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Lee & Ko has welcomed Won Jee Jang, who brings extensive trial experience from major courts, including service as a presiding judge at the Daejeon District Court and as a judge at the Seoul Central District Court.

After earning her Bachelor of Laws from Seoul National University in 2007, Ms. Jang entered the legal profession upon completing the Judicial Research and Training Institute (38th) in 2009. She has subsequently managed a wide range of civil and criminal cases across key district courts, beginning at the Gunsan Branch of Jeonju District Court and later serving at the Incheon District Court, Seoul Western District Court, Seoul Central District Court, and Seoul Southern District Court.

From 2022, Ms. Jang served as a judge at the Seoul Central District Court, and from 2024, as a presiding judge at the Daejeon District Court, overseeing numerous complex corporate disputes and significant criminal cases. Her outstanding case management and judicious leadership earned her significant trust both within the judiciary and among external stakeholders.

During her time on the bench, Ms. Jang developed considerable expertise across diverse areas, including civil and criminal litigation, corporate regulation, and family law, demonstrating particular proficiency in handling sophisticated disputes involving corporations and financial institutions. 

At Lee & Ko, Ms. Jang will join the Litigation Group, providing clients with strategic and practical legal services across a wide spectrum of areas, including corporate advisory, civil and criminal litigation, audit and investigation responses, and regulatory risk management.

According to Managing Partner Sanggon Kim, “Ms. Jang is a professional who, drawing on her comprehensive trial background, brings exceptional legal judgment and practical insight, enabling her to deliver trusted legal services to our clients. She will particularly strengthen Lee & Ko’s service quality in complex corporate disputes and risk management.” 

Ms. Jang emphasized, “Building on my judicial service, I aim to assist corporate and individual clients in addressing complex legal risks in a proactive and practical manner. I look forward to collaborating with the experts at Lee & Ko and am committed to providing the highest standard of legal services.”  
 

Seung Gyu Lee, former Head of the Legal Department (Vice President) at Samsung SDI, has rejoined Lee & Ko.

Mr. Lee graduated from Seoul National University, College of Law in 1999 and entered the legal profession after completing the Judicial Research and Training Institute (30th) in 2001. He subsequently served as a judge at major courts, including the Seoul Central District Court, Seoul Eastern District Court, Suwon District Court, and Incheon District Court, handling a broad range of civil and criminal cases. 

From 2013, he held the position of professor at the Judicial Research and Training Institute, contributing to the development of junior legal professionals. Between 2014 and 2015, he worked as Judicial Policy Advisor at the National Court Administration, participating in judicial system reforms and policy formulation. From 2016 to 2018, he acted as Presiding Judge at the Suncheon Branch of the Gwangju District Court and the Gwangju Family Court.

From 2020 to 2022, he worked at Lee & Ko, and following his 2022 appointment as Head of the Legal Department (Vice President) at Samsung SDI, he oversaw enterprise-wide legal operations, including contract management, litigation, compliance framework development, intellectual property protection, and global risk management, guiding the company’s key legal strategies. He has been recognized for his exceptional risk management capabilities in advanced industries such as semiconductors, batteries, and automotive electronics.

Mr. Lee rejoins Lee & Ko and will be part of the Litigation Group, providing strategic legal services across a wide spectrum of areas, including corporate advisory, internal investigations, compliance consulting, M&A risk assessment, and civil and criminal litigation strategy.

Managing Partner Sanggon Kim commented, “Mr. Lee is a rare professional with deep expertise in both the legal and industrial sectors. In particular, his experience as a legal head at the global corporation will be a valuable asset to our clients.”

Mr. Lee added, “Through my return to the firm, I aim to contribute to proactively and effectively addressing the complex legal challenges faced by companies.”
 

Sangrok Shin has joined Lee & Ko bringing significant experience in policy development and regulatory enforcement gained through years of service in senior roles at the Financial Services Commission.

