Lee & Ko has taken part in the Lovecoat Sharing Festival, a winter coat donation initiative designed to support our foreign neighbors new to their first winter season in Korea.

From October 1 to 19, Lee & Ko ran a firmwide collection campaign, gathering 11 boxes of winter outerwear, including jumpers, coats, padded jackets, and blazers, thanks to enthusiastic participation from its attorneys and staff members.

Now in its ninth year, the Lovecoat Sharing Festival is hosted by The Naeil News, organized by Bapilkkum, and sponsored by Shinhan Financial Group. The program delivers professionally cleaned, donated coats to foreign residents by courier, with each recipient eligible to apply for up to two items.

Partner Seok Pyo Hong (Judicial Research and Training Institute 36th Class) of Lee & Ko’s Pro Bono Committee shared, “Joining the Lovecoat Sharing Festival again this year has been a joy, and our members came together in ways that exceeded our expectations. We hope every coat brings a bit of warmth and a warm welcome to our international neighbors experiencing their first winter in Korea, and we remain committed to carrying forward the spirit of sharing.” 

On September 11, 2026, The Law Times reported on the 11th Graduate Student Paper Competition, organized by the Korean Civil Law Association and sponsored by Lee & Ko. The top prize, the “Lee & Ko Paper Award,” was presented to Tae-gyu Kim, a student at Kyungpook National University Law School.

On July 30, 2026, The Better Future published a contributed article by Attorney Seok Pyo Hong of Lee & Ko. In the article, Attorney Hong emphasized that pro bono work at law firms is far more than an act of social contribution or charitable service — it is a vital experience that deepens a lawyer's professional expertise and sense of mission. He also drew on a range of public interest litigation and refugee support cases, and expressed hope that, as Korea's legal market continues to grow, law firms will likewise devote even greater resources and manpower to pro bono activities.

On February 27, 2026, The JoongAng featured an article on the closing party marking the successful completion of the “Lee & Ko Friends” program hosted by the Pro Bono Committee of Lee & Ko. The article highlighted that “Lee & Ko attorneys and North Korean defector university students came together to successfully complete the 6th ‘Lee & Ko Friends’ program, where participants were paired as ‘Older Friend’ (Friend Mentor) and ‘Young Friend’ (Friend Mentee) to build meaningful friendships.” It further explained that “This program goes beyond a conventional mentoring program, providing participants with meaningful opportunities to build trust, share their interests and experiences, and grow together. In particular, by fostering lasting relationships rather than one-time support, it has achieved high levels of satisfaction and is regarded as a model example of pro bono activity.”

Lee & Ko attorneys and North Korean defector university students came together to successfully complete the 6th “Lee & Ko Friends” program, where participants were paired as “Older Friend” (Friend Mentor) and “Young Friend” (Friend Mentee) to build meaningful friendships.

This program, jointly organized by Lee & Ko and the Together Foundation North Korean Defectors Employment Support Center (Director: Kyung-il Choi), is a public service initiative that encourages Lee & Ko attorneys and North Korean defector university students to meet regularly in a comfortable and informal setting in hopes of helping the students navigate their transition into society and continue to grow. Introduced by the firm in 2018 as the first program of its kind among Korean law firms, this pro bono activity has now reached the completion of its 6th round.

More than a conventional mentoring program, this mentorship activity is designed to assist participants to build trust, share their interests and experiences, and grow together through meaningful interactions. It has also been widely recognized for fostering lasting relationships instead of one-time support, achieving high levels of satisfaction and serving as a model pro bono initiative. Also, a positive influence on the broader adoption of similar programs within the law-firm community has been noted.

Launched in August last year, the 6th “Lee & Ko Friends” program brought together 10 Lee & Ko attorneys and 10 North Korean defector university students. Forming one-on-one pairs, the participants met five times from September to January, sharing cultural outings during “Open Meet-ups” and completing themed photography challenges through “Mission Meet-ups.”

In addition, in celebration of the completion of its 6th session, a closing party was held on February 23 at Lee & Ko’s seminar room in Jung-gu, Seoul. Lee & Ko attorneys and North Korean defector university students gathered once again to look back on the past five months of activities. During the event, participants shared their thoughts and experiences, expressing gratitude and a touch of sadness as it came to a close.

Attorney Hyung Mi Jeon of Lee & Ko, who participated in the program as a Friend Mentor, remarked, “This opportunity was not simply a chance for me to help someone, but a meaningful experience of sharing joyful memories with a newly found friend, understanding each other’s lives, and connecting on a personal level. I was also deeply moved by their sincere commitment to pursuing their dreams at every moment.” She further added, “Despite the closing of the event, I see it as the beginning of a new bond. I will continue to support my Friend Mentee so they can believe in their own potential and confidently move forward toward the future.”

The North Korean defector university students shared their experiences as well, noting that “Through several meet-ups with the attorneys, we formed close bonds and created many meaningful memories and were able to gain a clearer sense of our future career paths through their thoughtful advice and conversations.”

In 2011, Lee & Ko established a North Korean Defectors Legal Support Team under its Pro Bono Committee and has since carried out public interest activities for North Korean defectors in a systematic manner. Going forward, the firm plans to further expand legal assistance for vulnerable groups, including North Korean defectors, while continuing a variety of community engagement efforts.