Intellectual Property
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025 : South Korea
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+82 2 772 4000About
Provided by Lee & Ko
Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group has unrivaled experience in all aspects of IP matters, which include, among others, patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright. Specifically, our group comprises 110 highly-experienced IP trial attorneys, patent attorneys, and foreign IP attorneys. Many of our IP professionals including IP trial attorneys have degrees covering a broad spectrum of technical fields. Moreover, several members of our group are also former judges at the IP Division of the Korean Supreme Court, the Korean Patent Court, and the IP Division of the Seoul High Court; former administrative judges of the Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board; and former Korean Intellectual property Office Examiners.
Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group has advised and represented multinational companies covering a broad spectrum of industries, including pharmaceutical, chemical, materials science, mechanical, electrical, and computer software industries. With a full grasp of technical issues and an in-depth understanding of legal issues, our group is fully equipped to provide high-quality legal service to a wide spectrum of clients in patent and technology-related matters. In particular, the synergistic approach arising from the organic collaboration of IP professionals with technical expertise and former judges with deep insights into workings of the Korean judiciary and administrative system sets us apart in Korea from others and establishes new precedents in Korean IP regime.
Chambers Review
Lee & Ko fields a top-flight group of intellectual property lawyers with outstanding dispute resolution skills, representing market-leading technology and software companies. The practice also has a substantial group of patent attorneys to advise on IP prosecution matters. It frequently advises clients across a range of industries from pharmaceuticals and chemicals to IT and consumer goods, taking on trade mark, trade secret and copyright mandates.
Work Highlights
- Lee & Ko advised Coway on successfully appealing a KRW10 billion award for patent infringement in an action filed by ChungHo Nais.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Lee & Ko has developed optimal litigation strategies, demonstrated high-quality drafting of litigation documents and exhibited excellent advocacy skills during oral hearings."
"The team excels in managing complex cross-border IP litigation, combining legal expertise with superior client service and communication."
"Lee & Ko has developed optimal litigation strategies, demonstrated high-quality drafting of litigation documents and exhibited excellent advocacy skills during oral hearings."
"The team excels in managing complex cross-border IP litigation, combining legal expertise with superior client service and communication."
Notable Practitioners
Kim Jae-Hoon is a prominent figure in the market who has an extensive track record of advising on IP matters. He continues to provide guidance on high-profile patent litigation on behalf of domestic and international clients in the pharmaceutical and materials technology sectors.
Kim Un Ho heads Lee & Ko's IP practice while leveraging the breadth of his expertise, including his experience as a judge for the Seoul High Court's Intellectual Property division, to serve a host of clients. He is particularly skilled in representing both domestic and international clients in IP litigation for patent and copyright infringement, as well as invalidation actions.
"Un Ho has demonstrated leadership, diligence and strategic flexibility in long-term and complex litigation cases."
"He is highly regarded as a good lawyer with a strong sense of responsibility and experience."
Ryoo Hyeon Gil is active in patent disputes and has experience litigating before the Patent Court, the Korean Intellectual Property Office and the judicial courts. He also adeptly supports clients on international IP matters. He undertakes work on behalf of a range of clients from the pharmaceutical, chemical, manufacturing and technology industries.
Park Keum Nang co-heads the firm's healthcare and life sciences group and mostly focusses her practice on pharmaceutical patent litigation. She is also a licensed pharmacist.
Lee Eun Woo offers notable capability in soft IP, such as trade mark infringement, copyright and IP licensing matters. She deftly aids clients in the entertainment, gaming and broadcasting industries.
"She is a very astute attorney who provides excellent advice and foresight."
Kang Hankil is an up-and-coming foreign attorney who has a busy practice focussing on international IP disputes and transactions. He can draw on cross-border knowledge of IP law from previously working in the USA. He ably assists clients with patent infringement and invalidation, trade secrets and licensing matters.
"Hankil is a highly skilled attorney."
Kwak Jaewoo is experienced in handling litigation related to copyrights and patents, with particular strength acting for clients in the entertainment and media sectors.
"He prioritises understanding and addressing the client's perspective first, ensuring that solutions are not only well organised but also transparent and easily understandable."
"Jaewoo has delivered outstanding work, showcasing a deep understanding of intellectual property law and a strategic approach to complex litigation."
Ranked Lawyers at
Lee & Ko
South Korea
Members
Provided by Lee & Ko
Hong Sun Kim
Hwan Sung Park
Sun Chang