Department profile
Shin & Kim

Competition/Antitrust

Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 : South Korea

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Shin & Kim

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About

Provided by Shin & Kim

Our Antitrust & Competition Practice Group offers top-notch legal services around all areas of the laws enforced by the Korea Fair Trade Commission (“KFTC”), including monopoly regulation and fair trade, fair transactions in subcontracting and large retail businesses, fair agency transactions, franchise businesses, e-commerce, regulation of terms and conditions, fair labeling and advertising.

The Antitrust & Competition Practice Group has approximately 70 dedicated antitrust specialists including several senior advisors and former KFTC lawyers. These professionals enjoy a formidable reputation for successfully defending clients in KFTC investigations and in fair trade-related court cases. The Antitrust & Competition Practice Group is renowned for advising clients on operational issues as well, such as merger filings, corporate governance structure reform, compliance system audits and ESG diagnoses relating to fair trade. The Antitrust & Competition Practice Group also offers comprehensive and systematic services in antitrust cases that involve information and communication technology, online platforms and other digital content.

Clients (19)

  • Qualcomm Inc.
  • NH NongHyup Bank
  • KEB Hana Bank
  • Mercedes-Benz Korea Ltd.
  • SK Telecom
  • SK Broadband
  • CJ OliveNetworks
  • Hyundai Heavy Industries
  • Lotte GRS
  • SK Engineering & Construction
  • Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.
  • Lotte Chemical Corporation
  • GS Energy Corporation
  • SKC
  • Merck KGaA
  • Koninklijke Philips N.V.
  • Asiana Airlines
  • Aktiebolaget Volvo
  • Samsung Display

Industries (16)

  • Technology, Hardware & Electronics
  • Automobiles & Parts
  • Transportation
  • Banks
  • Financial Services
  • Software & Computer Services
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Chemicals
  • Retail
  • Mining & Metals
  • Telecommunications
  • Airlines
  • Biopharmaceutical
  • Energy
  • F&B
  • Construction

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Competition/Antitrust - South Korea

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Shin & Kim is a major player in high-profile bid-rigging and cartel investigations and abuse of market dominance cases. The team is demonstrably strong in reducing KFTC surcharges and also advises on unfair support and unfair advertising disputes. The firm houses a number of former KFTC officers within the team. It also assists clients with merger filings on domestic and cross-border M&A transactions.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Shin & Kim assisted Asiana Airlines with the merger filings for its KRW1.5 trillion share acquisition by Korean Air Lines.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Shin & Kim has many experts from the Korea Fair Trade Commission and also responds quickly to our needs.

    Competition/Antitrust respondentAsia-Pacific

  • They are very practical and responsive, and can provide valuable advice.

    Competition/Antitrust respondentAsia-Pacific

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Young Chul Yim
    Young Chul Yim

    Young Chul Yim

    Yim Young Chul leads Shin & Kim's antitrust practice and draws on valuable experience gained during his time as a Seoul High Court judge and as the General Counsel of the KFTC. He assists domestic and foreign clients with investigations into abuse of dominance, collusion, unfair trade practices and cartels.
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  • John H Choi
    John H Choi

    John H Choi

    John Choi has a wealth of experience advising on a number of transactional and contentious matters including merger filings, antitrust and abuse of dominance investigations. He is particularly adept at handling complex cross-border issues for international clients.

    • John has a flawless reputation for his ethical standard and honesty. For global antitrust investigations, no one can replace John in Korea.

      Competition/Antitrust respondentAsia-Pacific

    • John Choi has excellent analytical and legal skills as well as impeccable integrity.

      Competition/Antitrust respondentAsia-Pacific
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  • Jooyoung Park
    Jooyoung Park

    Jooyoung Park

    Park Jooyoung is a well-reputed lawyer who leverages his experience as a former KFTC official to advise on a number of matters concerning competition and antitrust, including bid rigging and collusion. He continues to act on behalf of major domestic and international corporations.
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  • Chang-Young Cho
    Chang-Young Cho

    Chang-Young Cho

    Cho Chang-Young leverages his experience at the KFTC to advise on a range of competition and antitrust mandates including abuse of dominance, unfair trade practices and cartel investigations. He typically represents foreign corporations.
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  • Sangdon Lee
    Sangdon Lee

    Sangdon Lee

    Lee Sangdon possesses notable skills in global merger filings and is regularly mandated by large foreign corporations.

    • Sangdon is experienced in handling international filings.

      Competition/Antitrust respondentAsia-Pacific

    • Sangdon is smart, commercial and responsive. He is always my go-to guy for Korea merger control matters.

      Competition/Antitrust respondentAsia-Pacific
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  • Changhun Lee
    Changhun Lee

    Changhun Lee

    Lee Changhun has a growing practice, and is known for his key role in representing clients from the automotive and telecommunications sectors in high-profile investigations brought by both the KFTC and foreign authorities. He handles a wide range of mandates spanning cartels, collusion and market misconduct cases.

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Ranked Individuals at Shin & Kim (6)

South Korea

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