Bio
Profile
Experience
Legal Counsel, The Ministry of Labor (2010.1.-Present)
Kim & Chang (1986.9.-Present)
Foreign Lawyer Internship Program at Law Office of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker (1992-1993)
Judge Advocate, Republic of Korea Army (1983-1986)
Representative Mattersshow
- Advised an auto maker in assessing the level of risk and exposure arising out of possible violation of the Korean labor laws regarding working hours.
- Successfully defended a shipbuilding company which implemented layoffs in the wrongful termination case.
- Advised a bank on implementation of performance improvement plan (PIP) and successfully defended the bank in a preliminary injunction case filed by the labor union claiming the company’s PIP is null and void.
- Advised pharmaceutical companies in implementing a restructuring and turnaround program.
- Successfully defended an auto maker in a lawsuit for potential damages over KRW 70 billion involving more than 1,000 employees who alleged that the calculation of their ordinary wage was not in compliance with the law.
- Successfully defended a bank at the Supreme Court in a massive early separation case.
- Advised Korean company’s overseas M&A in relation to HR and labor union matters on a global basis.
Representative Activitiesshow
Awards
- The A-List: Korea’s Top Lawyers, Asia Business Law Journal (Vantage Asia, 2024)
- Stand-out Lawyer - Independently Rated Lawyers (Thomson Reuters, 2022-2024)
- Leading Individual, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Labour & Employment (Legalease, 2021-2024)
- Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific: Labour and employment (Euromoney, 2023)
- Leading Lawyer, Asialaw Leading Lawyers: Labour and Employment (Euromoney, 2020-2023)
- Leading Lawyer, Who’s Who Legal: Korea, Labour & Employment (Who’s Who Legal, 2019-2022)
- Leading Lawyer, Who’s Who Legal: Labour & Employment (Who’s Who Legal, 2019)
- Leading Individual, Chambers Asia-Pacific, Employment (Chambers and Partners, 2017-2025)
Publications/Activities
- The Executive Remuneration Review (Edition 3): Korea Chapter (Co-author, Law Business Research, 2014)
- PLC Employment and Employee Benefits Guide: Korea Chapter (Co-author, Practical Law Company, 2013)
- Legal and Practice Issues in HR and Labor Relations in Overseas M&A context (Korea International Trade Law Association, 2011)
Education
School of Law, Columbia University (LL.M., 1992)
Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea (1983)
Seoul National University (LL.B., 1981)
Qualifications
Admitted to bar, Korea, 1983
Languages
Korean, English and Japanese
Insights
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Newsletters
Recent Supreme Court Decision on “Employee Status” under the Labor Standards Act
2025.03.24 -
Newsletters
MOEL Issues Labor Inspection Plan for 2025
2025.02.21 -
Newsletters
MOEL Issues Revised Labor-Management Guidance on Ordinary Wage
2025.02.10 -
Newsletters
Supreme Court Decision Determining “Whether Retroactive Increase in Wage Falls under Ordinary Wage” and “Whether to Recognize Working Hours for On-call and Standby Duty”
2025.02.05 -
Newsletters
Implications of the Supreme Court’s Decision that Welfare Points Constitute Earned Income under the Income Tax Act
2025.01.21 -
Recognitions
“Tier 1” in All 17 Practice Areas – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025
2025.01.15