The A-List: Korea's Top Lawyers 2025

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Based on research conducted by Asia Business Law Journal, the following are the top 100 best practising lawyers and 32 Legal Icons in South Korea.

Click HERE to read the editorial report that accompanies the A-List.

Biographies and contact details, where provided, were written by the lawyers themselves and have not been independently verified.

Chan-sik AHN
HMP Law
M&A; personal information protection; technology & communications; employment law; foreign exchange & foreign investment
Yong Seok AHN
Lee & Ko
Competition & antitrust; compliance; corporate & commercial; corporate governance; M&A
Myungin BAE
Bae Kim & Lee
Criminal defence; corporate crime & white-collar criminal defence; corporate governance & shareholder disputes
- Passed April 2026 -
Je-Heum BAIK
Shin & Kim
Taxation; litigation
John P BANG
Peter & Kim
Arbitration & litigation; investments & Bits; trade law & WTO; M&A
Jooyup CHAE
Yulchon
Healthcare & life sciences; anti-corruption & anti-bribery; competition & antitrust; compliance; labour & employment
+82 2 528 6471
jychae@yulchon.com
Duck-Soon CHANG
Kim & Chang
Arbitration & ADR; IP; licensing & franchising; litigation; TMT
Soo-Kil CHANG
Kim & Chang
Insurance & reinsurance; IP; litigation; shipping
Keun Ah CHO
Kim & Chang
Inbound investment; outbound investment; private equity, venture capital & funds; joint ventures; real estate
Won H. CHO
DLG Law Corporation
ICT/AI; startup/venture capital/M&A; entertainment; IP; litigation
Young Kyun CHO
Kim & Chang
Aviation; infrastructure; power & energy; project finance;
Jeong Yeol CHOE
Yulchon
Arbitration & ADR; data protection; IP; litigation
Dong Ryul CHOI
Yulchon
Litigation; white-collar crime
Dong Shik CHOI
Kim & Chang
TMT; corporate governance; e-commerce, fintech, blockchain & cryptos; M&A
Heejun CHOI
Dentons Lee
Corporate & commercial; labour & employment; litigation; taxation; white-collar crime
Woo-young CHOI
HMP Law
Arbitration & ADR; IP; litigation; restructuring & insolvency; taxation
Matthew Janssen CHRISTENSEN
Kim & Chang
Arbitration & ADR; international trade & bilateral investment treaties; infrastructure; power & energy; defence;
Byung-Suk CHUNG
Kim & Chang
Arbitration & ADR; corporate & commercial; insurance & reinsurance; litigation; shipping
Cecil Saehoon CHUNG
Yulchon
Competition & antitrust; compliance; litigation; TMT; white-collar crime
Chung Jin CHUNG
KN Legal
Energy & resources; oil & gas; international arbitration
Eui Jong CHUNG
Bae Kim & Lee
Capital markets; banking & finance; securitisation & structured finance; project finance; restructuring & insolvency
Kye-Sung CHUNG
Kim & Chang
Banking & finance; M&A
Myoung Jae CHUNG
Kim & Chang
Capital market; M&A; private equity, venture capital & funds; corporate governance; banking & finance
Gun Chul DO
Bae Kim & Lee
Real estate; project finance; M&A; inbound investment; outbound investment
Kurt GERSTNER
Dentons Lee
Arbitration & ADR; competition & antitrust; IP; litigation; automotive
Bong Hee HAN
Yulchon
Corporate & finance; M&A; acquisition finance; project finance; real estate & construction
Jinduk HAN
Cleary Gottlieb
Capital markets; banking & finance; corporate & commercial; e-commerce, fintech, blockchain & cryptos; TMT
Ri Bong HAN
Bae Kim & Lee
Corporate & commercial; compliance; corporate governance; M&A; private equity, venture capital & funds
Sang Jin HAN
Kim & Chang
M&A; joint ventures; private equity, venture capital & funds; inbound investment; outbound investment
Suakbuam HONG
Yoon & Yang
Competition & antitrust; compliance; corporate governance; e-commerce, fintech, blockchain & cryptos; litigation
Young Man HUH
Kim & Chang
Capital markets; corporate governance; M&A; private equity, venture capital & funds
Hwan JEONG
Lee & Ko
Competition & antitrust; compliance; corporate & commercial; corporate governance; M&A
