[Money Today] From Fake Investment Chatrooms Featuring Jae-seok Yu to Ji Hye Lee’s Lingerie Ads… “Deceptively Real” Publicity Rights Under Threat
July 4, 2026
Attorney Tae Joo Kim of Lee & Ko was featured in Money Today. In the article, Kim discussed publicity rights during an appearance on the YouTube channel DouzoneTV, explaining, “The right to commercially use an individual's identifying attributes—such as their name, image, or voice—is known as the 'right of publicity.' It gives individuals, particularly celebrities, the exclusive right to authorize the commercial use of their identity. While the concept is not yet widely known, Korean law recognizes and protects these rights. Accordingly, fabricated advertisements that exploit a celebrity's name or likeness without authorization may constitute an infringement of the right of publicity."
2026.07.04
[Yonhap Infomax] [H1 League Table - M&A Advisory] Kim & Chang Dominates ‘Major Deals’ for Top Spot… Lee & Ko Chases Close Behind
June 30, 2026
Yonhap Infomax reported that Lee & Ko ranked second in the legal advisory market for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the first half of 2026, recording deals worth KRW 15.2443 trillion. According to Yonhap Infomax, the firm's performance was largely driven by advising the French company, Air Liquide, in its acquisition of DIG Airgas. It added that Lee & Ko further boosted its deal value by advising the seller in EQT Partners' acquisition of a stake in Douzone Bizon and the buyer in SK Gas' transfer of shares in Ulsan GPS.
2026.06.30
[EDAILY] "The Structure We Create Become the Market Standard" - Lee & Ko's Track Record of Setting M&A Precedents
June 30, 2026
An interview with Ho Joon Moon, Managing Partner of Lee & Ko who leads the firm’s M&A group, was featured in EDAILY. It noted, “Throughout Lee & Ko's history, the firm has pioneered innovative transaction structures that later became market standards, citing LG Group's holding company conversion and the acquisition of Osstem Implant as examples.” Mr. Moon highlighted the firm's competitive strength in its accumulated team-based expertise and its ability to establish new precedents. He also projected that, despite growing uncertainty in the M&A market due to regulatory changes such as proposed amendments to the Commercial Act, new deal opportunities will continue to emerge.
2026.06.30
[Weekly Korea Housing Economic News] Heavy Penalty of Hundreds of Millions of Won in Damages for Raising False Rebate Allegations
On June 29, 2026, comments by Yoon Seong-min, an attorney at Lee & Ko, were featured in the Weekly Korea Housing Economic News. Following a court ruling that held a resident liable for nearly 100 million won in damages for defamation after raising unsubstantiated rebate allegations during an urban renewal project, Attorney Yoon stated, "This judgment clarifies that while monitoring and criticism during the urban renewal process should be respected, spreading false information without basis entails legal responsibility." He added, "This is a significant ruling that serves as a wake-up call against the repeated, indiscriminate raising of suspicions at urban renewal sites."
2026.06.29