"Even a Single Incident Can Shake an Entire Organization"
Kim Sangnam, Head of YK Law Firm Daejeon Branch, on the Complex Realities of Legal Cases Involving Public Officials and Institutions
"In the world of public officials, everything changes the moment an incident becomes public. Even if things appear quiet on the surface, legal responses must be much more sophisticated and cautious."
Sangnam Kim, a lawyer at YK Law Firm, is being interviewed by Asia Economy on the 1st at the YK Law Firm Daejeon Branch Office in Dunsandong, Daejeon.
Kim Sangnam, head of the Daejeon branch of YK Law Firm, as well as a member of the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency Investigation Review Committee and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Grievance Review Committee, offered this assessment of the Daejeon legal market. He explained that Daejeon is home to major public institutions such as Korea Railroad Corporation, Korea Water Resources Corporation, and Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation, which means each case is highly sensitive and has significant repercussions.
As of 2024, the number of civil servants in Daejeon stands at 4,234. In Sejong, a neighboring city where many central government agencies have relocated, the number of civil servants reached 2,516 as of 2022. If employees of various public institutions are included, the number of public sector workers in the region is much higher.
◆A Battle Over Careers: The Key Is the Initial Response
Because Daejeon is a city with many public officials and public institution employees, a single incident can affect not only an individual's career but also the entire organization. The cases handled by Kim Sangnam reveal the complex legal structures hidden within this seemingly quiet city.
In 2022, he represented a public official from the Agency for Defense Development who was accused of leaking information obtained in the course of duty to outside parties. The case, which involved both the National Intelligence Service and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, escalated into a highly sensitive issue, putting the client at risk of criminal prosecution. From the outset, Kim Sangnam closely analyzed the research institute's security regulations, information management systems, and internal reporting procedures.
He argued that the information in question could not be classified as a "secret" under the law and that there was no intent to leak the information. By participating directly in the investigation and protecting his client from intense scrutiny, he secured a "no charges" decision after the case was referred to the prosecution. This case highlighted the critical importance of an effective initial response in public security cases.
In 2023, he represented researchers from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) who were accused of leaking Nuriho rocket technology. The case began with a complaint filed by the Ministry of Science and ICT, alleging that the researchers leaked Nuriho-related materials to outside parties prior to changing jobs.
The prosecution conducted searches and seizures at both the offices and homes of the researchers. Kim Sangnam demonstrated that the materials in question were routinely accessible within the research institute and that the job changes occurred through formal technology transfer agreements between the government and KARI. By proving early on that there was no intent to leak technology and that no procedural violations had occurred, he achieved a "no charges" outcome for all involved within about seven months.
For public officials and public institution employees, even a minor communication or judgment can quickly escalate into an organizational issue. Kim Sangnam stated, "It is crucial to analyze the structure of a case from the earliest stage of suspicion and to respond by separating legal principles from facts based on objective standards."
Kim Sangnam, a lawyer at YK Law Firm, is posing before an interview with Asia Economy on the 1st at YK Law Firm's Dunsandong Daejeon Branch Office.
◆Legal Support for the Family of the Late Kim Haneul
Kim Sangnam is also actively involved in protecting citizens and vulnerable individuals who have suffered unfair harm in the local community. Recently, he represented the family of the late Kim Haneul, a student at an elementary school in Daejeon who was murdered by her teacher, by filing criminal complaints against those who posted malicious online comments. He did this on a pro bono basis, charging only a minimal retainer. On April 16, the police referred a man in his 40s to the prosecution on charges of defamation of the deceased for posting malicious comments.
On April 23, he filed a damages lawsuit totaling approximately 400 million won, not only against the perpetrator, teacher Myung Jaewan, but also against the school principal and the city of Daejeon, seeking joint liability. Any success fees from the lawsuit will be donated in the names of the law firm and the bereaved family.
Meanwhile, the criminal trial of Myung Jaewan, who has been indicted for violations of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (for-profit abduction and luring, etc.), damage to public property, and assault, is scheduled to take place on May 26.
Kim Sangnam is responding proactively to this case with the goal of protecting the rights of the victim and helping the entire local community heal. He believes that setting clear legal standards for secondary harm occurring online in the wake of this tragic event is a social responsibility. Kim Sangnam stated, "We will not overlook criminal acts that mock this tragic incident, and there will be no leniency or settlements. We will mobilize all resources of the law firm to ensure that justice is served."
He collaborates with the law school at Chungnam National University to provide hands-on internship opportunities for local law students and, together with his law firm and the non-profit organization Oleum, regularly conducts legal education for local youth. Kim Sangnam emphasizes that, although the local legal market may be small, the issues it faces are never minor, and it is important to uphold both public interest and professional expertise.
He stated, "Cases often unfold in much more complex ways than they appear on the surface. In particular, when public institutions and the local community are involved, a quiet and precise response is the real starting point for a practical solution."
◆Career
-Seoul Seongdong High School
-Dongguk University, Department of Law
-Passed the 54th National Bar Exam
-Completed the 44th Judicial Research and Training Institute
-Former lawyer at Korea Legal Aid Corporation
-Member, Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency Investigation Review Committee
-Member, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Grievance Review Committee
-Delegate, Korean Bar Association
-Head of Daejeon Branch, YK Law Firm
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