Jo Inseon, Head of YK Labor Serious Accident Group: "YK Is a Game Changer in the Legal Industry" [LES 2025]

"Is YK a game changer in the legal industry? Yes, it is. As our In-House Counsel Forum (IHCF) President mentioned, YK is indeed a game changer in the legal industry."

On the second day of the "2025 Korea Legal Industry Expo" (LES 2025), held on December 4 under the theme "Future Strategies and Securing Competitiveness in the Legal Industry," Jo Inseon, Partner Lawyer at YK Law Firm and Head of the Labor Serious Accident Group, opened the first lecture titled "YK, A Game Changer?" with these remarks.

The expo, co-hosted by The Law Times, IHCF, and Messe Esang, was held successfully for three days from December 3 to December 5 at Exhibition Hall 2 of the aT Center in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, under the theme "From a 7 Trillion Won Market to a 70 Trillion Won Industry."

On the 4th, at the "2025 Korea Legal Industry Expo" (LES 2025) co-hosted by the IHCF and Messe Esang, Jo Inseon, Partner Lawyer at YK Law Firm and Head of the Labor Serious Accident Group, gave a lecture. Photo by Choi Seokjin, Law & Biz Specialist

Weekly Group Leaders' Meetings, Monthly All-Hands Meetings... Customer-Centric 'YKS'

Jo explained that one of the reasons she was chosen to deliver the first session was her master's thesis on "Does the Legal Background of Corporate Legal Team Members Affect Corporate Litigation Outcomes?"

She said, "As a corporate law firm, YK has achieved remarkable results, ranking seventh in revenue and seventh in the number of lawyers as of last year. In fact, YK has reached this point because we have continuously reflected on the history of law firms, as well as the history of the legal market and industry."

Jo added, "I believe YK is perhaps the law firm that has most diligently analyzed trends and developments in the legal market. Since YK was founded in 2012, and as of now, we have 473 professionals, including lawyers and consultants. If you include all our advisors, former government officials, and those who have worked in various public institutions, the total rises to 868 people, all working together as one."

She continued, "Every Monday morning, we hold a group leaders' meeting. At the same time, all branch managers and department heads gather for their own meeting. Once a month, branch managers, department heads, partner lawyers, and managing partners all meet together. These meetings are held monthly and weekly to share performance, strategy, and know-how in a very corporate style."

Jo also said, "Looking at the company's history, it has been a story of relentless growth and innovation. We opened our law office in 2012 and continued to establish centers such as the Labor Law Center and Rehabilitation Center from 2013 to 2016. In 2017, we built a legal service system called the 'Your Keeper System' (YKS), which is rooted in customer-centric values-becoming the guardian of every client, whether corporate or individual, and treating every client's work as our own."

Branch Offices in Regional Landmarks... Immediate Communication System with Headquarters

Jo also described how YK came to establish 31 branch offices across Korea.

She said, "With the start of our customer-centric approach in 2017, we continued to consider our next steps. In 2019, we completed our first M&A in a regional area. Listening to local businesspeople, we heard, 'It's too difficult to travel to Seoul to meet a lawyer,' and 'Do we really have to go to Seoul for meetings?' After the successful M&A, we concluded that we needed to establish regional branch offices. So, in 2020, we transitioned to a law firm and began opening branch offices."

Jo recalled, "When opening these branches, I personally visited each region to handle real estate contracts and lease agreements. Our focus was to lease space in landmark buildings in each region, moving beyond the traditional model of law firm branches only near courthouses. By locating ourselves in landmark buildings, we could reduce the time for local businesspeople to visit us, and it would also be easier for us to reach clients quickly in urgent situations."

Jo emphasized that although continuous investment was required as YK grew, no member opposed it.

She said, "Each time YK opens a new branch, it requires fresh investment. The firm must meet very high standards for office interiors, and all associated costs are covered by headquarters. Yet, no one opposes these investments because every member understands the history of growth through innovation. There is a deep-rooted belief among all YK members that growing the organization directly leads to individual achievements and success, rather than focusing solely on personal gain."

She added, "Throughout this history of growth, every department member has willingly accepted short-term sacrifices for the sake of the firm's long-term growth."

Jo noted, "Revenue, which was 15 billion won in 2022, reached 180 billion won as of the end of October this year. The accumulated number of successful work cases exceeds 12,000, and the total number of consultations has surpassed 98,000. The most important aspect of our unified system at YK is the immediate communication system between headquarters and branch offices, which operates under a directly managed structure."

Law Firm YK Major Accident Collaboration System. Law Firm YK

Dispatched to Ulsan Serious Accident Site in 25 Minutes... Achieved Agreement Between Main and Subcontractors During Lunar New Year Holiday

Jo cited a serious accident case in Ulsan that occurred on the eve of the Lunar New Year holiday as a representative success story of YK's "one team system" between headquarters and branch offices. She likened her role as "Head of the Serious Accident Center" at YK to a "tow truck," since both must rush to the scene immediately when an incident occurs.

She said, "At the time, all tickets to Ulsan were sold out on the eve of Lunar New Year. Our branch manager and lawyers in Ulsan were attending court proceedings in the region. I immediately called the branch manager and asked for action, and it took just 25 minutes to reach the scene."

She continued, "The lawyer who finished court and went to the site took 35 minutes. While I coordinated from headquarters, our branch manager and lawyers arrived at the scene, reviewed documents, responded on site, and explained the necessary procedures and know-how to the company, initiating our work."

