On the 31st, Law Firm YK announced it has appointed Professor Kim Hwa-jin from Seoul National University School of Law as an advisor. Professor Kim is a top expert in corporate governance and ESG in Korea.
Professor Kim Joins Law Firm YK [Photo: Law Firm YK]
Professor Kim, a pioneer in corporate law in Korea, has extensive experience in institutional design and corporate consulting. With a mathematics background from Seoul National University, he holds a Master of Laws from Harvard and a Doctorate from the University of Munich. He has taught corporate governance at universities like Michigan, Stanford, Tel Aviv, and New York, and published in Oxford and Cambridge journals. He chairs Samsung Securities and is a senior director at Hyundai Mobis. His key publications, recognized by the National Academy of Sciences of Korea, include "Ownership and Management" (2005), "Mergers and Acquisitions" (2008), and "Corporate Governance and Corporate Finance" (2010).
He has advised on policy as the Chairman of the Governance Improvement Advisory Committee of the National Pension Service and other roles. Currently, he addresses board operation, ESG regulation, and shareholder protection at Samsung Securities and Hyundai Mobis. He was also an outside director and ESG Committee Chair at HD Hyundai. For Asan Chung Ju-yung's 20th anniversary, he published "Asan Chung Ju-yung Legacy" (2021), gaining attention.
At a seminar on the 11th, co-hosted by YK and the Korea In-house Counsel Association, Professor Kim discussed "The Future of Korean Corporate Governance and Amended Commercial Law." He emphasized the importance of handling ESG, shareholder protection, and law amendments effectively.
At YK, Professor Kim will advise on shareholder meeting disputes, damages lawsuits, shareholder protection during management rights sales, board operations, internal control, and developing strategies during ESG institutionalization.
YK noted, "Professor Kim's addition is crucial with current commercial law amendments and ESG regulation trends. His expertise will provide valuable guidance in corporate decision-making."