Department profile
Lee & Ko

Banking & Finance: Domestic Firms

Global Guide 2026 : South Korea


Lee & Ko

Rankings

About

Provided by Lee & Ko

Our Banking & Finance Group is renowned for its extensive experience and expertise in providing a wide range of legal services to Korean and foreign financial institutions and corporations on matters including general banking, project finance, acquisition finance, structured finance and securitization, trade finance, lease and transportation finance, derivatives transactions, insurance and development of financial products. 


Our clientele includes Korean banks and financial institutions of all sizes as well as foreign banks and financial institutions doing business in Korea. We act as designated external legal counsel for market regulators, such as the Bank of Korea and the Financial Supervisory Service. Having them as our clients adds versatility to our practice as we are able to gain insights into their current perspectives on important regulatory and compliance issues.

Upon being established in 1977, our Banking & Finance Group has provided highly sophisticated and professional legal services to our clients with our unique client-friendly and flexible approach. We have always strived to provide customized one-stop legal solutions to our clients by tapping into, and taking full advantage of, the vast professional resources available within the firm.

Our track records of delivering excellent solutions and outcomes for our clients have earned us a recognition as the most reliable and outstanding law firm in the field of banking and finance practice in Korea.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Banking & Finance: Domestic Firms - South Korea

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

Lee & Ko's banking group is highly regarded for its advice on Korean legal matters. The firm offers market-leading expertise in acquisition finance transactions, as well as showing a pronounced strength in project, shipping and asset finance matters. State-sponsored banks and prominent international lenders are among the team's core client base. It is well placed to advise on cross-border transactions with a US component and has additional expertise in regulatory matters.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Lee & Ko represented a syndicate of lenders, comprising Kiwoom Securities, NH

    Investment & Securities, NongHyup Bank and Kookmin Bank, in the USD1.2 billion financing for IMM consortium’s acquisition of Ecorbit, from KKR and Taeyoung Group.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Lee & Ko has an understanding of the finance industry and has excellent problem-handling ability based on years of work experience.

    Banking & Finance: Domestic Firms respondentGlobal
  • Lee & Ko always provides prompt, precise and commercially grounded legal advice that consistently aligns with lenders’ interests.

    Banking & Finance: Domestic Firms respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Senior StatespeopleWoo Young Jung
    Senior StatespeopleWoo Young Jung

    Woo Young Jung

    Jung Woo Young is head of Lee & Ko's banking and finance group, bringing to bear over two decades of experience advising on finance transactions and regulatory compliance mandates. He offers particular expertise in shipping finance and aviation finance matters.

  • Senior StatespeopleYeo Kyoon Yoon
    Senior StatespeopleYeo Kyoon Yoon

    Yeo Kyoon Yoon

    Yoon Yeo Kyoon leverages over two decades of experience handling transactions in the banking and finance field in South Korea. He is especially well-versed in acquisition and leveraged finance.

  • Eminent PractitionersYong-Jae Chang
    Eminent PractitionersYong-Jae Chang

    Yong-Jae Chang

    Chang Yong-Jae is recognised in the South Korean legal market for his work on acquisition finance and project finance transactions. His expertise is sought by domestic and international financial institutions.
  • Band 2Myoung Chul Kwak
    Band 2Myoung Chul Kwak

    Myoung Chul Kwak

    Kwak Myoung Chul specialises in acquisition finance, project finance and structured finance. He frequently assists domestic commercial and investment banks with leveraged and acquisition finance, as well as pre-IPO finance transactions.

    • He always comes up with simple and effective solutions to complex problems.

      Banking & Finance: Domestic Firms respondentGlobal
    • He understands the legal structure of transactions as well as the financial logic behind them and proposes legally sound and commercially realistic solutions.

      Banking & Finance: Domestic Firms respondentGlobal
  • Band 3Dong Seok Woo
    Band 3Dong Seok Woo

    Dong Seok Woo

    Woo Dong Seok is a well-regarded banking and finance lawyer who regularly supports Korean and foreign lenders on debt transactions.

    • He handles a lot of acquisition finance and alternative investment works.

      Banking & Finance: Domestic Firms respondentGlobal
    • He is heavily involved in real estate finance and structured finance.

      Banking & Finance: Domestic Firms respondentGlobal

Ranked Individuals at Lee & Ko (5)

South Korea

Members

Provided by Lee & Ko

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