Kim & Chang, Korea's largest and most dominant full-service law firm, remains unchallenged across the board, maintaining its 'Outstanding' ranking in all practice areas and sectors. As the first choice for many multinationals, international brands and domestic conglomerates, the firm's vast size enables it to house top-notch specialists in every niche area of practice. This breadth of expertise allows Kim & Chang to push the boundaries of innovation, handling landmark and sizeable matters with ease. The firm's litigation practice group stands out as a prime example of this excellence, leading the field in Korea with its outstanding problem-solving skills and winning track record. This team excels in a wide range of litigations, from general civil, criminal and administrative cases to specialised commercial disputes in areas such as M&A, banking, securities, insurance, anti-competition, intellectual property, and white-collar crimes.
Client feedback
"They are professional." – Competition/antitrust
"The law firm offers accurate, tailored advice for business and timely communication. They are responsive, detail-orientated, and excellent at collaboration." – Competition/antitrust
"They are professional, high quality, and timely." – Corporate and M&A
"Excellent expertise, great team, deep market understanding, outstanding individuals." – Dispute resolution
"Kim & Chang provided solutions based on its accumulated experience and professional legal expertise, after thoroughly considering the client’s needs. It makes full use of internal resources and strives to achieve the best possible outcome. What is particularly impressive is that they do not merely respond to questions but proactively think from the client’s perspective to identify effective solutions." – Dispute resolution
"The strongest attribute of Kim & Chang is they have experienced consultants from each industry, former government officers, and specialised lawyers by subject." – Dispute resolution
"Kim & Chang is the largest law firm in South Korea, and their network to gain relevant information and manage relevant stakeholders is strong enough to guarantee a positive outcome." – Dispute resolution
"Among all law firms, Kim & Chang stands out for its unmatched expertise and extensive track record in corporate governance restructuring matters – particularly those involving the formation of holding companies and the conversion of branches into subsidiaries in Korea. With a deep bench of seasoned experts and proven know-how, the law firm consistently earned our trust as a reliable partner for such critical mandates." – Insurance
"Kim & Chang boasts a diverse team of top-tier experts across various fields and is exceptionally efficient in handling matters. For instance, in a recent advisory case that required the opinion of an actuary, other law firms were unable to provide timely support due to the lack of in-house actuarial professionals. In contrast, Kim & Chang was able to deliver the necessary opinion swiftly, as it has its own in-house actuary." – Insurance
"Kim & Chang is consistently hands-on throughout every stage of the process, demonstrating a deep commitment to understanding our specific needs. They offer practical, actionable advice that is tailored to real-world applications, helping us navigate complex legal challenges with confidence. Additionally, they provide a comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand, ensuring that we see the full picture and potential implications before making any decisions. This thorough approach enables us to make informed choices and effectively manage risks." – Labour and employment
"I believe they are one of the very few law firms capable of providing detailed insights into their experiences, including enforcement trends observed from regulatory authorities. They approached the case with passion and a proactive mindset." – Regulatory
"Kim & Chang is highly competent technically but also adopts a very practical approach towards conflict resolution. They are able to help manage the tax office very well and keep them focused on the key issues for resolution." – Tax
"Kim & Chang is by far the most technically advanced advisors I have worked with in South Korea. Apart from being technically strong in all tax-related matters and constantly updating themselves on the changing regulations in the jurisdiction, they also take the time and effort to educate me on various initiatives that would be of benefit for my organisation. They are diligent, they are hard-working, and they provide exemplary service on a daily basis." – Tax
Jong-Won Jeon
"Very professional, smart and knowledgeable on subject matter."
"He is very actively collaborating with clients and contactable any time when I need to talk with him. He has a good insight into the legal system and business nature, especially in the medical device, pharmaceutical and healthcare service space, and he is good at designing a solution for a legal case from the beginning to the end."
"His strength lies in his ability to evaluate the broad implications of a case through thorough risk analysis, while also offering rapid legal consultation for key decisions. He’s highly engaged in his work and always considers what’s best for the client. He is committed to leveraging the law firm’s internal resources to maximise client value."
"First of all, he is super-professional and has a strong sense of responsibility. He works very hard and always gives us a clear response and action whenever we share any input. He's also knowledgeable enough to manage any legal issues of the alcohol industry. His professional management of a client and a case makes us feel comfortable about the positive outcome."
"I've been working with him for several years on various matters, including audits, corporate governance, competition law, and litigation. He is a highly dedicated professional who consistently demonstrates exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, and he exercises excellent judgement when providing legal advice. He has provided clear and practical guidance."
"Mr. Jeon is consistently hands-on throughout every stage of the process, demonstrating a deep commitment to understanding our specific needs. He is very responsive and deeply cares about his clients, ensuring clear and timely communication at all times. Mr. Jeon offers practical, actionable advice tailored to real-world applications, helping us navigate complex legal challenges with confidence. Additionally, he provides a comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand, ensuring that we see the full picture and potential implications before making any decisions. This thorough approach enables us to make informed choices and effectively manage risks."
Byung-Wha Kim
"He provided professional and practical advice in the field of antitrust law."
Chanik Park
"He is professional."
Hyun Wook Shin
"Based on his extensive experience in corporate advisory, he does not offer abstract or surface-level solutions. Instead, he consistently strives to understand issues from the company's perspective and provide practical, tailored legal guidance."
"He possesses top-tier expertise in the insurance sector, accurately identifies clients’ issues, and provides clear and effective solutions."