Young Hee JO
LAB Partners
Domestic & cross-border asset-backed securitisation; structured finance; real estate financing; regulation of financial institutions
Hoseok JUNG
SEUM Law
Corporate & commercial; e-commerce, fintech, blockchain & cryptos; M&A; private equity, venture capital & funds; TMT
Jinyoung JUNG
Lee & Ko
Arbitration & ADR; aviation; insurance & reinsurance; power & energy; shipping
Kyung Taek JUNG
Kim & Chang
Competition & antitrust; corporate & commercial; compliance; M&A; TMT
Woo Young JUNG
Lee & Ko
Corporate restructuring; energy & resources; structured finance; banking; ship & aviation finance
Namkyu KANG
Gaon Law Group
Tax advice & dispute; tax investigation; international tax; customs duties; sports & entertainment
Seok Hoon KANG
Yulchon
Inheritance & gift tax & family business succession; tax; tax litigation; tax crimes
Sungjin KANG
White & Case
Project development & finance; power & infrastructure; oil & gas; transportation finance; M&A
Tae Uk KANG
Bae Kim & Lee
TMT; IP; litigation; data protection & e-commerce; entertainment, sports & games
Tony (Dongwook) KANG
Bae Kim & Lee
Arbitration & ADR; banking & finance; litigation; M&A; white-collar crime
Yully KANG
Jipyong
Corporate; real estate finance; project finance; structured finance & derivatives; acquisition financing
Beomsu KIM
KL Partners
Commercial arbitration; investor-state disputes; cross-border litigation; general corporate
Chang Joo KIM
Greenberg Traurig
Corporate finance transactions; international project finance; M&A; litigation
+82 2 369 1000
kimc@gtlaw.com
Dong Eun KIM
Lee & Ko
Construction; energy & natural resources; project finance & infrastructure; construction litigation; real estate
Dong Soo KIM
Yulchon
Succession planning (family office); taxation
Gee Hong KIM
Jipyong
Competition & antitrust; disputes & arbitration; litigation; construction & real estate; IP
Iksoo KIM
Paul Hastings
Corporate; M&A; private equity; securities & capital markets
In Hwan KIM
Kim & Chang
Corporate & commercial; IP; licensing & franchising; litigation; TMT
Insub KIM
Bae Kim & Lee
General civil disputes; criminal defence litigation; administrative litigation; corporate; M&A litigation
Jae Hoon KIM
Lee & Ko
IP; litigation; M&A; corporate; unfair competition
Ji Hyung KIM
Jipyong
Dispute resolution; labour & employment; industrial health & safety; construction & real estate; criminal defence
John JungKyun KIM
Dentons Lee
Data protection; insurance & reinsurance; labour & employment; M&A; private equity, venture capital & funds
John M KIM
DLG Law Corporation
Arbitration & ADR; corporate & commercial; inbound investment; M&A; real estate
Kap-You (Kevin) KIM
Peter & Kim
Arbitration & ADR; banking & finance; international trade & bilateral investment treaties; joint ventures; power & energy
Michael KIM
Kobre & Kim
Insolvency & debtor-creditor disputes; international judgment enforcement & offshore asset recovery; government enforcement defence; investigations, examinations & monitorships; claim monetisation & dilution
Myung-Ahn KIM
Yoon & Yang
Arbitration & ADR; banking & finance; defence; infrastructure; international trade & bilateral investment treaties
+82 2 6182 8359
makim@yoonyang.com
Sae Youn KIM
Kim & Chang
International trade & bilateral investment treaties; litigation; power & energy; arbitration & ADR; joint ventures;
Sam KIM
Yoon & Yang
Arbitration & ADR; international trade & bilateral investment treaties; litigation
Sang Man KIM
LIN
Capital markets; listing & listing maintenance advisory; finance; insurance
Sanggon KIM
Lee & Ko
Corporate governance; defence; M&A; private equity, venture capital & funds
Un Ho KIM
Lee & Ko
Competition & antitrust; compliance; data protection; IP; litigation
Weon-Jung KIM
Kim & Chang
Corporate & commercial; labor & employment; litigation; compliance; restructuring & reorganization;
Young Moo KIM
Kim & Chang
Compliance
Hun KO
Lee & Ko
