Shipping
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025 : South Korea
Band 2
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+82 2 772 4000About
Provided by Lee & Ko
Lee & Ko’s Shipping Team provides a full-range service in the areas of shipping, shipbuilding, aviation, comprehensive logistics and other areas relating to transportation and offers superior service to clients based on its expertise and extensive experience.
For decades, we have showed unrivalled performance in the traditional shipping and aviation areas including casualty, ship arrest, mortgage enforcement, cargo claims, marine insurance, and aircraft crash. In addition, our practice has successfully developed expertise and client-base in shipping/aviation-related areas such as ship sale & purchase, charter dispute, shipbuilding dispute, RG dispute, shipping insolvency, comprehensive logistics, aircraft/engine lease and regulation issue. Furthermore, to cope with the changing trend in the shipping industry, we have been endeavouring to diversify practice area and bolster the client base in cross-over industries such as port terminal, warehouse, BWT transaction, offshore construction and commodity.
As a result, in addition to the long-established clients who are the top players in the traditional shipping/aviation industry such as Hyundai Merchant Marine, foreign P&I clubs, CJ Korex, Korea Airline and UK shipping law firms, we have extended our client-base in the new areas.
In terms of size and permanence, compared to other firms, we have the largest shipping team which is well-equipped to offer “one-stop” service to the clients in the most effective and efficient manner.
Chambers Review
Lee & Ko's formidable shipping law team is a standout in South Korea for vessel financing. The finance team advises on new and second-hand ship acquisitions and other structured financing for a range of financial institutions, shipping companies and investors. The practice also takes on cases of collisions, sinkings and disputes over charter parties and cargo, as well as marine insurance claims and shipping-related logistics issues. The team also counsels on international sanctions avoidance matters.
Work Highlights
- Lee & Ko participated in the bidding process for a passenger ship on behalf of the 2GO Group.
- Lee & Ko advisedBank of America acting through its Hong Kong office and KAMCO Ship Investment Management on the financing of theacquisition costs of three new-build pure car and truck carriers to be registered in the Republic of Liberia in the ownership of three Liberian special purpose companies established by KAMCO.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The team is very diligent and thorough, and has an excellent understanding of the steps to take for the efficient conduct of litigation."
"I am consistently impressed by Lee & Ko's exceptional legal expertise and dedication. Their ability to quickly grasp complex legal issues and provide clear, concise advice is invaluable."
"The team is very diligent and thorough, and has an excellent understanding of the steps to take for the efficient conduct of litigation."
"I am consistently impressed by Lee & Ko's exceptional legal expertise and dedication. Their ability to quickly grasp complex legal issues and provide clear, concise advice is invaluable."
Notable Practitioners
Jung Woo Young is highly experienced in South Korea's shipping finance market. He is well placed to assist with sizeable vessel acquisition finance mandates.
Jung Jinyoung is head of Lee & Ko's shipping and logistics team, based in Seoul. He stands out for his expertise in advising on both wet and dry disputes involving cargo damage, collisions and unpaid lease payments.
"Jung Jinyoung consistently delivers results that exceed expectations, demonstrating a profound understanding of shipping law and a commitment to client success."
"Jinyoung is a leading lawyer in ship finance."
Seo Yun Jeong heads the ship financing team at Lee & Ko in Seoul. She draws on nearly 20 years of experience to advise both domestic and international financial institutions on shipping finance matters, particularly acquisition financing and refinancing.
"Along with her excellent abilities, she is very friendly to customers."
Yoon Yang Ho is a partner in Lee & Ko's shipping department. He has great expertise in contentious advisory, insurance claims, international trade and maritime litigation.
"His ability to write and organise written briefs is exceptional and his meticulous and thorough reasoning overwhelms the opposite party."
"Mr Yoon consistently delivers results that exceed expectations, demonstrating a profound understanding of shipping law and a commitment to client success."
Ranked Lawyers at
Lee & Ko
South Korea