Competition/Antitrust
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025 : South Korea
Band 2
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+82 2 772 4000About
Provided by Lee & Ko
The Antitrust and Competition Practice of Lee & Ko is one of the largest and most established groups in Korea. Our team is comprised of not only experienced lawyers but also diverse yet tightly integrated experts and specialists. Notably, our in-house economists and former KFTC officials, judges, and prosecutors work closely together to develop and assess practical legal rationale that may best protect the interests of our clients.
Our practice is well known for its strength in traditional antitrust and competition areas such as cartel investigations, merger controls and antitrust litigation. Clients also recognize our expertise in unfair trade practices – particularly in matters pertaining to abuse of superior trading position, unfair affiliate support and corporate governance practices, laws and regulations on franchising, subcontracting, fair labelling and advertising, standard terms and conditions, and in conducting audits and mock dawn raids to evaluate and improve compliance. This expertise enables our clients to be best positioned in any negotiation, investigation, and dispute.
Our practice represents some of the most renowned multinational companies, consisting of a diverse range of both domestic and foreign clients across all industry sectors. In particular, our practice is highly regarded for its expertise in the semiconductor, high-tech, financial, automobile, pharmaceuticals, shipping, online platforms and information communication technology industries.
Chambers Review
Lee & Ko is notable for handling KFTC investigations into cartel activities and abuse of dominance. The team is regularly instructed on merger clearance matters and is also well placed to provide effective advocacy in them. Additional areas of expertise include false advertising and unfair trade practices. Lee & Ko is a firm of choice for prominent domestic and international companies, particularly those in the technology and automotive industries and the financial sector. The team consists of highly experienced antitrust lawyers and former KFTC officials.
Work Highlights
- Lee & Ko represented Novozymes in the antitrust clearance filing with the KFTC for Novozymes' merger with Danish bioscience company Chr. Hansen.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Lee & Ko have an excellent ability to organise and explain complex legal principles and facts in an easy-to-understand manner."
"Lee & Ko is an excellent, go-to firm for Korean commercial legal, regulatory compliance and competition law matters."
"Lee & Ko have an excellent ability to organise and explain complex legal principles and facts in an easy-to-understand manner."
"Lee & Ko is an excellent, go-to firm for Korean commercial legal, regulatory compliance and competition law matters."
Notable Practitioners
Ahn Yong Seok draws on over 30 years' experience in the field. His recent work includes advising on investigations into bid rigging, price fixing, false advertising and abuse of dominant position. He typically represents domestic and foreign entities in the electronics and semiconductor industry.
Jeong Hwan leads Lee & Ko's competition and antitrust practice. He advises across the full gamut of mandates, with recent experience handling merger control and KFTC investigations into alleged abuse of market dominance, price fixing and bid rigging. He works with a diverse range of clients such as entities in the financial, transportation, technology and automotive sectors.
"Jeong Hwan provides practical advice in his consultations."
Sun Jeong-Ho has a broad offering in competition and antitrust, with notable expertise in advising on merger filing cases. He is also equipped to handle KFTC investigations concerning abuse of market dominance and unfair trade practice issues.
"Sun Jeong-Ho is a very professional lawyer who always tries to take into consideration the industry, the market and trends in cases."
"Along with his cool-headed and objective judgement of the situation, he has the patience to persistently do his best to persuade the KFTC to change its view without giving up, even in difficult cases."
Kim Suruyn is recognised for her experience in the competition and antitrust area. She offers advice on a range of matters encompassing cartel cases, abuse of market dominance and unfair trade practice mandates.
"She is an excellent lawyer and great at client communication."
"Kim Suruyn provides fast and kind service at any time."
Ranked Lawyers at
Lee & Ko
South Korea
Members
Provided by Lee & Ko
Jang Woo Park
Jong Youn Han
Jung Won Park
Pyoung Keun Song