[The Korea Economic Daily] Lee Jae-myung Administration’s “War on Cartels”… Law Firms’ Antitrust & Competition Teams in the Spotlight
April 26, 2026.
The Korea Economic Daily reported that major law firms are reorganizing their dedicated teams as prosecutors move decisively to launch ex officio investigations into antitrust cases such as cartels, mobilizing their full direct investigative powers. The newspaper highlighted the Antitrust & Competition Group of Lee & Ko, noting: “Lee & Ko, centered on attorneys Yong Seok Ahn, Hwan Jeong and Jeong-Ho Sun, is intensifying its focus on the needs of platform companies by adding expertise in merger control and monopoly regulation advisory work, together with professionals such as former Fair Trade Commission standing commissioner Seok Ho Kim.”
2026.04.26
[The Korea Economic Daily] Lee & Ko Bolsters Digital Finance Capabilities with Successive Hires from FSS and FSC
On April 22, 2026, The Korea Economic Daily reported on the strengthening of Lee & Ko's financial regulatory practice. The article noted that Attorney Sangrok Shin, formerly head of the Capital Markets Investigation Division at the Financial Services Commission (FSC), joined the firm earlier this year, followed last month by Advisor Moonseok Chae, who spent six years in key positions at the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), including as head of the Banking Team in the Sanctions Review Department and Deputy Director of the General Affairs Team. The article further noted that Attorney Seohee Han, a specialist in virtual assets and digital finance, has also joined the firm, highlighting how Lee & Ko is significantly expanding its capabilities to address the rapidly evolving financial regulatory landscape, particularly in the virtual assets and digital finance space.
2026.04.22
[The Korea Economic Daily] Sanggon Kim of Lee & Ko: “From Dispute Resolution to Full-Service Consulting Firm, Set to Usher in the KRW 500B Era”
On April 22, 2026, The Korea Economic Daily featured an interview with Managing Partner Sanggon Kim of Lee & Ko. In the interview, Mr. Kim articulated his strategic vision to reposition the firm as a comprehensive consulting practice, with a revenue target of KRW 500 billion for the current fiscal year. Having made history in 2024 as the first Korean law firm to surpass KRW 400 billion in annual revenue, Lee & Ko sustained its growth momentum by recording KRW 430.9 billion last year. Amid heightened demand for regulatory compliance services and a recovering M&A market, Mr. Kim confidently projected a growth rate of approximately 15% for this year and further emphasized that Lee & Ko is poised to transition into a full-service consulting firm through its distinctive “one team” approach, a model designed to dissolve the conventional silos between litigation and advisory services.
2026.04.22
[Maeil Economy Newspaper] Global Regulatory Barriers & Aftermath of the ‘Yellow Envelope Law’… Law Firms Step Up as Problem Solvers and Corporate Partners
April 22, 2026. Maeil Economy Newspaper analyzed that major law firms are transforming into consulting organizations that provide integrated crisis management solutions beyond simple legal advice, and reported on the activities of Lee & Ko. Maeil Economy Newspaper reported, “Following the recent implementation of the ‘Yellow Envelope Act,’ Lee & Ko has significantly strengthened its labor compliance capabilities by recruiting former Minister of Employment and Labor Kyung-duk Ahn and labor consultant Won-bok Kang,” adding, “To respond to the implementation of the revised Commercial Act, Mr. Da-ju Jeong from Lee & Ko’s Litigation Team has been assigned as an expert in the field of ‘commercial injunctions’ and is achieving significant results through close cooperation with the M&A team.”
2026.04.22