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Lee & Ko is pleased to announce that Kiri Yi, partner in the firm's Arbitration & Litigation Group, has been recognized on the “Asia Top 30 Litigators 2026” list by Asian Legal Business (ALB), a premier legal publication, in acknowledgment of his exceptional expertise and record of bringing major disputes to favorable resolution, most notably the landmark Pohang earthquake state liability litigation.
 
Thomson Reuters’ ALB annually selects attorneys across the Asia-Pacific region who have delivered outstanding results in high-stakes litigation. This recognition reflects his exceptional expertise in complex, high-stakes disputes on the international stage.
 
Prior to joining Lee & Ko, Mr. Yi served nineteen years on the bench at the Seoul Central District Court, Seoul High Court, Suwon District Court, and other courts nationwide. That judicial experience laid the foundation for a practice covering corporate criminal defense, international litigation, product liability, administrative law, and M&A and management rights disputes. His engineering background and command of foreign languages uniquely position him to handle matters characterized by the intersection of technical complexity and cross-border dimensions.
 
Mr. Yi’s standout achievement was the Pohang earthquake state liability litigation, in which he prevailed on appeal, overturning the first-instance judgment and obtaining dismissal of all plaintiffs' claims. He subsequently secured a favorable outcome in a class action requiring deep technical fluency in smartphone technology and prevailed in a criminal matter centered on complex capital markets transactions. These results underscore his mastery of both litigation strategy and courtroom advocacy in matters of the highest complexity.

On June 15, 2026, Lee & Ko hosted a seminar on “Competition Law Trends & Precedents”.
 
In the seminar, which was held both online and offline, Lee & Ko’s experienced and specialized antitrust and competition law experts and attorneys analyzed and explained the decisions and implications of major antitrust cases.
 
In the first session, Lee Sung-kyu, a senior expert, presented the theme of "Recent Fair Trade Policy and Law Enforcement Trends." Based on the Lee Jae-myung administration's national affairs and the FTC's 2026 work report, the actual policy implementation and law enforcement trends over the past year were summarized, and based on the decisions, investigations, and judgments related to the fair trade case, the FTC's future law enforcement trends were forecast and implications and corporate countermeasures were presented.
 
In the second session, Jeongyoon Choi (Partner) examined the policy and regulatory trends of the new administration and the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) under the theme of “Recent Enforcement Trends and Implications in the Franchise Sector.” In particular, key takeaways were drawn from a number of recent KFTC decisions in the franchise area. In addition, the session provided a detailed review of the Supreme Court’s reasoning in the Pizza Hut case, where franchisees’ claims for restitution of unjust enrichment were recognized, and in the Mom’s Touch case, where such claims were dismissed. Based on these analyses, the session highlighted key considerations for reviewing and refining business models in the Korean franchise sector going forward.
 
In the third session, Byongki Chung (Partner) delivered a presentation on 'Key Precedents in Antitrust and Competition Law.' He explained major antitrust precedents from the second half of 2025 and the first half of 2026. These included the Naver Shopping judgment—the first leading case regarding a platform operator's self-preferencing behavior; the Supreme Court ruling that recognized the Fair Trade Commission's authority to sanction collusion among shipping lines; and the Supreme Court decision clarifying that the practice of using multiple affiliates to win public land bids and subsequently transferring them (so-called 'bee-swarm bidding') cannot be definitively concluded as an unfair support activity.
 
We are also pleased to announce that Attorney Giusung Oh (former judge and former KFTC Hearing Officer and Commissioner), who joined Lee & Ko on June 1, 2026, will present at our next seminar. We look forward to your continued interest and participation.

Lee & Ko has been recognized as a top-tier law firm in Managing IP’s 2026 IP Stars rankings across several key categories, including Trademark Disputes, Patent Disputes, Copyright & Related Rights, and IP Transactions. Of particular note, the firm has maintained the highest ranking in IP Transactions for six consecutive years since the category was first introduced, further underscoring its exceptional depth of expertise in this specialized area.

In the individual rankings, nine Lee & Ko attorneys and patent attorneys were recognized as IP Stars, Rising Stars, and Notable Practitioners, reflecting their distinguished expertise and achievements in the intellectual property field.

