Employment
Asia-Pacific Guide 2024 : South Korea
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+82 2 772 4000About
Provided by Lee & Ko
The core of our Labor & Employment Practice Group is composed of over 30 attorneys who dedicate their practices to the employment and labor practice area. Our members include attorneys with more than 20 years of experience, certified labor consultants, former prosecutors and presiding judges, former judiciary researchers for the Korean Supreme Court, public committee members, Labor Relations Commission committee chairpersons, and former senior members of the Ministry of Employment & Labor. This rich range of experience and diversity, fueled by the effective collaboration between our members, results in a Practice Group with a collective strength that is even stronger than its parts, and this strength is transferred to our clients.
Our Practice Group’s expertise covers issues including: (1) wages/working hours, disciplinary actions, employee privacy and safety; (2) hiring structures, non-regular employees management, strategic implementation of reduction-in-force efforts; (3) strategic and legal advice on union relations and disputes, collective agreement negotiations; (4) general compliance audits and internal investigations; (5) representation in civil, criminal, and administrative matters; and (6) employment-related issues in mergers, spin-offs, and business transfers.
We are trusted advisors and a pillar of legal support for our clients so that they may focus on enhancing their business operations in a stable and sustainable labor-management environment.
Chambers Review
Lee & Ko houses an outstanding employment law offering in South Korea and is recognised for its expertise in a variety of contentious and non-contentious issues, including collective bargaining and strikes, employee status, non-compete issues and workforce reduction. Its client base hails from a range of industries from technology and retail to automotive and manufacturing. Its key clients include Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors.
Work Highlights
- Lee & Ko successfully defended Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors in a criminal compliant filed by their former employees who claimed the disqualification of post-employment benefits was invalid.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Lee & Ko create synergy through active communication and cooperation. They carry out work in a timely manner."
"Lee & Ko's team consists of experienced professionals in various fields of labour law. The lawyers have the ability to review incidents from multiple perspectives to provide solutions."
"Lee & Ko create synergy through active communication and cooperation. They carry out work in a timely manner."
"Lee & Ko's team consists of experienced professionals in various fields of labour law. The lawyers have the ability to review incidents from multiple perspectives to provide solutions."
Notable Practitioners
Jin Chang Soo in Seoul is active on employment matters including disputes involving terminations, worker dispatch and outsourcing. He is also known to have significant experience from his time as a judge.
"As a former judge, he has a high level of expertise and response to litigation cases, as well as excellent communication skills."
Song Hyun Seok is well regarded in the Korean employment legal market, with particular experience advising on Serious Accident Punishment Act and outsourced worker-related disputes.
"Hyun Seok has excellent communication skills and works very passionately. Even in complex and difficult litigation, he does his best and constantly considers various ways to solve the problem."
"He has abundant experience and knowledge as a labour law expert and excellent communication skills."
Lee Sang Hoon is a well-established employment lawyer in Seoul. He has over 25 years of experience in practice and remains active on a range of matters, including non-compete issues and investigations.
William Kim is a foreign attorney based in Seoul with strong employment expertise. He is especially involved in internal investigations, compliance, non-compete and workforce restructuring matters.
"William has a professional and cooperative mindset."
Ranked Lawyers at
Lee & Ko
South Korea
Members
Provided by Lee & Ko
Jae-Hoon Choi
Ji-Young Tae
Seung-Wan Hahm