Hwan Kyoung Ko

TMT, Data Privacy & Cybersecurity, Digital Health, AI

Hwan Kyoung Ko is a team leader in the TMT (Technology, Media, and Telecommunications) and Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Group at Lee & Ko. He is a leading expert in the areas of data privacy, cybersecurity, AI, telecommunications, IT, digital finance, fintech, and related fields.

His notable public-sector roles include serving as a member of the Presidential AI Committee’s Legal and Institutional Subcommittee (1st term) and as an advisor, as well as a member of the National Data Strategy Committee and the Public Data Policy Committee.

In 2019, he received the President’s Commendation Medal for his contribution to the growth of the data industry. And in 2022, he received a Commendation Award from the Minister of Health and Welfare for his contribution to medical and health policy.

Mr. Ko has been consistently recognized as one of Korea’s top legal practitioners. His distinctions include: being named a leading lawyer in the field of TMT (Technology, Media, Telecommunications) by Chambers Asia for 12 consecutive years (Band 2 as of 2024); being selected as the top lawyer in TMT & Data Protection in the JoogAng Ilbo’s “Best Lawyer” rankings in 2025; being listed in Hankyung Business magazine’s “Best Lawyer” rankings in 2020, 2022, and 2023; and being named one of Asian Legal Business’s “Top 15 TMT Lawyers in Asia”.

Mr. Ko helped establish Lee & Ko’s Credit Information Team in 2020 and Digital Finance Team in 2021. As of 2024, he is serving as the head of the DPC (Data Privacy & Cybersecurity) Team, Tech & AI Team, and the Platform Regulation Response Team.

Recently, he has successfully handled significant matters, including advising the SK Group on the establishment of an AI-specialized data center and assisting SK Telecom in the Personal Information Protection Commission’s investigation and response to a large-scale hacking incident affecting its users.

Korean Bar Association, New York Bar Association.

EU GDPR(co-author) (Bakyoungsa, 2017)

The Telecommunications Business Act (co-author) (Bobmunsa, 2016)

Study of the Radio Waves Act (co-author) (Bobmunsa, 2013)

Presentation on Feasibility and Effectiveness of Regulations on Consent for and Destruction of Personal Information (Korea Personal Information Protection Law Association/ Korea Society for Regulatory

Presentation on Recommendations for the Reasonable Amendment and Enforcement of Personal Information Protection Laws (Korea Personal Information Protection Law Association, 2014)

Presentation on Approval System for Telecom Service Fees and Main Legal Issues (Center for Law & Public Utilities, Seoul National University, 2014)

Presentation on Amendment of the Credit Information Act and Main Legal Issues (Financial Information Society of Korea, 2014)

Criteria for Determining the Justifiability of an Approval System for Telecom Service Fees and Recommendations (Journal of Law and Economic Regulation, 2014)

Conducted numerous lectures for the Korean Bar Association, SK Telecom, Doosan Group, LG Group, the Samsung Group, Nike, Daum, etc.

Korea University (LLB, 1996) ; Georgetown Law Center (LLM, 2008).