At Lee & Ko, Mr. Shin takes a role in the Financial Group, focusing on regulatory consulting, administrative responses, investigations, and litigation for financial institutions, fintech companies, insurance providers, and asset management firms. 

After earning a degree in Public Administration from Yonsei University and a master’s degree from Hanyang University Graduate School, Mr. Shin began his legal career upon completing the Judicial Research and Training Institute (35th). He subsequently served at the National Tax Tribunal of the Ministry of Finance and Economy and at the Tax Tribunal under the Prime Minister’s Office. Beginning in 2012, he spent approximately 14 years at the Financial Services Commission and its affiliated agencies, managing key operational and policy functions and developing deep expertise in financial regulation.

Notably, Mr. Shin held positions at the Financial Services Commission, including Head of the Capital Market Investigation Coordination Division, Head of the Financial Data Policy Division, Head of the Regulatory Enforcement Division at the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit, and Head of the Review Support Team, while also gaining experience in the Insurance Division and the Financial Dispute Response Team. His leadership in major international dispute responses and investigations, including the Lone Star ISDS Case, is expected to serve as a substantial asset in navigating complex regulatory risks for domestic and international financial institutions and corporations. 

Managing Partner Sanggon Kim (Judicial Research and Training Institute, 23rd) commented, “The addition of Attorney Sangrok Shin further enhances the capabilities of Lee & Ko’s Financial Group. His firsthand insights from policy implementation and practical expertise offer a valuable opportunity to provide clients with even more sophisticated legal services. In particular, bringing such talent on board is exceptionally timely, as the increasingly complex financial regulatory environment demands proactive and strategic responses.”
 

Lee & Ko has appointed Hyun Dong Lee, who offers substantial practical experience in corporate compliance and criminal advisory. 

Mr. Lee graduated from Seoul National University, College of Law and completed the Judicial Research and Training Institute (19th). He later served as a prosecutor at the Busan, Seoul, and Incheon District Prosecutors’ Offices, where he developed expertise in investigations and criminal justice. He further broadened his global legal perspective through advanced studies at the University of Michigan Law School and Duke University School of Law (LL.M.).

After joining Samsung Group in 2000, Mr. Lee held several senior positions, including Executive Director of the Corporate Restructuring Headquarters, Senior Executive Director of the Group Legal Office, and Vice President, where he was responsible for developing key group-level legal strategies and overseeing risk management. In particular, he played a pivotal role in establishing the compliance framework—one of the core pillars of ESG management—thereby contributing significantly to the embedding of a culture of compliance across Samsung Group.

Beginning in 2016, he acted as Vice President and Head of the Compliance Management Office at Samsung Heavy Industries, and from 2020, he assumed the role of Compliance Officer at Samsung C&T, making significant contributions to enhancing the group’s overall compliance standards.

Mr. Lee will become a member of Lee & Ko’s Corporate Advisory Group, where he will concentrate on advising across the full spectrum of compliance matters, including internal investigations, anti-bribery measures, governance framework development, criminal risk management, and responses to audits and regulatory inquiries. He will place particular emphasis on delivering practical, actionable solutions tailored to the complex regulatory environments confronting multinational corporations and large business groups. 

Managing Partner Sanggon Kim (Judicial Research and Training Institute, 23rd) commented, “Mr. Lee is a rare practitioner who has advanced compliance not merely as legal advice, but as an integral component of corporate management strategy. As governance expectations rise for both domestic and international companies, his knowledge and insights will provide substantial value to our clients.”

Mr. Lee added, “Building on my background as a corporate lawyer, I aim to strengthen practical support across the firm to help companies achieve trusted and responsible management. Together with Lee & Ko, I look forward to leading the delivery of legal services that promote sustainable growth and foster transparent corporate governance.” 
 

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.


 Banking & Finance  
 Capital Markets  
 Corporate/M&A  
 Intellectual Property 
 International & cross Border Capabilities: South Korean Firms
 International Trade 


 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: 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.

 

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.