Department profile
Bae, Kim & Lee LLC

Employment

Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 : South Korea


Bae, Kim & Lee LLC

Rankings

About

Provided by Bae, Kim & Lee LLC

For over twenty years, BKL’s employment and labor practice group has been assisting clients navigate Korea’s complex employment laws and effectively managing their workforce. 

Our team provides a complete range of employment counseling and litigation services to a broad base of clients in domestic as well as foreign markets, including employee compensation and benefits, dismissal, sexual harassment or discrimination, plant closings, downsizings, workforce restructuring, non-competition and trade secrets, employment related torts and worker’s compensation and other employment-related issues.

Since we understand that prevention of litigation is the most effective means of reducing costs and adding value, we counsel clients to minimize exposure to litigation by meticulously drafting human resource policies, employment regulations, benefit plans and employment contracts. Our lawyers also have extensive experience in conducting investigations of incidents and disputes in the workplace and have accumulated the knowledge and expertise necessary to handle the concerns of our clients in a manner most favorable to them. 

When litigation is necessary, BKL’s employment and labor group apply the same detail-oriented approach and honed skills to each case. BKL’s employment group has an impressive record of achieving favorable results for both employers and employees in civil and criminal proceedings before the courts, administrative agencies, labor offices and labor commissions.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Employment - South Korea

Band 2

Band 2


What the Team is Known For

Bae, Kim & Lee is a well-respected law firm in South Korea, noted for its ability to represent major conglomerates in labour and employment disputes, including in relation to terminations, subcontractor claims and labour dispatch. The team is also well-versed in issues pertaining to restructuring, wage claims and employee status. It offers a specialist task force focused on industrial accidents, bringing together lawyers with expertise in both labour law and criminal law. The firm acts for an impressive roster of clients across the technology, healthcare and automotive industries.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Bae, Kim & Lee advised General Motors Korea on more than 100 employee dispatch disputes filed against it, including claims brought by workers from second-tier subcontractors.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The team has accumulated a wealth of experience and has a deep understanding of actual situations occurring at companies, so you can receive practical, not just theoretical assistance.

    Employment respondentAsia-Pacific
  • The team provides legal perspectives and insights for optimal decision-making beyond litigation and is able to maximise the use of its network to address clients' higher-level issues.

    Employment respondentAsia-Pacific

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Wookrae Lee
    Band 1Wookrae Lee

    Wookrae Lee

    Lee Wookrae is extremely well respected in the Korean legal market. He is active on a range of employment matters including occupational accident and wrongful dismissal cases, as well as those involving trade unions.

    • Wookrae has excellent incident management skills.

      Employment respondentAsia-Pacific
  • Band 3Sangmin Kim
    Band 3Sangmin Kim

    Sangmin Kim

    Kim Sangmin has a growing reputation in the employment law sphere. His expertise in advising on terminations, illegal worker dispatch issues and collective bargaining matters attracts frequent instructions from large Korean corporations.

    • He has a clear and smart understanding of legal interpretation. He's easy to work with and very satisfactory.

      Employment respondentAsia-Pacific
    • Sangmin is very proactive and handles matters with a sense of urgency.

      Employment respondentAsia-Pacific

Ranked Individuals at Bae, Kim & Lee LLC (2)

South Korea

Members

Provided by Bae, Kim & Lee LLC

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