Kenny Sung
"Kenny is very knowledgeable and practical. I have only good things to say about Kenny. He has helped us through a number of tax audits and other tax issues in South Korea. He's always been able to give practical solutions that make a difference. More importantly, he's always helped us obtain a good result."
"Kenny is the primary contact at Kim & Chang and is the liaison between us and the broader Kim & Chang organisation. Over the past five years, Kenny has provided the most incredible service that I am still recommending him to other colleagues of mine in other organisations. He is hard-working, diligent, technically advanced, and provides excellent customer support daily. He is an exceptional leader, and I can see how he brings up other team members in our interactions to provide them with the opportunity to learn and advance in their careers."
"Active and productive communication with HQ counterparts and NTS with strong knowledge in a gentle manner."
Michael Yu
"Excellent advisor, great communicator, very structured, reliable, understands clients' needs."
Work highlights
Represented Sampyo Cement as the legal counsel in a lawsuit seeking the cancellation of corporate income tax assessment worth around W20 billion ($15.3 million), overturning the lower court's decision and leading to a favourable decision.
Represented a Korean taxpayer as claimant in the first-ever Korea–Saudi Arabia mutual agreement procedure, securing the cancellation of a Saudi withholding-tax assessment on engineering income and eliminating double taxation under the Korea–Saudi Arabia tax treaty.
Key clients
Hana Securities, KB Securities, Korea Federation of Banks, Yuanta Securities Korea
Work highlights
Represented Korea Expressway Corporation in a civil case where approximately 200 employees from a subcontractor filed claims under the Workers Dispatch Act, seeking direct employment and W30 billion ($21.7 million) in damages.
Advised a global IT company on liquidation and the restructuring process for the employees belonging to the liquidated entity.
Work highlights
Represented RaQualia Pharma and HK inno.N Corporation as patentees in successfully defending against 213 scope-confirmation actions brought by nearly 70 Korean generics at the Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board concerning RaQualia’s compound patent covering K-CAB Tablet (tegoprazan), Korea’s best-selling gastric acid inhibitor, securing dismissal of all 213 cases in June 2024.
Represented BHC as defendant in the trademark-infringement and unfair-competition lawsuit brought by Genesis BBQ concerning BHC’s use of the “Black Olive Chicken” mark, securing a final judgment from the IP High Court that such use does not constitute trademark infringement or unfair competition.
Key clients
Coupang
Work highlights
Represented Netflix as defendant in the lawsuit brought by Baby Garden and others to enjoin and seek damages related to the Netflix documentary “In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal”. This case is significant because it affirmed the importance of protecting the freedom of expression and triggered a public discourse about such freedom. This case serves as an important precedent for future disputes related to freedom of expression in the field of documentaries available on over-the-top streaming services, in particular.
Represented a Korean shipbuilder as respondent in high-stakes London Maritime Arbitrators Association arbitration and parallel Korean litigation brought by owners over novel LNG membrane-tank design defects on vessels developed under the Korean government’s national innovation programme, securing a December 2023 quantum award after a three-week London hearing and continuing settlement efforts.
Key clients
Hybe, The International Air Transport Association, Volvo
Work highlights
Advised Praxis Capital Partners on the formation of Praxis Value Creation No. 3 Private Equity Fund. Praxis Capital Partners is one of the four sponsors selected by the National Pension Service of Korea, which is regarded as the largest and most influential LP in Korea in 2024.
Represented Premier Partners as general partner in the formation of a Korea-focused private equity fund, drafting and negotiating all key fund documents while balancing the interests of the GP and major limited partners – including the National Pension Service – and implementing co-investment and parallel-investment structures unprecedented in the Korean market.
Key clients
Affirma Capital Managers Korea, Ark & Partners, VIG Partners
Work highlights
Represented SK Group as acquirer in the merger of SK E&S and SK Innovation, the two largest energy-sector companies in Korea, to create SK Innovation E&S, the largest private integrated energy company in the Asia-Pacific region.
Represented MBK Partners as buyer and Blackstone as seller in the purchase and sale of a majority stake in Geo-Young, the leading wholesale distributor of pharmaceutical and medical device products in Korea.
Key clients
eBay, Korea Southern Power, Uber
Work highlights
Acted as the domestic legal counsel for Webtoon Entertainment, a US subsidiary of Naver, on its IPO on the Nasdaq. This IPO held significant meaning because a securities registration statement had to be filed in Korea in accordance with the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, even though the case involved a foreign company listing on a foreign stock exchange.
Advised HD Hyundai Marine Solution on its IPO on the KRX. The offering consisted of a total of 8,900,000 shares of common stock of HD Hyundai Marine Solution, including 4,450,000 shares newly issued by HD Hyundai Marine Solution and 4,450,000 shares offered by the selling shareholder.
Key clients
KT Corporation, Shift Up, SK Hynix
Work highlights
Represented the Korea Financial Investment Association and approximately 580 securities, asset management, and real-estate trust companies in designing, draughting, and implementing the industry-wide responsibility map regime and Internal Control Obligations required under Korea’s amended Corporate Governance Act, establishing standardised control frameworks and risk management best practices now adopted across the Korean financial investment sector.
Represented multiple global investment banks as subjects in the unprecedented 2023-2025 industry-wide short-sale enforcement probe launched by Korea’s Financial Services Commission and Financial Supervisory Service, persuading regulators to drop criminal allegations and securing substantial reductions in proposed administrative penalties.
Key clients
Hana Securities, KB Securities, Korea Federation of Banks, Yuanta Securities Korea
