Hwawoo Appoints Former Blue House Secretary Jihoon Yoon and Former EMK CEO Sooyoung Lee as Advisors

Strengthening Capabilities in Policy and Legislative Response
Significantly Enhancing Expertise in ESG, AI, and Energy Advisory

Counselor Jihoon Yoon (left) and Counselor Sooyoung Lee, newly joined at Hwawoo Law Firm.

Hwawoo Law Firm (Managing Partner Lee Myungsoo) announced on November 5 that it has appointed Jihoon Yoon, former Blue House Presidential Secretary for Personnel Affairs who held key positions at the Blue House and the National Assembly, and Sooyoung Lee, former CEO of Eco Management Korea (EMK) and an expert in AI infrastructure and energy industry strategy, as counselors.

This recruitment is a strategic talent acquisition aimed at responding to the rapidly changing policy and legislative environment following the launch of the new administration, as well as to the increasing demand for power and energy supply chains, GPU, and data center-based infrastructure, which have emerged as core elements in the AI era. With this move, Hwawoo has further strengthened its integrated advisory system that spans government, the National Assembly, industry, and technology.

Counselor Yoon graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in Theology and earned a master’s degree in Sociology from Sungkonghoe University. After working as a consultant in the private sector, he began his public service career in 2013 as Chief Aide to Assemblyman Park Namchun. With the launch of the Moon Jaein administration in 2017, he served as Senior Administrator in the Blue House’s National Affairs Situation Room and the Presidential Secretary’s Office for Personnel Affairs, and in 2020, he was appointed as the Presidential Secretary for Personnel Affairs in the Office of Senior Presidential Secretary for Personnel Affairs.

During his tenure, Counselor Yoon was deeply involved in key national issues such as national affairs management and policy risk response. He oversaw personnel recommendation work for all government ministries and public institutions, and was responsible for establishing and operating personnel systems.

After his service at the Blue House, he worked as Head of Strategy and other key roles in the offices of Hong Ikpyo and Park Chandae, floor leaders of the Democratic Party of Korea, where he led practical operations of the National Assembly, including the development of policy, budget, and legislative negotiation strategies. In this process, he provided comprehensive support for negotiation strategies with the Yoon Sukyeol administration and the ruling party, gaining broad understanding and practical experience in the structure of bipartisan negotiations.

Hwawoo expects that Counselor Yoon’s addition will further strengthen the government and National Assembly policy and legislative response capabilities of the GRC Center, and that he will provide clients with comprehensive advisory services and practical solutions in risk management and personnel affairs.

Additionally, Counselor Lee, recognized as a professional executive in the AI infrastructure and energy convergence sectors, has accumulated over 20 years of extensive management experience in foundational areas of the AI industry such as fuel cells, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. An MBA graduate of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, he has led new business development, investment, and M&A for domestic and international companies, leveraging his deep understanding of global strategy and the structure of the technology industry.

He is recognized for successfully carrying out large-scale mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and greenfield projects. Notably, he has played a broad role in national policy advisory by serving as chairperson not only in private companies but also in national committees. He currently serves as an outside director and chair of the ESG Committee at LG Corporation, as well as chair of the National Green Certification Review Committee, simultaneously advising on sustainable energy infrastructure strategies for companies and government policy.

Hwawoo expects to generate synergy in AI infrastructure, energy strategy, policy and legislative response, and new business investment and M&A advisory through this recruitment. In particular, Hwawoo plans to provide integrated support for corporate sustainability management strategy development and risk response by collaborating with its GRC Center, ESG Center, and Environmental Regulation Response Center.

Managing Partner Lee Myungsoo said, "Counselors Yoon and Lee are experts with outstanding expertise in policy and legislative response, and in AI infrastructure and energy, respectively. With their addition, Hwawoo will further solidify its status as a law firm that provides practical solutions clients need amid government policy changes and industrial transformation."