Traditional Giants vs. Emerging Powers "No Concessions"
Tense Power Struggle in Major Corporate Cases
There are two law firms facing off in high-profile lawsuits recently drawing attention from the legal and business communities: the divorce lawsuit of SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Art Center Nabi Director Noh So-young, and the inheritance dispute within LG Group. These are Law Firm Yulchon (Chief Attorney Kang Seok-hoon) and Law Firm Yulwoo (Chief Attorneys Kim Ki-jung, Kim Kang-wook, Kim Jin-mo, Lee Jung-seok, Jeon Woo-jung). Yulchon represents the group heads in both lawsuits, while Yulwoo acts for the opposing parties. The legal community is closely watching this “Yul-Yul showdown.”
Representing the Inheritance Dispute Surrounding LG Group
The two law firms are currently engaged in a fierce battle over the LG Group inheritance dispute. Yulchon represents the defendant, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, while Yulwoo represents the plaintiffs, Koo’s mother Mrs. Kim Young-sik and his two younger sisters.
Chairman Koo appointed Yulchon from the outset of the lawsuit. The legal team includes Yulchon’s advisory attorney, former Supreme Court Justice Kim Neung-hwan (73, Judicial Research and Training Institute Class 7), Chief Attorney Kang Seok-hoon (61, Class 19), and attorneys Lee Jae-geun (51, Class 28), Kim Sung-woo (55, Class 31), Kim Geun-jae (47, Class 34), Choi Jin-hyuk (45, Class 39), and Kang Min-sung (40, 5th Bar Exam).
Yulwoo’s Chief Attorney Lee Jung-min (55, Class 25), a former senior judge, represents Mrs. Kim and the two sisters. Since joining the legal team in November last year, Lee has taken a leading role in the lawsuit.
Both law firms are also listed as representatives in the inheritance tax cancellation lawsuit jointly filed by Chairman Koo, Mrs. Kim, and the two sisters against the tax authorities. In the first trial, Yulchon represented all parties together, but in the appeal, Yulchon represents only Chairman Koo, while Mrs. Kim and the two sisters are represented by Chief Attorney Lee Jung-min. Since Lee is representing the three women in the ongoing inheritance dispute, he is also handling the appeal trial. Yulchon’s team includes tax law specialists such as Chief Attorney Kang Seok-hoon and Attorney Kim Geun-jae. Earlier, on April 4, the Seoul Administrative Court’s 5th Division ruled against the plaintiffs. They appealed the decision, and the first appeal hearing is scheduled for the 27th.
From Tax Law to Family Law vs. Emerging Power
Yulchon, strong in tax law, has reviewed the administrative lawsuits filed by Chairman Koo, Mrs. Kim, and the two sisters against the tax authorities, as well as their inheritance issues. This is why Yulchon became the representative for Chairman Koo in the administrative and inheritance disputes.
Additionally, by joining the appellate legal team for SK Chairman Chey Tae-won’s divorce lawsuit, Yulchon has earned a reputation in the legal community as a “law firm specializing in owners.”
On the other hand, Yulwoo participated as the representative for Director Noh So-young, opposing Chairman Chey in this case. Yulwoo’s Chief Attorney Kim Ki-jung (62, Class 16) secured the largest-ever amount in alimony and property division for Director Noh in the appeal trial.
Commonality of Being Close to the Current Government
The two law firms representing opposing sides in these high-profile cases share the commonality of being close to the current administration. Some analysts suggest that while this may not directly influence the selection of legal representatives, it could have psychological effects on decision-making.
Among Yulwoo’s current and former members are several legal professionals known to be close to President Yoon Suk-yeol. Former National Intelligence Service Planning and Coordination Director Cho Sang-jun (54, Class 26) served as Yulwoo’s chief attorney, and founding Chief Attorney Jeon Woo-jung (56, Class 26) is known to have close ties with President Yoon and People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon. Attorney Kim Jong-pil (53, Class 27) is also known to be close to President Yoon. Yulwoo represented Kim Geon-hee in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation allegations and defended Chief Han in the 2020 so-called “media collusion” case.
Many lawyers appointed to key positions in the presidential office and various ministries come from Yulchon. Former prosecutor Lee Si-won (52, Class 28) worked as a lawyer at Yulchon before serving as the first Secretary for Public Discipline in the Presidential Office under the Yoon administration. He returned to Yulchon as a lawyer after serving until May this year. Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min (59, Class 18), a junior from Chung-Ang High School to President Yoon, was with Yulchon from 2018 to 2021. Attorney Lee Young-sang (51, Class 29), who served as the International Legal Secretary and Legal Secretary in the Presidential Office under the Yoon administration, was also a Yulchon lawyer from 2018 to 2021.
Yulchon was founded in 1997 as a law firm, originating from the Woo Chang-rok Law Office established in 1992. It provides legal services across diverse fields including corporate law, finance, fair trade, litigation, tax, real estate construction, intellectual property, labor, overseas investment, serious accidents, and IP & Technology. Yulwoo was established in 2013 by lawyers from the judiciary and prosecution, focusing mainly on financial legal advice and litigation, as well as criminal investigation response and legal support.
Han Soo-hyun, Legal Times Reporter
※This article is based on content supplied by Law Times.
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