an investigation by the Korea Fair Trade Commission (“KFTC”) concerning alleged collusion between Alvogen and AstraZeneca relating to certain oncology drugs.

Following a three-year investigation, the KFTC issued an Examiner’s Report in June 2022 concluding that Alvogen’s agreement not to produce and sell generic versions of Zoladex, Casodex, and Arimidex (collectively, “DEX Drugs”) in exchange for exclusive distribution rights for AstraZeneca’s products constituted unlawful collusion. The KFTC imposed corrective measures, an administrative fine, and referred the matter for potential criminal prosecution.

In response, Lee & Ko, together with its in-house Competition Economics Consulting Group (CECG), submitted detailed economic and legal analyses arguing that (i) delays in generic development were attributable to the inherent scientific and technical complexities of oncology drug development, (ii) the grant of exclusive distribution rights was consistent with ordinary industry practice, and (iii) no economic compensation was exchanged for restricting competition, such that the arrangement did not constitute a “reverse payment” agreement.

As a result, the KFTC reduced the applicable surcharge rate to 3% (from the initially suggested 5–7%), imposed an administrative fine of approximately KRW 1.2 billion, and exempted Alvogen from criminal referral.

In subsequent administrative litigation before the Seoul High Court, Lee & Ko successfully challenged the KFTC’s findings with respect to Casodex and Arimidex. Although the court acknowledged the existence of certain agreements, it held that their anticompetitive effects had not been established. The court therefore overturned the KFTC’s decision with respect to those two products. With respect to Zoladex, the court concluded that the administrative fine could not be independently calculated, resulting in the cancellation of the related corrective orders and the entirety of the administrative fine.

The decision is significant in that, although collusion was recognized for one product, all administrative fines were ultimately cancelled. It represents an important precedent concerning non-compete arrangements in the pharmaceutical sector.

2025.11.13

Patent Strategy in the Cosmetics Industry: Implications of a No-Glue Artificial Eyelash Patent Dispute

The IP & Technology Practice Group of Lee & Ko is representing the patentee of a core patent relating to no-glue artificial eyelashes in preliminary injunction proceedings against multiple companies in Korea that manufacture and sell competing products.

In response, the accused companies have initiated multiple actions before the Korean Intellectual Property Office (“KIPO”), including invalidation trials and trials for confirmation of the scope of patent rights. As a result, civil and administrative proceedings are progressing in parallel. Lee & Ko is leading the overall litigation and trial strategy on behalf of the patentee, encompassing preliminary injunction applications, merits litigation, and patent trial proceedings.

The dispute presents intertwined technical and legal issues concerning a new category of cosmetic products—no-glue artificial eyelashes. A central question is whether specific technical features, such as the extent and method of adhesive application and the mechanism by which the product attaches to a user’s natural eyelashes, fall within the scope of the asserted patent claims.

At the preliminary injunction stage, the patentee must establish a prima facie case of infringement and demonstrate the likelihood of irreparable harm through detailed technical analysis. In the parallel patent trial proceedings, the strategic focus is on defending the patent’s validity, particularly the inventive step of the claimed invention over prior art, and articulating a consistent and legally sound interpretation of claim scope.

As Korean cosmetic brands continue to expand globally amid the prominence of “K-beauty,” the industry is characterized by short product life cycles and the rapid emergence of competing and imitative products. In this environment, early-stage patent registration and proactive enforcement are critical to maintaining competitive advantage. This dispute highlights the importance of promptly enforcing registered patent rights while simultaneously clarifying and reinforcing claim scope through coordinated litigation and administrative proceedings. It provides meaningful guidance for companies in the cosmetics sector in developing effective patent strategies and managing IP disputes.

2025.11.11

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