Recent Developments

Asian Legal Business (ALB) has recognized Lee & Ko attorney Kwang Bae Park as one of its “Asia Super 50 TMT Lawyers” for 2026.

For approximately 30 years, Mr. Park has advised a wide range of domestic and international clients in the areas of IT, broadcasting, telecommunications, and data privacy and security. His practice spans regulatory advice, government investigations, and litigation, and he is widely recognized for his depth of experience and strategic judgment in complex TMT matters.

Among his notable matters, Mr. Park led the overall litigation strategy in the cases arising from Korea’s largest-ever personal data breach involving three major credit card companies, overseeing the proceedings for 11 years through their final resolution in fall 2025. He also advises SpaceX’s STARLINK, the world’s largest low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications service, in connection with its entry into the Korean market, including on licensing, regulatory approvals, and compliance.

Mr. Park has been recognized multiple times in previous years as an ALB Asia Super 50 TMT Lawyer. He has also been consistently ranked since 2008 by leading international legal directories, including Chambers Asia-Pacific, Asialaw, and The Legal 500, for his outstanding capabilities. 

Published by Thomson Reuters, ALB Magazine is a leading legal publication in the Asia-Pacific region. Through its annual Super 50 TMT Lawyers survey, ALB identifies the region’s most highly recommended practitioners in the technology, media, and telecommunications sector.

On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Steve Minhoo Kim, Senior Foreign Attorney at Lee & Ko and Co-Chair of the AMCHAM Taxation Committee, and Jaekyung Han, Senior Foreign Attorney at Lee & Ko, participated in the AMCHAM Taxation Committee Meeting. Steve Minhoo Kim served as moderator, and Jaekyung Han served as speaker, for a seminar titled “Presidential Decree and 2026 Updates.”

Presented to members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM), the seminar provided timely and meaningful insights for foreign-invested companies in Korea on the Ministry of Economy and Finance’s (MOEF) Presidential Decree issued following the 2025 tax law amendments. The seminar also addressed the implications of the recently enacted attorney-client privilege (ACP) framework in the context of tax audits and tax controversy matters.

On March 25, 2026, Lee & Ko hosted a seminar on ‘Strategic Approaches to Global Technology Dispute Risk and K-Discovery’.

The three-session seminar began with a welcome address by Mr. Un Ho Kim and was moderated by Ms. Hyunjin Koh.

In the first session, Mr. Hankil D. Kang presented “Strategies for Responding to U.S. IP Litigation,” covering an overview of U.S. litigation, practical guidance on handling complaints and discovery, as well as an in-depth discussion of investigation procedures at the International Trade Commission (ITC).

In the second session, Mr. Hayoun Chun discussed “Strategies for Utilizing and Responding to UPC Litigation,” introducing strategic approaches for companies to leverage the UPC, along with various case examples in detail.

In the final session, Mr. Jaewoo Kwak addressed “Responding to Risks Related to K-Discovery and ACP,” analyzing a range of practical issues that companies may face and proposing specific response strategies.

Lee & Ko’s IP & Technology Group handles not only traditional intellectual property matters; such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and unfair competition, but also disputes and advisory work related to advanced technologies including AI, data, semiconductors, and healthcare. The group has also accumulated extensive experience in cross-border litigation and international arbitration across various sectors. In particular, it has developed deep expertise over many years in discovery practice and is well-positioned to provide one-stop solutions for matters involving K-Discovery.

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.”