Jae Min Jeon

Practice Areas

Jae Min Jeon is a key partner in the Corporate Advisory Group at Shin & Kim, with more than 20 years of experience advising on high-value cross-border transactions, global projects, and complex international disputes. His practice focuses on international arbitration, investor-state disputes (ISDS), and strategic advisory work across sectors including energy, infrastructure, and foreign investment.

Mr. Jeon brings a rare dual perspective, combining deep transactional insight with extensive experience in high-stakes disputes. Early in his career, he advised major multinational corporations and private equity sponsors on cross-border M&A, inbound and outbound investments, and complex deal structuring. He has since built a leading dispute resolution practice, representing clients in international commercial arbitrations, ISDS proceedings, and multi-jurisdictional litigation, often involving significant commercial, regulatory, and geopolitical considerations.

A graduate of Stanford Law School (LL.M.), Mr. Jeon practiced at the Hong Kong office of Linklaters, where he advised on international arbitration and cross-border corporate matters. He previously served as legal counsel with the Ministry of Justice, where he represented the government in civil and administrative litigation. This unique blend of private sector and sovereign advisory work enables him to navigate cross-border legal challenges with both precision and perspective.

Mr. Jeon is a member of the Panel of International Arbitrators at the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB) and formerly served as Director of International Affairs for the Seoul Bar Association (2017–2018). He is recognized for his thought leadership in international dispute resolution and regularly advises both Korean conglomerates and global clients in high-profile matters.

He has received consistent recognition from leading legal directories. In 2024, Chambers Asia-Pacific described him as “one of the finest, if not the finest, in Korea.” He was named “Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year” by ALB Korea Law Awards (2023) and lauded by The Legal 500 (2024) for his “exceptional client service,” “sharp legal insight,” and standing as “one of the pre-eminent practitioners in Korea.”

Clients turn to Mr. Jeon for his strategic judgment, international perspective, and proven track record of delivering results in high-impact matters. He is a trusted advisor to clients navigating today’s most sophisticated legal and commercial challenges.

Career

Arbitrator, Panel of International Arbitrators (KCAB) (2020–Present)

Director of International Affairs, Seoul Bar Association (2017–2018)

Secondment in Linklaters, Hong Kong Office (2013–2014)

Passed the New York and California State Bar Examination (2013)

Secondment in GE Capital (2010–2011)

Shin & Kim LLC (2007–Present)

Public-Service Judge Advocate, Supreme Prosecutors’ Office (2005–2007)

Public-Service Judge Advocate, Incheon District Prosecutor’s Office (2004–2005)

Judicial Research & Training Institute, Supreme Court of Korea (2002–2004)

Professional Memberships

Korean Bar

Certified Tax Accountant, Korea

Admitted to patent bar, Korea

Publications

The Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides – International Arbitration 2024: Korea Chapter (Co-authored)

GAR Know-how – Commercial Arbitration 2024: South Korea (Co-authored)

GAR Know-how – Commercial Arbitration 2023: South Korea (Co-authored)

KCAB International, Korean Arbitration Review (12th Issue) – The Use of Virtual Hearings in Korea-Seated Arbitration Proceedings: Are There Risks to Enforcement? (April 2021) (Co-authored)

Burford Quarterly, “Legal finance in Korea: Lawyers weigh in”, Autumn 2019 (interview)

KCAB International, Korean Arbitration Review – Seoul IDRC Lecture Series: “Arbitration in the Time of One Belt One Road” (2017) (Co-authored)

Law Business Research – The Foreign Investment Regulation Review (4th ed.): South Korea (2016) (Co-authored)

The Asian Lawyer – Korea’s Global Ambitions: South Korea (July 2015

Work Highlights

Advised on investment and equity acquisition in a U.S.-based developer of small modular reactor (SMR) technology.

Advised on the establishment and operation of a joint venture between a leading international broadcaster and a major Korean broadcasting company.

Provided legal counsel on the acquisition and investment in a sports equipment company through a co-investment between a global private equity fund and a Korean asset management firm.

Advised on regulatory and legal matters related to the conversion of aging coal-fired power plants to small modular reactors (SMR) under the Coal-to-SMR (C2S) transition model.

Advised a major Korean conglomerate on the IPO and partial divestment of its MRO subsidiary.

Advised on the merger between a Korean subsidiary of the U.S. financial institution and a Korean financial services company.

