Competition/Antitrust
Asia-Pacific Guide 2024 : South Korea
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+82 2 3404 0000About
Provided by Bae, Kim & Lee LLC
Rare among Korean law firms, BKL offers a full practice group dedicated to antitrust and fair competition law. Our team of specialized attorneys and analysts provides advice to clients, in many industries, on a variety of issues that arise under Korean laws governing fair competition.
One of the principal sources of law in this area is the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act, which governs business combinations, “collusive” practices, pricing tactics and abuse of market dominance. Our team enjoys a very keen understanding, resting on many years’ experience, of the process of administrative review by the Korean Fair Trade Commission (“KFTC”), which administers that Act.
Commonly we advise on, and prepare, business combination reports, which are required for a wide range of investments and business arrangements in Korea. We also assist clients, and coordinate with government offices, in fair competition-related procedures, such as filings for review of standard-form contracts.
As a core area of practice, the team is expert in antitrust litigation and related process. We regularly represent clients in investigative proceedings before the KFTC concerning alleged cartel activities, abuse of market dominance, unfair business practices, exclusive dealing arrangements, various types of vertical restraints and wrongful advertisements. Our administrative law experts also assist in seeking recourse against sanctions and restrictive measures imposed by the antitrust authorities.
Chambers Review
Bae, Kim & Lee demonstrates exceptional skill in competition-related litigation and investigations. The team offers broad expertise spanning merger clearance, cartel matters, abuse of dominance and unfair trade practices. The law firm is highly experienced in providing advice to clients bringing administrative lawsuits against the KFTC. Bae, Kim & Lee's team comprises local and foreign lawyers, as well as former judges and KFTC officials. It acts for a diverse range of domestic and international clients, including technology, automotive and financial services entities such as LG Chem, LX International and Kakao Mobility.
Work Highlights
- Bae, Kim & Lee advised LG Chem on merger filings arising from an agreement, entered between LG Chem and Toray Industries, to establish a joint venture and construct a battery separator film manufacturing plant in Hungary.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"My impression of the team is that they are commercial, hard-working, never miss a deadline, have interesting ideas and always keep up with the workflow. I can wholeheartedly recommend them to others."
"The team is equipped with experienced attorneys who can advise on practical issues such as exemption from merger control that can save timing and cost for the client."
"There is a large pool of members in the team, and their capabilities are excellent."
"My impression of the team is that they are commercial, hard-working, never miss a deadline, have interesting ideas and always keep up with the workflow. I can wholeheartedly recommend them to others."
"The team is equipped with experienced attorneys who can advise on practical issues such as exemption from merger control that can save timing and cost for the client."
"There is a large pool of members in the team, and their capabilities are excellent."
Notable Practitioners
Oh Keum Seok maintains an active practice handling contentious antitrust cases for major domestic corporations and international companies and financial institutions. He has notable expertise in a wide range of issues, encompassing abuse of dominant position and abuse of bargaining power cases, bid rigging and price manipulation investigations.
"Keum Seok is a specialised competition lawyer with very good experience in merger filings. He is quite effective in providing advice to clients."
Shin Sang Hoon is a senior foreign attorney at Bae, Kim & Lee. He leverages extensive domestic and international experience in the antitrust field, gained through his former tenures at the KFTC, the US DOJ Antitrust Division and the US FTC.
"Sang Hoon used to be in the KFTC merger division, hence he is familiar with this work very well. He is always responsive and provides effective advice to us."
Yun Seong Un has wide-ranging experience in antitrust matters. He has been involved in bid-rigging cases and investigations in relation to abuse of dominant position and alleged deceptive advertising.
"Seong Un is a highly experienced leader of the team."
Kim Hyun A has a growing practice in the competition and antitrust sphere. She is well placed to advise on a broad range of mandates, including cases relating to cartel issues, unfair transactions and abuse of a dominant market position.
"She is academic and provides thoughtful consideration on the issues."
"Hyuna is great and practical. She informs her clients in a timely way about a possible approach which actually worked and saved time and cost."
Kang Il focuses his practice on behavioural mandates, representing clients in proceedings related to collusion and abuse of dominant position, in addition to advising on regulatory compliance matters.
"Kang Il is an emerging representative with broad experience and knowledge."
Ranked Lawyers at
Bae, Kim & Lee LLC
South Korea
Members
Provided by Bae, Kim & Lee LLC
Hong Ki Kim
Hyun A Kim
Jung Hun Kim
Kee Won Shin
Head of Department
Sung-Ho Moon
Yunsoo Kim