On the 31st, Law Firm YK announced Professor Kim Hwa-jin from Seoul National University School of Law has joined as an advisor, recognized for his expertise in corporate governance and ESG in Korea.
김화진 법무법인 YK 고문 [사진=법무법인 YK]
Professor Kim, a pioneer in Korean corporate law, combines academic and practical experience. He studied mathematics at Seoul National University, earned a Master of Laws from Harvard, and a law doctorate from the University of Munich. Internationally involved, he has taught at institutions like Michigan, Stanford, Tel Aviv, and NYU, with publications in Oxford and Cambridge journals. He chairs Samsung Securities' Board and serves as a Senior Outside Director at Hyundai Mobis. His works, such as "Ownership and Management" (2005), "Mergers and Acquisitions" (2008), and "Corporate Governance and Corporate Finance" (2010), are key texts in governance studies, recognized by the National Academy of Sciences of Korea.
He has led policy and institutional design as Chairman of the National Pension Service's Governance Improvement Advisory Committee and the Korea ESG Standards Institute's Voting Rights Committee. Currently, he focuses on board operations, ESG regulation, and shareholder protection at Samsung Securities and Hyundai Mobis. He was an outside director and ESG Committee Chairman at HD Hyundai and contributed to the Hyundai Memorial Project, publishing "Asan Chung Ju-yung Legacy" (2021) at Seoul National University.
At a seminar on the 11th about commercial law changes, co-hosted by YK and the Korea In-house Counsel Association, he discussed "The Future of Korean Corporate Governance and Amended Commercial Law," emphasizing the need for capacity to manage ESG and shareholder protection despite positive legal changes.
Professor Kim is expected to advise YK on shareholder disputes, damages lawsuits, shareholder protection during management sales, board and control improvements, and corporate strategy amid ESG institutionalization.
YK noted, "Professor Kim's arrival coincides with important commercial law and ESG regulation shifts, crucial for addressing client challenges," adding that his expertise will provide practical corporate decision-making insights.