Korean firm Yulchon has hired Nan Hyung Kim, a former colonel with 20 years’ experience in the Korean military, as a partner in its overseas defence industry team to strengthen offerings in this sector.
“Demand is growing rapidly not only from foreign governments and defence contractors for the procurement of or collaboration on Korean weapons, but also for legal advice on the various issues that domestic defence companies encounter when expanding overseas,” Nam Ho Kim, the head of real estate and construction at Yulchon, told Asia Business Law Journal on reasons behind recruiting Nan Hyung Kim.
“Nan Hyung is equipped with exceptional expertise in addressing the complex legal issues arising between domestic and international defence projects.”
Nan Hyung Kim joined the Korean military as a legal officer in 2005 and retired in March 2025. Her last position was as a colonel at the Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), a government agency responsible for improving the nation’s defence capabilities, supplying military equipment and fostering the defence industry. At DAPA, she provided legal oversight for guided weapons systems, cutting-edge AI and drone procurement projects.
At Yulchon’s overseas defence industry team, Nan Hyung Kim is set to provide advisory work for domestic and foreign defence contractors navigating cross-border compliance, negotiations and strategic partnerships.
Although the DAPA noted Korea’s defence industry exports fell from USD13.5 billion in 2023 to USD9.5 billion in 2024, Yulchon remained optimistic about its future in the defence sector.
“Domestic defence firms are continually broadening their overseas market presence, while at home procurement programmes for a variety of large weapons systems are under way; as a result, foreign defence contractors’ entry into the Korean market is expected to become even more active,” said Nam Ho Kim.