Banking & finance; project finance & infrastructure; construction; energy-natural resources; TMT
Hwan Kyoung KO
Lee & Ko
Government affairs; start-ups; data privacy & cybersecurity; TMT; M&A
Won Seok KO
Lee & Ko
M&A; management rights disputes; construction & real estate; banking; family law & inheritance law
Jin Hong KWON
Lee & Ko
Banking & finance; insurance & reinsurance; project finance; real estate; securitisation & structured finance
Kuk Hyun KWON
EJE Law
Corporate & corporate governance; M&A; IP rights; virtual assets; antitrust & competition
Soonik KWON
Bae Kim & Lee
Capital markets & financial investment litigation; construction & real estate disputes; corporate/M&A; product liability & consumer claims; labour & employment disputes
Tae Il KWON
Kwon & Co
Arbitration & ADR; bankruptcy & insolvency; defence; litigation; shipping
Taeck Soo KWON
Bae Kim & Lee
IP; litigation; entertainment, sports & game
Young-Hwan KWON
Jipyong
Labour & employment; occupational safety & industrial accident
+82 2 6200 1877
yhkwon@jipyong.com
Daniel LEE
DLA Piper
Cross-border M&A; international joint ventures; foreign direct investment; international arbitration
Haeng Gyu LEE
Jipyong
Capital markets; corporate governance; M&A; private equity, venture capital & funds
Hoo Dong LEE
Bae Kim & Lee
IP; trade secrets & corporate information protection; entertainment, sports & game; data protection & privacy; antitrust & competition
Hyeong Gun LEE
Lee & Ko
M&A
Hyungsuk LEE
Bae Kim & Lee
Construction & real estate; defence industry & public contract; disputes & litigation; labour & employment; serious accident prevention and response & occupational safety
Jaewoo LEE
Ropes & Gray
M&A; private equity, venture capital & funds
Jeong Ran LEE
D&A
Competition & antitrust; compliance; corporate, administrative procedure & litigation; environmental, social & governance (ESG)
+82 2 3016 5365
jrlee@draju.com
Kyu Wha LEE
Lee & Ko
Corporate; M&A; foreign investment; outbound investment; hostile takeovers & defence
Kyung Don LEE
Shin & Kim
Real estate; construction; asset financing; M&A; foreign investments (inbound & outbound)
Myung Soo LEE
Yoon & Yang
Banking & finance; capital markets; corporate & commercial; e-commerce, fintech, blockchain & cryptos; insurance & reinsurance
Sang Hoon LEE
Lee & Ko
Labour & employment; employment litigation
Sang-Hyun LEE
Shin & Kim
Banking & finance; capital markets; infrastructure; project finance; power & energy
Seok Jae LEE
Jipyong
Finance; real estate finance & project finance; structured finance & derivatives; private equity; construction & real estat
Sookmi LEE
Shin & Kim
Litigation; corporate & commercial; corporate governance
Tong-Gun LEE
Shin & Kim
Corporate governance; inbound investment; joint ventures; M&A; outbound investment
Young Ku LEE
D&A
Restructuring & insolvency; bankruptcy & restructuring disputes; insurance disputes; finance disputes; management disputes & hostile M&A
Bo Kyung LIM
Shin & Kim
IP & licensing & franchising; litigation; IT; unfair competition; trade secret
Jin Seok LIM
LIN
Banking & finance; corporate governance; inbound investment; outbound investment; licensing & franchising
Sean (Sung Woo) LIM
Baker McKenzie KLP JV
International arbitration; international litigation
Seung Soon LIM
Yoon & Yang
Taxation; international trade & bilateral investment treaties; succession planning (family office); litigation
Ho Joon MOON
Lee & Ko
Corporate governance; inbound investment; joint ventures; M&A; private equity, venture capital & funds
Il Bong MOON
Yulchon
Asset management; information communication dispute; financial regulation disputes; bankruptcy & rehabilitation disputes; labour & employment disputes
Hohyun NAHM
Barun IP & Law
IP
Hyunjoo OH
Lee & Ko
Capital markets; banking & financial compliance; asset management & securities; esg & virtual asset regulation; derivatives & non-banking financial institutions
Jong-Han OH
