John KWAK - Kim & Chang

Bio

John Kwak is a foreign attorney in the tax practice of Kim & Chang. His practice focuses on tax aspects of a wide range of cross-border corporate transactions and investments.

He has extensive experience in advising multinational companies on developing effective global tax strategies for their business transactions and has also assisted them on their cross-border acquisitions and joint ventures. He not only provides services related to tax and transfer pricing issues of foreign invested companies in Korea but also has expertise on tax issues and disputes of Korean companies operating in foreign countries. He is also an expert on issues related to private clients and their businesses and has provided services on cross-border tax and estate planning for high net worth individuals.

Prior to joining Kim & Chang, Mr. Kwak worked at M&A tax practices in major accounting firms based in New York where he was involved in many mergers and acquisitions projects for private equity and strategic investors. In Korea, he worked for law firms Yulchon LLC and Lee & Ko where he advised many inbound and outbound clients on international tax and investment matters.

Mr. Kwak has published articles on various tax issues and has frequently lectured on topics of overseas investment and related tax issues in emerging markets at numerous venues including Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and Korea International Trade Association.

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Profile

Experience

Kim & Chang (2018-Present)

Lee & Ko (2013-2018)

Yulchon LLC (2010-2013)

Ernst & Young LLP, New York (2006-2009)

PwC LLP, New Jersey (2005-2006)

KPMG LLP, New York (2001-2004)

Legal Advisor, Jin Air (2020-Present)

Member, Evaluation Committee for Alternative Investment, Korea Post (2020-Present)

Director, International Fiscal Association (IFA) Korea (2019-2021)

Outside Director, Jin Air (2017-2020)

Outside Director, CJ Darcl Logistics (2017-2018)

Representative Mattersshow

Advised foreign corporate clients on tax and transfer pricing issues arising from their business operations, tax audits and tax litigations in Korea.
Advised global private equity investors and multinational companies in tax appeal cases related to withholding tax, permanent establishment, VAT and tax treaty application.
Advised multinational companies on developing effective global tax and transfer pricing strategies for their international business expansion and supply chain restructuring.
Advised multinational companies on their cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and holding company structures.
Provided tax consulting services including tax structuring, tax opinion, due diligence and tax modeling on corporate mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, spin-offs, and tax-free reorganizations for private equity and strategic clients.
Advised sovereign wealth funds, public pension funds, institutional investors and asset management companies on their cross-border investment in real estate, infrastructure and private equity.
Advised Korean manufacturing companies and their overseas subsidiaries in controversies with foreign tax authorities including tax audits, tax litigations and APA/MAP mainly in the US, Vietnam, Indonesia and India.
Advised global funds and financial institutions on tax compliance and information exchange obligations including FATCA and CRS.
Advised Korean financial institutions on FATCA compliance.
Provided cross-border tax planning services to high net worth individuals.

Representative Activitiesshow

Publications/Activities

Recent Ruling Clarifies Whether Foreign Limited Partnership Can Be Looked Through for Purposes of Treaty Application, International Tax Review (Co-author, Euromoney, 2016.7.)
The Inward Investment and International Taxation Review (5th and 6th edition): Korea chapter (Co-author, Law Business Research, 2015, 2016)
Recent Developments on the Implementation of US FATCA in South Korea, International Tax Review (Co-author, Euromoney, 2014.7.)
Orbitax International Tax Research and Compliance Expert: South Korea chapter (Co-author, Thomson Reuters, 2014)
Tax Laws in Korea and the US for Korean Americans (Co-author, National Tax Service/Consulate General of Republic of Korea in New York, 2013)
Tax Planning for International Mergers, Acquisitions, Joint Ventures and Restructuring: Country Report for Republic of Korea (Co-author, Kluwer Law International 2012, 2013)
Private Client Handbook: “Private Client Law in South Korea” (Co-author, Practical Law, 2012, 2013)
Asia-Pacific Tax Bulletin (Volume 17 Number 5): “Taxation Aspects of Mergers and Acquisitions” (Co-author, IBFD, 2011.9.)