Kim Jongkeun, Lee Seungyeop, and Jeon Chiyoung:
Direct and Indirect Ties to President Lee Jaemyung
Law Firms Including Lee Kwangbeom's Also in the Spotlight
Even within the Lee Jae-myung administration, which advocates a "government of popular sovereignty," the participation of legal professionals is active. In legal circles, it is expected that the legal community will serve as the most natural talent pool, as President Lee Jae-myung (age 61, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 18) himself is a legal professional and has built relationships with many in the field over the years while undergoing numerous investigations and trials.
President Lee Jae-myung is greeting the citizens gathered on the lawn after completing the inauguration oath ceremony. A photo to help understand the above article.
The most notable figure is attorney Lee Taehyung (age 58, class 24), who is reportedly designated as the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs. Having served as the Chief of the Public Security Department at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office and as Deputy Chief at the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office, he became acquainted with President Lee by joining his defense team during the trial over allegations of spreading false information related to the "forcible psychiatric hospitalization of his older brother" (violation of the Public Official Election Act, etc.) when Lee was Governor of Gyeonggi Province. He is known to have provided close support whenever President Lee faced difficulties. In the recent presidential election, he also served as Deputy Head of the Fair Election Legal Support Team at the Democratic Party's Central Election Committee.
Attorney Jeon Chiyoung (age 42, 5th Bar Exam) is reportedly designated as the Senior Secretary for Public Office Discipline. Jeon, who was also part of President Lee’s defense team in the Public Official Election Act case, previously worked with attorney Lee Taehyung. Attorney Lee Janghyung (age 50, class 35), who is reportedly designated as Senior Secretary for Legal Affairs, also participated as a defense attorney in President Lee’s “Ssangbangwool remittance to North Korea” case.
Attorneys Kim Jongkeun (age 62, class 18) and Lee Seungyeop (age 53, class 27) are also drawing attention. Both participated from the first trial in President Lee’s Public Official Election Act violation case and secured a complete acquittal on appeal. Kim Jongkeun, a former High Court presiding judge and a classmate of President Lee at the Judicial Research and Training Institute, is known to have no intention of entering public office and leads a quiet life. Lee Seungyeop is also related by marriage to Democratic Party lawmaker Lim Kwanghyun, a former Deputy Commissioner of the National Tax Service.
Attorney Na Seungcheol (age 48, class 35) is also being mentioned. Na, a former president of the Seoul Bar Association, served as head of the legal support team for President Lee’s campaign when Lee ran for Governor of Gyeonggi Province. Na also served as defense attorney in the “forcible psychiatric hospitalization of his older brother” (violation of the Public Official Election Act, etc.) case from the first trial through the final appeal. Together with President Lee, he filed a constitutional complaint arguing that Article 6 of the Political Funds Act, which bans preliminary candidates for local elections from receiving sponsorship, was unconstitutional. This resulted in a constitutional nonconformity ruling for the provision as it pertains to preliminary candidates for metropolitan mayoral elections.
Lee Seokyeon (age 71, class 17), former head of the Ministry of Government Legislation, is also expected to play an important role in the new administration. He contributed to the presidential election victory as a co-chair of the ruling party’s election committee and was reportedly included in the pool of candidates for the new administration’s first Prime Minister.
Law firms have also experienced ups and downs in line with the change of administration. The most prominent firm under the Lee Jae-myung administration is Law Firm LKB & Partners (hereinafter "LKB"). Its founder and representative, attorney Lee Kwangbeom (age 66, class 13), played a leading role as legal counsel for the National Assembly in the impeachment trial of former President Yoon Suk-yeol (age 65, class 23). He has also been involved in President Lee’s criminal cases and, during the Moon Jae-in administration, handled several criminal cases for Democratic Party politicians. Attorneys Kim Jongkeun and Lee Seungyeop are also alumni of LKB.
Law Firm Won is also attracting attention. Kang Kumshil (age 68, class 13), former Minister of Justice and a member of Won, served as General Election Campaign Director for the Democratic Party during the recent presidential election. Kang was appointed as the first Minister of Justice in the Roh Moo-hyun administration in 2003 and has strong connections with figures in the ruling party. She served as managing partner of Won from 2018 to 2024 and is currently an attorney at the firm, as well as chairperson of the non-profit organization "Seon Jiguwa Saram."
Baik Taewoong, professor at the University of Hawaii Law School, also serves as an advisor at Won. During the presidential election, Professor Baik chaired the "Committee for the Realization of International Standards of Judicial Justice" under the Democratic Party's Central Election Committee. He is expected to play a role in the new administration’s prosecution and judicial reforms.
With Oh Kwangsoo (age 65, class 18), managing partner of Daeryuk Aju, appointed as the first Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs in the presidential office, Daeryuk Aju is also drawing attention. Oh, a classmate of President Lee at the Judicial Research and Training Institute, is from Namwon, North Jeolla Province. He graduated from Jeonju High School and Sungkyunkwan University Law School, and has served as Head of the Central Investigation Department’s 2nd Division at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office and as Chief of the Special Investigation Division 2 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office. He led major investigations, including the corruption case of Kim Hyuncheol, son of former President Kim Young-sam, the accounting fraud case of Kim Woojoong, chairman of Daewoo Group, and the accounting fraud case of Hanbo Group. He later served as Chief Prosecutor at Cheongju and Daegu District Prosecutors’ Offices and as Director General of the Crime Prevention Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Justice, before retiring in 2015 and joining Daeryuk Aju in January 2020.
Daeryuk Aju is widely known for having a diverse range of politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties. Kim Seoksoo (age 93, 10th National Bar Exam), former Prime Minister during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, is currently an advisor at Daeryuk Aju. Former lawmakers Kang Hyosang, Kim Jaewon (age 61, class 26), Jeon Juhae (age 59, class 21), and Song Hochang (age 58, class 31) are also affiliated with the firm. Choo Mi-ae (age 67, class 14), Democratic Party lawmaker; Na Kyungwon (age 62, class 24), People Power Party lawmaker; and Oh Sehoon (age 64, class 17), Mayor of Seoul, have also previously worked at Daeryuk Aju as attorneys or advisors.
Han Suhyeon, Law Times reporter
※This article is based on content supplied by Law Times.
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