She added, "On the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday, which was Saturday, I flew to Ulsan. The lawyers and staff from the Ulsan branch met me at the airport, and we held an on-site meeting at 8 a.m. This kind of immediate response system is something only YK Law Firm can provide. YK is able to dispatch to the scene within three hours of an incident, often arriving before the labor office or police to review all circumstances together."

She further explained, "The day after the accident, I personally traveled to the site to hold a meeting discussing all aspects of the situation. On the third day after the incident, during the holiday, the subcontractor reached an agreement, and on the fourth day, the main contractor also reached an agreement."

YK Law Firm Gangnam Main Office located in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. YK Law Firm

YK's Proprietary AI System 'YKOS'... Rigorous Verification Procedures to Prevent Errors 

Jo also introduced YK's proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) legal work support system and the internal guidelines for using AI in their work processes.

She said, "'YKOS' is YK's office system, and it is also our unique AI system. YK has established internal guidelines for the use of AI."

Jo explained, "When our lawyers use AI for research, drafting documents, or finding precedents, they must obtain the actual precedent from the National Law Information Center or an equivalent site, and they must inform me which parts of the document were assisted by AI and what verification process they personally conducted before I begin reviewing the document."

She continued, "In other words, I only begin reviewing documents after all necessary measures have been taken to compensate for the shortcomings of AI, rather than using AI indiscriminately. The reason YK has implemented such solutions is because we handle extremely sensitive personal information and confidential client data."

She added, "Therefore, YK is building knowledge management, efficiency, and dispute resolution support systems with AI, but is internalizing these systems within YK."

Jo stated that the legal industry is very similar to "high-tech marketing."

She said, "High-priced products are much more attractive than ordinary products, and there is a reason for their high price."

Jo asked, "What efforts should we make in this high-tech market? In fact, opening new markets and pioneering new horizons in the legal industry requires new research methods that did not exist before. In a way, the findings achieved through AI should also be applied to the marketing and research of law firms in the legal industry."

Jo emphasized that any concerns arising during this process of innovation can be resolved by identifying and addressing them.

She said, "Did YK always have a smooth path in adopting innovation? My answer is 'No.' YK also experienced turbulent times and faced much opposition whenever adopting innovation."

She continued, "However, for the growth of the industry, we have continued to move forward together. Sometimes, there may be concerns about personal information leaks, but we can develop internal measures to hedge such risks. Now, the entire legal industry must consider these innovations together."

Finally, Jo concluded, "Although I have much more to share, what I really want to say is this: Instead of worrying about what strategies to take or dividing up the market, our legal industry must focus on securing competitiveness in the global market."

On the 4th, at the "2025 Korea Legal Industry Expo" (LES 2025) co-hosted by IHCF and Messe Esang, Taehoon Lee, partner lawyer at YK Law Firm, is giving a lecture. Photo by Seokjin Choi, Law&Biz Specialist

Life Sentence in First Trial for 'Yeongwol Farmers' Association Secretary Murder' Case, Acquittal Secured in Second Trial

Following Jo, Taehoon Lee, Partner Lawyer at YK Law Firm, presented a case handled by YK: the "Yeongwol Farmers' Association Secretary Murder" case.

The "Yeongwol Farmers' Association Secretary Murder" case involved the killing of Secretary A with blunt and sharp weapons at the Farmers' Association office in Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon Province, on August 9, 2004. The case remained unsolved for 20 years until B was identified as a suspect. In the first trial in February, B was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, but in the second trial in September, B was acquitted.

Lee explained, "Investigators resumed the case around 2016 and indicted our client based almost solely on the National Forensic Service's finding that a footprint from the crime scene matched our client's sandal. The first trial also relied on this as the main evidence, resulting in a life sentence."

He continued, "In the second trial, our YK legal team carefully reviewed the case and found that the forensic analysis was conducted only by visual inspection and thus had low evidentiary value. We requested a re-examination by Professor Park, an expert in AI analysis and footprints. Through diligent defense and persuasion of the court, a re-examination was conducted, and the result was that 'it is unlikely that the footprint at the scene matched the client's sandal; they do not match.'"

He recalled, "I still cannot forget the first time I visited my client, who was detained at Yeongwol Prison. The client told me, 'Lawyer, I never killed anyone. Please help me.' I was determined to help clear the name of an innocent client."

On the 4th, at the "2025 Korea Legal Industry Expo" (LES 2025) co-hosted by IHCF and Messe Esang, Jo Inseon, partner lawyer at YK Law Firm and head of the Labor Serious Accident Group, is giving closing remarks. Photo by Choi Seokjin, Law & Biz Specialist

We Should Not Be Confined to the Korean Market... We Must Go Global

Returning to the stage to close the lecture, Jo shared that she is currently dealing with an arbitration case in India and a labor court case in Israel, both referred by a consulting client.

She said, "When I access information from the global market, rather than just the Korean legal market, it really broadens my perspective. For example, the advisory fee I charged for two months of work for a consulting client in Michigan was the same as the litigation fee for a three-year first-instance lawsuit in Korea."

Jo emphasized, "The Korean legal profession can no longer remain confined to the domestic market. The ongoing debates about protecting and expanding professional roles must take a different approach than before. There is no time to fight among ourselves. We must move forward, expand into larger markets, and create a new legal industry."

After Jo's lecture, the moderator commented, "Today's presentation provided deep insights into how law firms can evolve beyond specialized services into corporate-style organizations, and what direction and challenges lie ahead. I hope this session was helpful in considering future strategies for law firms."