Antitrust/competition law violations can result in administrative actions and criminal complaints filed by the KFTC, and also by foreign antitrust agencies such as the U.S. DOJ and EC DG Competition. Civil lawsuits by individual plaintiffs commonly follow in Korea and other jurisdictions where a private cause of action exists (e.g. U.S., Canada). The Antitrust & Competition Group has extensive experience in successfully defending corporations ensnared in antitrust litigation in Korea as well as abroad.

Our team includes former judges (including a former Supreme Court Justice and Head of the Administrative Court), prosecutors, and adjudication officers of the KFTC, with superior knowledge and background in dealing with all types of antitrust litigation in Korea. Members of our group also include expert attorneys licensed in foreign jurisdictions who are highly skilled in the global management of concurrent litigations in different countries.

Major Cases

Domestic

Obtained a complete dismissal of Apple's abuse of dominance claim against Samsung Electronics before the KFTC.
Obtained a complete dismissal of KFTC charges for an international shoe manufacturer, in re: false advertising of functional toning shoes.
Obtained a complete exemption in KFTC fines for one of the largest instant noodle manufacturers in Korea, in re: instant noodle manufacturer cartel case.
Obtained an 80% reduction in fines and a complete reversal of one of two KFTC charges for the largest pharmaceutical company in Korea, in the first "pay-for-delay" drug patent case.
Obtained a complete reversal and dismissal of KFTC charges on appeal for the biggest petroleum company in Korea, despite a competitor’s leniency filing in re: oil refineries cartel case.
Representing an international automaker in private actions for antitrust damages, following KFTC’s decision finding collusion between commercial vehicle manufacturers.

International

Representing a global electronics manufacturer in administrative, criminal, and civil actions in the U.S. and EU, in re: optical disk drives cartel case.
Representing an international chemical company in connection with U.S. DOJ’s investigation of alleged lithium-ion batteries cartel case.
Representing one of the largest automotive shipping companies in the world in connection with administrative actions by antitrust authorities in the U.S., the EU, Korea, Japan and Canada, in re: international vehicle shipping cartel case.
Representing an international electronic manufacturer in criminal and civil actions in the U.S. and Canada, in re: alleged cathode ray tube price-fixing conspiracy.