 
 Patent Stars: Un Ho Kim, Keum Nang Park, Hwan Sung Park
 Trademark Star: Vera Eun Woo Lee
 Rising Stars: Min Soo Kim, Min Wook Kim, Sung Hoon Kim

Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group draws on its extensive international network to provide clients with sophisticated legal services in IP-related disputes and advisory matters across the United States, Europe, Japan and other major jurisdictions. Combining a deep understanding of both technology and law, the Group consistently delivers strategic and commercially effective solutions in complex IP matters.

A recent example of the Group’s litigation capabilities is its successful defense of Samsung Heavy Industries in a patent infringement action and related invalidation proceedings initiated by a Canadian company in connection with a floating LNG project involving Samsung Heavy Industries and Cedar LNG. The favorable outcome helped the project proceed without legal impediment.

The Group also successfully defended Korean semiconductor company Eugene Technology in a patent infringement action brought by a Japanese competitor, while pursuing a robust invalidation strategy that further reinforced the firm’s strength in semiconductor-related patent disputes. In addition, the Group’s active involvement in cross-border trade secret disputes continues to enhance its reputation for global competitiveness in high-stakes IP matters.

Managing Intellectual Property, also known as Managing IP, is a leading international publication in the field of intellectual property. Each year, it publishes the IP Stars rankings based on surveys and interviews with IP professionals worldwide, identifying leading law firms by jurisdiction and practice area.

Lee & Ko has once again demonstrated its market-leading capabilities across the full spectrum of patent practice in the IAM Patent 1000 2026 rankings. The firm received the highest band ranking of Gold in both Litigation and Prosecution, and was also recognized as Highly Recommended in Transactions and Recommended in Trade Secrets. This marks the firm’s 12th consecutive year in the Gold band for Litigation and its fourth consecutive year as a Highly Recommended firm for Transactions.

Of particular note, 11 Lee & Ko attorneys and patent attorneys were named as Recommended Individuals across Litigation, Prosecution, Transactions and Trade Secrets, reflecting their outstanding expertise, technical sophistication and market-leading capabilities across all key areas of patent practice.

 
  Litigation: Un Ho Kim, Hayoun Chun, Hwan Sung Park, Hyeon Gil Ryoo, John Kim, Keum Nang Park, Boo Gyu Kwak, Yong Sup Kim
  Prosecution: Hyeon Gil Ryoo, Sungsoo (Sean) Hwang
  Transactions: Hayoun Chun, Yong Jin Cho
  Trade Secrets: Hong Seon Kim

Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group provides sophisticated legal services across the full life cycle of patent matters, from patent prosecution and portfolio strategy to high-stakes litigation, technology transactions and trade secret disputes. Drawing on its extensive international network and deep understanding of both technology and law, the Group advises clients in Korea and across major jurisdictions, including the United States, Europe and Japan, delivering strategic and commercially effective solutions in complex cross-border IP matters.

A recent example of the Group’s litigation capabilities is its successful defense of Samsung Heavy Industries in a patent infringement action and related invalidation proceedings initiated by a Canadian company in connection with a floating LNG project involving Samsung Heavy Industries and Cedar LNG. The favorable outcome helped the project proceed without legal impediment.
The Group also successfully defended Korean semiconductor company Eugene Technology in a patent infringement action brought by a Japanese competitor, while pursuing a robust invalidation strategy that further reinforced the firm’s strength in semiconductor-related patent disputes. In addition, the Group’s active involvement in cross-border trade secret disputes continues to enhance its reputation for global competitiveness in high-stakes IP matters.

IAM is a leading global patent publication that conducts extensive research each year, including submissions, surveys and interviews with patent professionals, law firms and clients around the world. Based on this research, IAM identifies and ranks leading law firms and practitioners in the patent field by jurisdiction and practice area.

Lee & Ko has recruited Giusung Oh, who previously served as General Counsel and Non-Standing Commissioner at the KFTC. Attorney Oh will work within Lee & Ko's Antitrust and Competition Group.

His arrival is expected to significantly enhance the firm's ability to deliver refined and practical legal services to clients facing growing government regulatory complexity and an increasingly rigorous fair trade landscape. In particular, Lee & Ko is poised to strengthen its competitive edge in areas such as defense against alleged violations of the Fair Trade Act, corporate litigation, administrative litigation, and the resolution of licensing and regulatory issues involving government agencies.

Attorney Oh graduated from Seoul National University School of Law and completed the 33rd class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute. From 2004 to 2020, he served approximately 17 years as a judge, building a solid foundation in litigation practice. He served as judge and presiding judge at the Seoul Central District Court, Seoul Western District Court, Chuncheon District Court, Uijeongbu District Court (Goyang Branch), and Changwon District Court, handling a broad range of civil, criminal, and administrative cases. He also served as a research fellow at the Judicial Policy Research Institute, contributing to research on legal system reform.

