Recent Developments

On April 10, 2026, Sisa Journal featured Lee & Ko’s proprietary AI solution “eLK.” The article highlighted that “Lee & Ko has achieved zero external network connectivity through its bespoke eLK system on self-hosted GPU servers, a design choice that provides a competitive security advantage over cloud-based alternatives.” It further noted, “Despite accelerating technology adoption across Korean law firms, strict boundaries remain around legal judgment. Lee & Ko also strongly exemplifies this stance, with AI functioning as an auxiliary tool only while final legal judgments are reserved exclusively for human professionals.”

April 9, 2026
The Monthly Labor Law featured a report by attorneys Hyunseok Song and Yoonji Lee of Lee & Ko. In the report titled "Practical Issues of the Yellow Envelope Act in M&A Transactions," they stated, "As the amended Labor Union Act (the 'Yellow Envelope Act') has expanded the scope of labor disputes to include management decisions that affect workers' status and working conditions, concerns are growing regarding the potential impact of the Yellow Envelope Law on M&A transactions.” They explained, “Regarding the demand for collective bargaining by the labor unions of the parties involved in the transaction, issues arise such as whether the subject matter is eligible for bargaining, whether a demand for collective bargaining can be made during the validity period of the bargaining, and whether the status of the representative bargaining union is recognized. In relation to the collective bargaining demands of subcontractor labor unions, the question arises as to whether matters like employment succession fall within the scope of collective bargaining." They further emphasized, "In cases where labor unions demand collective bargaining during the M&A transaction process, employers need to take proactive measures, such as requesting the union to specify the agenda for bargaining and the basis for their demands."

April 9, 2026
A comment from attorney Hyuk Jung Kim was featured in the Aju Business Daily. “Defense products, which had gained popularity in Europe, are also expanding their presence in the Middle East, leading to an increase in corporate advisory.” Regarding Aju’s report, he noted, “While exports were previously concentrated in countries such as Poland and Norway, the proportion of exports to the Middle East has grown following the Iran conflict. In many cases, we now prepare the initial draft ourselves during the contract stage.”

April 9, 2026
Aju Business Daily reported on Lee & Ko’s ‘Middle East Task Force (TF)’ along with comments from attorney Hyuk Jung Kim. Aju Business Daily stated, “As the conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran continues to escalate, the activities of Korean companies in the Middle East are becoming increasingly urgent.” The report mentioned, “To respond promptly to this situation, Lee & Ko has established the ‘Middle East Task Force (TF),’ composed of experts in defense, corporate advisory, overseas construction, project financing, insurance, maritime law, and other areas. Through close interdepartmental collaboration, the TF provides customized solutions tailored to clients’ needs.” The report also noted, “The most noticeable change following this situation has been in the defense industry.” Regarding this, attorney Hyuk Jung Kim emphasized, “There will be tangible security threats regardless of whether the war ends, and demand from countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar will continue to rise. As domestic companies have secured supply volumes for the next 10 to 15 years, long-term legal support is essential.”

On April 8, 2026, Asia Business Daily featured the Fair Trade Group of Lee & Ko.

According to the report, “Lee & Ko operates a 67-member Antitrust & Competition Group co-headed by attorneys Hwan JEONG (24th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute) and Jeong-Ho SUN (37th class),” adding that “in 2015, Lee & Ko became the first domestic law firm to establish an economic consulting group, CECG, thereby providing in-house economic analysis services.”

The article further noted that “the firm also operates a litigation team led by Attorney Su Jin JUNG (32nd class), a former judge of the Antitrust & Competition Division of the Seoul High Court, as well as a fair trade criminal defense team spearheaded by Attorney Hoo Gon KIM (25th class), former Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office,” and added that “Lee & Ko successfully secured a decision of no charges in the Apple–Samsung abuse of market dominance case.”