Shin & Kim
Corporate governance; labour & employment; commercial litigation; financial regulation and disputes; shareholders disputes
Keum Seok OH
Yoon & Yang
Competition & antitrust; compliance; corporate governance; ESG, regulatory response consulting
Hyunju Helen PAK
Shin & Kim
Project finance; asset financing; real estate; private equity
Ghyo Sun PARK
Shin & Kim
Product liability; patents, designs & trademarks; unfair competition &trade secrets; copyrights & entertainment; licensing & franchising
Jong-Koo PARK
Kim & Chang
Corporate governance; inbound investment; joint ventures; M&A; private equity, venture capital & funds
Jung Sik PARK
Jipyong
Corporate advisory; industrial health & safety; industrial accidents & safety centre; criminal defence (investigation)
Ki Tai PARK
Barun Law
Finance; media (broadcasting and communications); startup consultation; M&A/corporate governance; cross-border trade/investment
Kwang Bae PARK
Lee & Ko
Startups; data privacy & cybersecurity; TMT; data protection; litigation
Sang Hoon PARK
Yoon & Yang
Labour & employment; litigation
Sung Bom PARK
Yulchon
Antitrust & competition; antitrust litigation; TMT; compliance & corporate governance; healthcare
Yong Seok PARK
BAEKSONG
Corporate; banking; securities; tax litigation; customs
Chiyong RIM
Kim & Chang
Restructuring & reorganization;
Dong Woo SEO
Bae Kim & Lee
M&A; inbound investment; outbound investment; corporate governance; private equity, venture capital & funds
Young Jae SHIN
LIN
Corporate & corporate governance; lisiting & listing maintenance advisory; finance & insurance; M&A/PE; litigation
Young-Moo SHIN
S&L Partners
Finance; securities; corporate; dispute resolution
Helen SOHN
Yoon & Yang
Aviation; banking & finance; capital markets; project finance; securitisation & structured finance
Doil SON
Yulchon
Data protection; e-commerce, fintech, blockchain & cryptos; IP; TMT
Robert WACHTER
Shin & Kim
Arbitration & ADR; defence; joint ventures; licensing & franchising; TMT
Tyler Hong Shik WON
K&L Gates
IP litigation, IP procurement & portfolio management; antitrust, competition & trade regulation; international trade; M&A; technology transactions & sourcing
+82 2 2198 8715
tyler.won@klgates.com
Chang Rok WOO
Yulchon
Antitrust/competition; corporate & finance; dispute resolution; tax; real estate & construction
Jay Young-June YANG
Kim & Chang
Compliance; IP; licensing & franchising; litigation; TMT
Young Tae YANG
Jipyong
Foreign investment (outbound); finance; dispute resolution; M&A; industrial accidents & safety centre
Yong Pyo YEOM
Yulchon
Sports & entertainment disputes; environment & energy disputes; healthcare disputes; product liability & consumer claims
Joonki YI
Bae Kim & Lee
Corporate & investment; government relations; corporate governance & shareholder disputes; automobile & mobility; energy & infrastructure
Seong Hoon YI
KL Partners
M&A; private equity; general corporate
Young Chul YIM
Shin & Kim
Cartels; excessive concentration of economic power; merger filings; abuse of market dominance; unfair trade practice
Kook Hyun YOO
Kim & Chang
Anti-corruption & anti-bribery; compliance; corporate governance; defence; white-collar crime;
Byung-Chol YOON
Kim & Chang
Arbitration & ADR; infrastructure; M&A; outbound investment; power & energy;
Hee Woong YOON
Yoon & Yang
Corporate & finance; banking & general finance; fund & PE; M&A; corporate governance & financial regulation
Hi-Sun YOON
Kim & Chang
Banking & finance; bankruptcy & insolvency; private equity, venture capital & funds; project finance; restructuring & reorganization
Hoil YOON
Yoon & Yang
Competition & antitrust
Yeo Kyoon YOON
Lee & Ko
Banking & finance
Sai Ree YUN
Yulchon
Corporate law (with an emphasis on M&A); taxation; mobility; antitrust & competition; government relations
Seong Un YUN
Bae Kim & Lee
Competition & antitrust; litigation; compliance; corporate & commercial; corporate governance