Advised on potential disputes arising from the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Represented a Korean electric power generation public utility in an investment treaty dispute against the Government of India relating to the power plant in which it invested (UNCITRAL arbitration)

Represented a leading Korean metals manufacturer in defense of a product liability and indemnity claim brought by a U.S. company (CISG and U.S. state law; ICC arbitration; Geneva seat)

Represented a Korean government agency against a major European manufacturer in a naval procurement dispute involving an allegedly defective motor (Korean law; KCAB arbitration; Seoul seat)

Represented a leading Asian private equity in a dispute arising over its sale of one of the largest logistics companies in Korea to another major private equity company (Korean and Hong Kong law; HKIAC arbitration; Hong Kong seat) (co-counsel)

Represented a Korean construction conglomerate against a Middle Eastern construction company relating to a delay and disruption claim (English law; ICC arbitration; Singapore seat)

Represented a Korean construction conglomerate in dispute with European electrical engineering conglomerate regarding breaches of a consortium agreement (Swiss law; Singapore seat)

Represented a state-owned nuclear energy company in defense of claims relating to payment for replacement parts (Korean law; KCAB arbitration; Seoul seat)

Represented investors in the first two investor-state treaty disputes involving Korea (ICSID arbitration; Washington, DC seat) (co-counsel)

Represented wind-power generation system manufacturer in dispute against major European component manufacturer (Swiss law; ICC arbitration; Seoul seat)

Represented a Korean can lid manufacturer in a dispute against an Iranian company (Iranian law; KCAB arbitration; Seoul seat)

Represented a Malaysian car dealership in defense of claims brought by a Korean conglomerate regarding liability under credit facility agreements (Korean law; two KCAB arbitrations; Seoul seat)

Represented a Korean photovoltaic inverter manufacturer in a dispute against a Thai company relating to liability for destruction of goods (Korean law; KCAB arbitration; Seoul seat)

Represented a Korean video game company in separate disputes against Chinese companies regarding intellectual property infringement and other issues (Korean law or Singapore law; three ICC or SIAC arbitrations; Singapore seat) (co-counsel)

Represented a UK-based company in a dispute arising from environment-related liabilities affecting a factory in Korea (Korean and Delaware law; ICC arbitration; Singapore seat)

Represented a Kuwaiti cosmetics distributor in a contract termination dispute against a Korean cosmetics company (Korean and Kuwaiti law; KCAB arbitration; Seoul seat)

Represented a Korean real estate investment entity in a dispute over hotel management (Korean law; KCAB arbitration; Seoul seat)

Represented Korean home goods entrepreneur in defense of contractual claims brought by a U.S. contractual counterpart (Korean law; KCAB arbitration; Seoul seat)

Represented a Mauritian investor against a Korean clothing company regarding in a dispute relating to a share purchase agreement (Korean law; SIAC arbitration; Singapore seat)

Represented a Korean tire-manufacturing company in its defense of claims brought by a Turkish company under an exclusive distribution agreement (Korean law; KCAB arbitration; Seoul seat)

Represented a Korean machine tool manufacturer in a dispute arising from an exclusive distribution agreement with a US distributor (Korean law; KCAB arbitration; Chicago seat)

Represented a Korean construction conglomerate in a dispute regarding the procurement of a gas turbine from a major European manufacturer (Korean law; ICC arbitration; Singapore seat)

Represented US-based renewable energy company in defense of a dispute brought against it by a Korean conglomerate relating to alleged breach of warranty and payment obligations under a supply contract (Korean law; KCAB arbitration; Seoul seat)

Represented a Korean company in defense of claims raised by an Indonesian national gas company relating the supply of gas pipes (Indonesian law; SIAC arbitration; Singapore seat)

Represented Korean conglomerates and other clients in litigations throughout the world; represent foreign (non-Korean) clients in litigation matters in Korea

Represented foreign clients in litigation in Korean courts

Advised on investment and equity acquisition in a U.S.-based developer of small modular reactor (SMR) technology

Advised on the establishment and operation of a joint venture between a leading international broadcaster and a major Korean broadcasting company

Provided legal counsel on the acquisition and investment in a sports equipment company through a co-investment between a global private equity fund and a Korean asset management firm

Advised on regulatory and legal matters related to the conversion of aging coal-fired power plants to small modular reactors (SMR) under the Coal-to-SMR (C2S) transition model

Advised a major Korean conglomerate on the IPO and partial divestment of its MRO subsidiary

Advised on the merger between a Korean subsidiary of the U.S. financial institution and a Korean financial services company

Advised on potential disputes arising from the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Languages Spoken

Korean, English

Education