[Forbes Korea] Explosive Growth of OTT Services, Outdated Regulatory Framework
On April 28, 2025, Forbes Korea published a column by Attorney Jaewoo Kwak of Lee & Ko titled “The Explosive Growth of OTT Services, Outdated Regulatory Framework.” In the piece, Attorney Kwak explained that OTT services are currently regulated under the Promotion of the Motion Pictures and Video Products Act (Motion Pictures and Video Act) and the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (Network Act), both of which are designed around traditional film and video distribution models. He pointed out that because OTT services are governed by the Network Act rather than the Broadcasting Act, they can distribute content after review by the Korea Media Rating Board or through internal standards without undergoing the rigorous scrutiny of the Korea Communications Commission. He stressed that as Korea’s video content industry increasingly competes on a global stage, legal and regulatory systems must evolve proactively rather than simply trying to fit OTT services into outdated frameworks.
2025.04.28
[Law Times] “A Lack of Regulation Is a Form of Regulation… Blockchain Industry Calls for Structural Reform” – Eunpyo Hong, New President of the Korea Blockchain Law Society
On April 28, 2025, Law Times Korea reported on an interview with Attorney Eunpyo Hong of Lee & Ko, who was recently appointed as the second president of the Korea Blockchain Law Society. In the interview, Attorney Hong noted that Bitcoin has maximized security to serve as digital gold, while Ethereum’s embedded computing functions offer limitless potential—highlighting that blockchain technology extends far beyond finance. He emphasized the need for society to explore how blockchain can be adopted and applied across diverse fields, including artificial intelligence and content creation, and called for a broader perspective on its utilization.
2025.04.28
[The Korea Economic Daily] Lee & Ko’s Management Dispute Team Makes Its Mark in Major Cases Including SM Entertainment and Hanmi Pharm
April 22, 2025, The Korea Economic Daily featured Lee & Ko’s Management Dispute Team in a special report on law firms. The report described Lee & Ko’s team as the "living history" of management disputes in Korea, noting that they have been actively involved since more than 20 years ago, when the concept of management disputes itself was not clearly defined. The team has continued to make a strong presence in high-profile corporate management disputes, including cases involving SM Entertainment, Hanmi Pharm, Hanjin Kal, and Osstem Implant. The Management Dispute Team is led by Managing Partner Ho Joon Moon and consists of key members including Sejoong Lee of the Corporate Advisory Group led by Ho Joon Moon, and Dajoo Jung, of the Litigation Group. Ho Joon Moon commented, "Management disputes is where Lee & Ko’s strengths in traditional M&A and litigation really come to the forefront, marking the firm’s resurgence in its prime."
2025.04.22
[Korea Economic Daily] Sang Gon Kim, Managing Partner of Lee & Ko, “Will Continue to Grow in the Field of Outbound Deals centering around International Arbitration”
On April 22, 2025, the Korea Economic Daily published an interview with Sang Gon Kim, Managing Partner of Lee & Ko, in its special feature on law firms. In the interview, Mr. Kim highlighted, “This year, Lee & Ko will continue to grow based on amicable relationships with corporate clients who lead the outbound deal market.” Moreover, confirming the plan to establish the Singapore office aimed at the international dispute market, he added, “Lee & Ko will not only increase its contact points with the international arbitration market through local offices, but also accelerate full-fledged exchanges with global financial institutions.”
2025.04.22