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Lee & Ko has welcomed Attorney Je Ok-pyeong (Judicial Research and Training Institute, Class 38), a leading expert in financial regulation and financial disputes, as a partner in its Finance & Securities Practice Group.

Attorney Je graduated from Korea University College of Law and earned an LL.M. from Korea University Graduate School. He has extensive experience advising corporate and financial sector clients and, from 2013 to 2018, served in the Financial Supervisory Service's Corporate Finance Improvement Bureau, Sanctions Deliberation Bureau, and Capital Market Investigation Bureau I, where he gained substantial hands-on experience in financial regulation and capital markets supervision.

He currently also serves as an external expert to financial regulatory authorities, including as a member of the FSS Non-Action Letter Review Committee, a legal advisor to the Financial Services Commission, and a specialist member of the FSS Financial Dispute Mediation Committee.

Lee & Ko expects the addition of Attorney Je, who combines experience within the Financial Supervisory Service with extensive service as an external advisor to financial regulators, to further strengthen the firm's capabilities in the finance and securities sector. In particular, his unparalleled practical experience in regulatory inspections and sanctions, investigations into unfair trading and other violations of the Capital Markets Act, and financial dispute resolution is expected to provide substantial value to clients facing increasingly complex regulatory challenges.

Commenting on his joining the firm, Attorney Je said:
"Drawing on my experience from both financial regulatory authorities and advising financial institutions, I look forward to providing optimal solutions for regulatory matters faced by financial institutions and contributing to the effective resolution of financial disputes."

Meanwhile, Lee & Ko has recently intensified its efforts to attract top-tier talent in the finance and securities field, significantly expanding its bench strength. Following the recruitment of Shin Sang-rok, former Director General of Capital Markets Investigations at the Financial Services Commission, in March, the firm has continued to bring on board key figures from the financial regulatory sector, including Jeong Wan-gyu, former Head of the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit; Chae Moon-seok, former Deputy Director of the Sanctions Deliberation Division at the Financial Supervisory Service; Ahn Byung-nam, former Head of the Continuous Monitoring Team of the FSS Bank Examination Bureau I; and Attorney Kim Yong-jin, who previously served in the FSS Financial Investment Examination Bureau II and Financial Dispute Mediation Bureau III.

In addition, the firm recruited Attorney Han Seo-hee, who served on the FSS Task Force for Virtual Asset Inspection and Supervision Preparation and as a member of the FSC's Securities Determination Committee, to lead the virtual asset team of Lee & Ko's Digital Asset Center. It has also strengthened its capabilities through the addition of Attorney Jung Se-jin, a specialist in digital finance and financial IT. These strategic hires have further enhanced the depth and breadth of the firm's Finance & Securities Practice Group.

Lee & Ko has further strengthened its international disputes capabilities with the recruitment of Ms. Michelle Park, a foreign attorney with extensive experience in international litigation, international arbitration, and large-scale overseas projects.

Ms. Park is admitted to New York and New Jersey in the United States, and is an expert with over ten years of experience handling international disputes and global projects at U.S. law firms and the legal departments of Korean corporations. Prior to joining Lee & Ko, Ms. Park worked at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, where she handled international disputes, U.S. government investigations, overseas shipyard investments and leasing transactions, offshore engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts, and the development and securing of offshore wind power projects.

In particular, Ms. Park has participated in major projects across the infrastructure, energy, shipbuilding and offshore, defense, and renewable energy sectors, providing legal advice throughout all stages of projects, from project development, financing, and contract negotiations to claims management and dispute resolution. She has also accumulated extensive practical experience by leading strategy development and crisis response in international disputes involving billions of dollars and U.S. government investigations.

Ms. Park handled a wide range of international litigation and arbitration cases at Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP and Cullen and Dykman LLP in New York, primarily in the areas of construction, product liability, insurance, and commercial litigation. Through her subsequent experience in corporate legal departments, she has developed not only strong legal analytical skills but also a business-oriented perspective and practical problem-solving capabilities, earning recognition for her comprehensive expertise encompassing both international disputes and project advisory work.

Lee & Ko expects that the recruitment of Ms. Park will further strengthen its advisory capabilities in international arbitration, international litigation, government investigations, overseas projects, and the energy and defense sectors. As Korean companies continue to expand into overseas infrastructure, renewable energy, and defense markets, Ms. Park’s practical expertise, combining U.S. litigation experience with in-house legal experience, is expected to provide differentiated value to domestic and international clients.

Ms. Park received her J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York and is admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey. She was selected for Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers New York Metro Rising Stars for five consecutive years, an honor awarded to the top 2.5% of young attorneys following peer nominations and a rigorous evaluation process. She has also been recognized as an outstanding attorney by several legal ranking organizations, including Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

Lee & Ko has recently continued its strategic investments in international arbitration, rapidly expanding its capabilities in handling global disputes. Under the leadership of Dr. Eun Young Park, a leading figure in international arbitration, the firm has successively recruited Mr. Zac Sharpe, a global international arbitration expert, and Mr. Seokchun Yun, a veteran in international arbitration and litigation. With the addition of Ms. Michelle Park, Lee & Ko’s International Arbitration Team has further strengthened its expertise and competitiveness.

Mr. Sharpe has extensive experience handling international arbitration cases involving billions of dollars in the energy, construction, infrastructure, shipbuilding and offshore, and investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) sectors. He is a global arbitration expert who has handled cases administered by major arbitral institutions worldwide, including the ICC, LCIA, SIAC, HKIAC, and KCAB. Mr. Yun has been widely recognized for his outstanding expertise in international arbitration and litigation, having represented the Republic of Korea in ISDS cases involving Lone Star and Elliott. He also has experience in arbitral institution management, having served as Deputy Secretary General of KCAB International.

Through these recruitments, Lee & Ko’s International Arbitration Team has assembled one of Korea’s leading teams of experts covering a broad range of disputes, including investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS), international commercial arbitration, international litigation, government investigations, energy and infrastructure projects, and disputes in the construction, shipbuilding, offshore, and defense sectors. In particular, by bringing together experts with extensive experience in international arbitration practice, ISDS, large-scale projects, and in-house corporate legal affairs, the firm has established a system capable of providing one-stop services throughout the entire dispute resolution process, from dispute prevention to negotiations, arbitration, litigation, and enforcement of arbitral awards.

Industry observers note that, amid continuously growing demand for overseas projects and international dispute resolution, Lee & Ko has further solidified its position as a leading international disputes platform in Asia by successively recruiting key talent in international arbitration and international disputes.

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 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.”