Employment
Asia-Pacific Guide 2024 : South Korea
Band 3
About
Provided by Yoon & Yang LLC
The roster of global clients for which Yoon & Yang has advised on labor and employment matters includes General Motors, GM Korea, General Electric, Otis Elevator, BMW, MAN Truck & Bus Korea, Solidigm, Bayer Korea, United Technologies Corporation, DSM Nutritional Product, Merck Advanced Technologies, British American Tobacco, Engel, Dell, DTS, Atrenta and Burberry Korea. As of recently, Yoon & Yang has added GE Healthcare Korea, IBM Korea, Novartis Korea, Robert Bosch Korea, SKF Korea, AbbVie Korea, Hydis technology, Araymond Korea, Doerken Korea, Enercon Korea, Erbe Medical Korea, Hella KGaA Hueck & Co, GlaxoSmithKline LLC, Intelligent Engineering (UK) Limited, IPG Automotive GmbH, Jenoptik Korea, Leschaco Korea, Agilent Korea, McAfee Korea, Sanofi Aventis Korea, Applied Materials Korea, Bosch Electrical Drives and Finnair to its growing list of global clients.
Yoon & Yang’s Employment and Labor Practice Group is well-balanced (50% Litigation and 50% Advisory) between litigations related to labor/employment and advisory work arising from corporate matters. In relation to litigation, the Practice Group has recently advised a variety of foreign and domestic clients regarding “illegal worker dispatches,” “discriminations among different type of workers,” “implementation of the performance-based salary system,” “protection of non-regular workers,” and “ordinary wage” issues.
Chambers Review
Yoon & Yang has a well-reputed Korean employment law practice advising on contentious matters, drawing on the firm's respected dispute resolution capabilities. The team is experienced acting on wrongful dismissal, wage and discrimination, and serious accident-related cases. It is also well positioned to advise on a number of corporate HR issues, ranging from implementing the performance-based incentive system to post-M&A integration and organisational transformation, as well as on industrial relations matters. Furthermore, its lawyers provide advice on reduced working hour regulations and illegal dispatch of workers. Yoon & Yang retains a strong international and domestic client following among pharmaceutical, IT, construction and car companies. Clients represented include GS Retail, GE Appliances and Hyundai Materials.
Work Highlights
- Yoon & Yang represented GM Korea and GM Technical Center Korea in a lawsuit filed by their retired employees. The retired employees sought payment for difference of retirement benefits, claiming certain costs and expenses should be included in the calculation of retirement benefits.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"They manage the client's expectations very well. Their response is always quick and comprehensive."
"Yoon & Yang are able to guide on complicated matters that involve good amount of research and a high level of understanding. They provide swift and quick analysis on legal matters that in-house counsel can use as a stepping stone for detailed analysis within the team."
"They manage the client's expectations very well. Their response is always quick and comprehensive."
"Yoon & Yang are able to guide on complicated matters that involve good amount of research and a high level of understanding. They provide swift and quick analysis on legal matters that in-house counsel can use as a stepping stone for detailed analysis within the team."
Notable Practitioners
Park Sang Hoon is the firm's managing partner in Seoul and is well regarded for his work in litigation. He is often involved in litigation regarding employee status, severance pay and benefits.
Park Chan-Keun undertakes a broad spectrum of work including advisory and litigious matters. His work covers subcontractor employee status matters, dismissal disputes and other HR advice in South Korea.
"He provides satisfying results and prompt responses, making it easier for clients to make better decisions."
Oh Tae Hwan heads up the employment and labour practice group at Yoon & Yang. A former judge with many years of experience in the field, he handles issues including illegal dispatch, ordinary wage and Employment and Labour Administration investigations.
"Oh Tae Hwan is a competent lawyer who is well versed in labour law. He always gives quick feedback and is good at resolving cases from the customer's point of view."
"He has a high level of understanding of legal principles and an outstanding service mindset."
Hong Seong is deemed an up-and-coming lawyer in the market. He ably represents disputes involving wrongful dismissal and harassment claims. He also advises on HR-related mandates.
"He is an excellent lawyer who gives a good legal review opinion based on his extensive and deep knowledge in labour law."
Ranked Lawyers at
Yoon & Yang LLC
South Korea
Members
Provided by Yoon & Yang LLC
Jung Woo Lee
Seong Hong
Tae Hwan Oh
Head of Department
Young Min Kim
Clients
Provided by Yoon & Yang LLC
AstraZeneca Korea
British American Tobacco Korea
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd.
GM Korea
Hyundai Motor Company
IBM Korea
Kia Motors Corporation
SK Hynix Inc.
Samsung C&T Corp.
Samsung Electronics