March 31, 2026

Yonhap Infomax reported that Lee & Ko ranked second in the M&A legal advisory market for the first quarter of 2026. According to Yonhap Infomax, Lee & Ko advised on a total of 23 deals with the total transaction value reaching KRW 8.19 trillion during the first quarter, maintaining its second-place standing. The firm’s role in advising the French company Air Liquide on its acquisition of DIG Airgas had a significant impact, and the firm also provided advisory services to the target side in CJ CheilJedang’s multi-trillion-won sale of CJ Feed & Care.

Lee & Ko’s Criminal Practice Group was featured in the JoongAng Ilbo on March 31, 2026. It reported that “Lee & Ko recruited Hoo Gon Kim, a lawyer (25th class of Judicial Research and Training Institute) who served as the Chief of Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office, as managing partner in September last year, followed by a series of top experts from prosecution and police.” It added that “Through these lateral hires, Lee & Ko has significantly expanded its expertise across corporate and financial investigations, serious accidents and labor matters, international criminal cases, and compliance.”

On March 26, 2026, The Korea Economic Daily covered a seminar presentation by Attorney Suhhee Han of Lee & Ko. At the seminar on "Structural Changes in Capital Markets and Regulatory Challenges Following the Legislation of Tokenized Securities," hosted by the Korea Blockchain Industry Promotion Association (KBIPA), Attorney Han noted that Korea should look to the growing global tokenized securities market as a reference point in reforming its domestic regulatory framework.

On March 17, 2026, The Seoul Shinmun published a feature examining, “As criminal investigations have increasingly gravitated toward the police and away from the prosecution after the realignment of investigative authority, a shift is now rippling through the legal profession.” In support of this observation, it further mapped the current footprint of former law enforcement across the five largest law firms in Korea, with approximately 140 former officers now in practice, led by Kim & Chang at roughly 60, followed by Lee & Ko at 25, Yulchon at 22, Bae, Kim & Lee at 18, and Shin & Kim at 17.

On March 17, 2026, Samda Ilbo covered a lecture delivered by Attorney Song Hyunseok of Lee & Ko. At the “155th Jeju Economy and Tourism Forum,” Attorney Song gave a presentation on “Analysis of the Yellow Envelope Act and Response.”

On January 27, 2026, JoongAng Ilbo reported that Lee & Ko, representing pharmaceutical companies, prevailed in an unjust enrichment lawsuit against the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) concerning NDMA (N-nitrosodimethylamine)-related pharmaceutical impurities. The article noted that the ruling, issued on January 16, 2026, by the Seoul Central District Court at the first-instance level, has drawn significant attention within the industry, as Lee & Ko successfully obtained a favorable judgment in the unjust enrichment action filed against the NHIS in connection with NDMA-related impurities.

According to JoongAng Ilbo, the court held that “even if impurities are detected in a pharmaceutical product, the health authorities cannot impose re-prescription or re-dispensing costs on pharmaceutical companies, provided there is no manufacturing or quality control negligence on the part of the company and no harm to human health.” The article further explained that “the court ruling departs from prior decisions in similar cases, where courts had broadly deferred to the professional discretion of health authorities and found pharmaceutical companies liable.”

On January 22, 2026, Daily Pharm published a detailed report on the participation of Chung Jin Hwan, an attorney at Lee & Ko, in the 55th Future Forum held under the theme “How We Should Position Ourselves in the Era of Major Drug Pricing Reform.” At the forum, Chung presented both legal and industrial analysis of the drug pricing reform proposal announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare last November. He expressed concerns about the government’s proposal to lower the generic drug pricing benchmark from the current 53.55% to the 40% range, noting that “while the government cites Japan and France as reference cases, it remains open to question whether a horizontal comparison is appropriate given differences in industrial structure and the proportion of globally innovative drugs in those markets.” Attorney Chung further emphasized the need to carefully examine whether the proposed reduction to the 40% range is supported by a sound rationale, particularly in terms of how such a cut would contribute to promoting new drug development by domestic pharmaceutical companies.