Sang-Hyun Lee

Practice Areas

Sang-Hyun Lee is a partner at Shin & Kim and is the head of the project and energy practice group.

Having joined the firm in 2000, Mr. Lee has advised clients in various types of banking & finance transactions. He is highly experienced in energy, renewable energy, waste-to-energy, natural resources, rail, roads, bridges, tunnels, ports, power generation and other infrastructure projects and has particular expertise in the preparation and negotiation of project financing documents for such projects.

Sang-Hyun is well reputed in providing proactive advice to the clients based on his insight, expertise and experience on all aspects of the projects across different sectors. Sang-Hyun is dedicated in providing the most reliable advice to the clients and his practice is motivated and focused on the clients’ needs. Sang-Hyun’s in-depth understanding of the clients’ needs enables himself and his team to assist clients in maximizing profits, mitigating risks, efficiently managing details, and resolving disputes among the financiers, sponsors, contracting parties and government authorities.

Sang-Hyun, one of the leading partners in his team, brings together the best professionals across the practice areas in the firm to deliver comprehensive and fully-integrated services in the field of project finance.

Sang-Hyun’s representative work experience includes:

- Renewables including wind farm, solar, fuel cell, bio and ESS

- Hydrogen projects

- Entire LNG value chain, ranging from upstream and downstream gas, liquefaction, transportation, export and import, regasification, midstream, and LNG power plant

- Waste-to-energy projects

- Nuclear projects

- Financing (untied/tied/covered/direct) involving export credit agencies (ECAs) such as Export-Import Bank of Korea (K-Exim) and Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-sure)

- Formation of the funds and other investment vehicles to invest in overseas infrastructure and energy projects and the investment by pensions or other financial institutions into such funds

- Representing KOGAS, KNOC, KEPCO and its subsidiaries, independent power companies and other project companies in connection with their regular needs for legal advice

- Domestic and overseas energy and power projects, PPP or PFI type of infrastructure projects, oil & gas, LNG and natural resources projects

- Project financing for the construction and operation of the energy and natural resources projects, power generation facilities, chemical plants, roads, bridges, tunnels, rails, ports and other infrastructure

- Private investment in infrastructure (SOC)

Career

Member, Review Committee for International Mitigation Projects, Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (2025-Present)

Member, Sanctions Review Committee, Export-Import Bank of Korea (2025-Present)

Member, Fixed Price Contract Competitive Bidding Committee for Wind Power Generation (2022-2024)

Member, Investment Committee, Korea Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corporation (KIND) (2022-Present)

Member, Investment Review Committee, PineStreet Asset Management (2021-Present)

Member, Investment Review Committee, Korean Teachers Credit Union (2011-2016, 2018-2022)

International Lawyer, White & Case LLP, New York (2005-2006)

Shin & Kim LLC (2000-Present)

Judicial Research & Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea (1998-2000)

Professional Memberships

Korean Bar

New York Bar

Publications

Chambers Global Practice Guides – Power Generation, Transmission & Distribution 2024: Korea Chapter (Co-authored)

Chambers Global Practice Guides – Alternative Energy & Power 2023: Korea Chapter (Co-authored)

Invest KOREA – EPC Contract Price Adjustments Amidst Inflation, December 2022

Lexology Getting the Deal Through – Project Finance 2022: Korea Chapter (Co-authored)

Lexology Getting the Deal Through – Project Finance 2021: Korea Chapter (Co-authored)

Chambers Global Practice Guides – Alternative Energy & Power 2020: Korea Chapter (Co-authored)

Lexology Getting the Deal Through – Project Finance 2019: Korea Chapter (Co-authored)

Law Business Research – The Projects and Construction Review, Second Edition 2012: Korea Chapter (Co-authored)

Financing for Corporate Takeovers (Korea Capital Market Institute, presentation at M&A Research Society Seminar, 2010)

Negative Pledge Clause (BFL Vol. 35, 2009)

Leveraged Buy-outs (BFL Vol.24, 2007)

Lecture on Financing for M&A at the Seminar for Professionals, Seoul National University, College of Law (2005)

Work Highlights

Advised on the development and the PF of the Jeju Hanlim Offshore Wind Power Project

Advised on the development and the PF of the 60MW offshore wind power project in the southwest in the demonstration stage

Advised on the development and the PF of the Anma offshore wind power project

Advised on the development of the Wando Geumil offshore wind power project

Advised on the development of the Sinan Ui offshore wind power project

Advised on the development of the Ulsan floating offshore wind power generation project

Advised on the development of offshore wind power projects in Jeollanam-do region

Advised on the development of the Yeonggwang Nakwol offshore wind power generation project EPC

Advised on the development of the Taean offshore wind power project

Advised on the development of the Yokji offshore wind power project

Advised on the development and the PF of the Bonghwa Omisan wind power plant

Advised on the development and the PF of the Yeongdeok Hoji Village wind power plant

Advised on the refinancing of the PF of the Gyeongju wind power plant

Advised on PF related to Cheongsong Noraesan wind power project

Advised on SK Group's solar power plant project

Advised on the development and the PF of the project for the Horang Energy Incheon fuel cell power generation project

Advised on investment in the San Diego desalination project

Advised on the review of the agreement on the acquisition of natural gas supply from CGN Yulchon Generation

Advised on the PF of the Naepo New Town combined heat and power plant

Advised on the Goseong green power coal-fired power plant project

Advised on management policies for spent nuclear fuel (high-level radioactive waste)

Advised on nuclear export control, intellectual property rights, etc.

Advised on the PF of the Louisiana gas chemical plant project in the U.S.

Advised on the Surgil gas field and the gas chemical plant project in Uzbekistan

Advised on the Sabine Pass LNG project in the U.S.

Advised on investment in Freeport LNG export terminal in the U.S.

Advised on payments upon termination of private investment projects for the Uijeongbu Light Rail Transit

Advised on the development and the PF of the Osan combined heat and power plant

Advised on the development and the PF of the Boryeong LNG terminal project

Education