Notably, from 2020 to 2022, Attorney Oh served as General Counsel (Bureau Director level) at the KFTC, overseeing the Commission's adjudication procedures and managing its litigation affairs. From 2024 to 2026, he served as a Non-Standing Commissioner of the KFTC, handling numerous cases spanning the full spectrum of competition law, including cartels, unfair support, unfair trade practices, merger review, subcontracting law violations, and franchise law violations. Through these roles, he developed deep expertise in competition law and an acute understanding of regulatory agencies' decision-making processes.

Prior to these roles, Attorney Oh practiced law at Kim & Chang. From 2023 to 2024, he also served as Senior Administrative Officer in the Civil Affairs Office of the Presidential Secretariat at the Blue House, where he provided legal counsel on major national issues and supported policy development.

Sang Gon Kim, Managing Partner, commented: "Attorney Giusung Oh brings a wealth of judicial experience from his years on the bench, combined with valuable policy insight and regulatory know-how gained through his roles as KFTC General Counsel, KFTC Non-Standing Commissioner, and his service at the Presidential Civil Affairs Office. His joining us will be a catalyst in elevating Lee & Ko's litigation and regulatory capabilities to the next level. We will continue to recruit top-tier specialists across all practice areas as we advance our client-centered, one-stop legal service platform."

Attorney Giusung Oh remarked: "It is an honor to join Lee & Ko — a collective of leading professionals at the pinnacle of the Korean legal market — and to work alongside colleagues across such diverse practice areas. Drawing on the wide-ranging experience I have accumulated at the courts, the KFTC, the Blue House, and in private practice, I am committed to doing my utmost to help clients resolve the complex legal and regulatory challenges they face."
 

Lee & Ko LLC held the "IFA Korea Monthly International Tax Forum" on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in collaboration with IFA(Chairman: Park Hun, Vice President of the University of Seoul).
 
Under the main theme of "Recent Issues in Transfer Pricing Practice," this forum was attended by more than 70 participants, including international tax experts from major law firms and accounting firms, academics, and association members. The forum participants engaged in in-depth discussions regarding the latest transfer pricing trends and practical issues.
 
In the emergency diagnostic session, Foreign Attorney Kyu-Bin Kang of Lee and Ko delivered a presentation on the topic of "California Corporate Tax Reform and Korean Companies." This session covered the key details of the corporate tax reform currently being pursued in California, its impact on Korean companies operating there, and key implications that need to be reviewed in practice.
 
The first session was conducted in a Fireside Chat format under the theme of "Practical Trends in MAP/APA related to Transfer Pricing." Steve Minhoo Kim, a senior Foreign Attorney at Lee and Ko, served as the moderator, while the panelists included Partner Hye-jin Jeon of Samil PwC, Managing Director Ju-won Park of Deloitte, CPA Jae-seok Park of Kim & Chang, and Senior Managing Director Sang-hoon Kim of KPMG. Focusing on Mutual Agreement Procedures (MAP) and Advance Pricing Agreements (APA), this session broadly covered operational trends in the practice environment where both the number and complexity of cases are increasing, the strategic selection and utilization of each procedure, and issues that practitioners must be aware of during consultations with tax authorities.
 
The second session was held under the theme of "Case Studies on DEMPE Regulations."  Partner Philje Cho of Lee and Ko delivered the presentation, while Managing Director Dong-Hoon Ha of EY Korea, Foreign CPA Tae-Hyung Kim of Yulchon LLC, and Attorney Si-Won Hur of Yoon and Yang participated in the panel discussion. Focusing on recent practical cases regarding the functional analysis of the Transfer Pricing Guidelines' DEMPE (Development, Enhancement, Maintenance, Protection, Exploitation), this session engaged in the discussions on Function, Asset, and Risk (FAR) analysis in intangible asset transactions, criteria for determining economic ownership, points of divergence with tax authorities, and strategies for dispute prevention.
 
The forum concluded with closing remarks by Junghong Kim, IFA Korea Incoming Chair, who expressed his deep gratitude to all presenters, discussants, and attendees, and stated that IFA Korea will continue to faithfully fulfill its role as a central platform for the exchange between practice and academia in the field of international taxation.