On the 31st, Law Firm YK made a notable announcement about its strategic move to enhance its advisory capabilities by welcoming Professor Kim Hwa-jin from Seoul National University School of Law. Professor Kim is a distinguished expert in the realms of corporate governance and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) matters within Korea. He has joined YK as an advisor to strengthen their response to evolving corporate regulations.
김화진 법무법인 YK 고문 [사진=법무법인 YK]
Professor Kim is celebrated as a trailblazer in the academic study of corporate law in Korea. His expertise is validated by his extensive experience in institutional design and consulting within corporate environments. With a strong academic foundation, Professor Kim holds a degree in Mathematics from Seoul National University, a Master of Laws from Harvard Law School, and a Doctorate in Law from the University of Munich, Germany. His influence extends to the global academic field, where he has taught corporate governance at prominent universities such as the University of Michigan, Stanford University, Tel Aviv University, and New York University. His scholarly contributions have been featured in prestigious journals from Oxford and Cambridge. Currently, he holds influential positions as the Chairman of the Board at Samsung Securities and a Senior Outside Director at Hyundai Mobis. His acclaimed publications, including "Ownership and Management" (2005), "Mergers and Acquisitions" (2008), and "Corporate Governance and Corporate Finance" (2010), have been distinguished by the National Academy of Sciences of Korea and are regarded as foundational texts in the study of governance.
In his extensive career, he has been integral to institutional reform and policy advising, serving as the Chairman of the Governance Improvement Advisory Committee of the National Pension Service, and the Chairman of the Voting Rights Committee of the Korea ESG Standards Institute. Additionally, he has been a public director of the Korea Financial Investment Association. Notably, he is currently engaged in tackling complex issues such as board operations, internal control mechanisms, adapting to ESG regulations, and establishing safeguards for shareholder interests at entities like Samsung Securities and Hyundai Mobis. His past roles include serving as an outside director and Chairman of the ESG Committee at HD Hyundai. He also contributed significantly to the Hyundai Memorial Project Committee, marking the 20th anniversary of Asan Chung Ju-yung, with his publication "Asan Chung Ju-yung Legacy" (2021) from Seoul National University, which garnered substantial attention.
On the 11th, during a seminar focused on commercial law amendments, jointly organized by YK and the Korea In-house Counsel Association, Professor Kim delivered a presentation titled "The Future of Korean Corporate Governance and Amended Commercial Law." He provided insights, stating, "The initiatives surrounding ESG, shareholder protection, and commercial law amendments are progressing positively, yet we must critically evaluate our capacity to manage these changes effectively."
Professor Kim is anticipated to bring his expertise to YK, offering targeted advice on matters such as navigating shareholder meeting disputes, addressing damages claims stemming from changes in commercial law, ensuring fair protection for general shareholders during the sale of management rights, enhancing board operations, and optimizing internal controls. Additionally, he will assist in formulating corporate strategies during the implementation of ESG frameworks.
YK expressed its enthusiasm, declaring, "The addition of Professor Kim at a time when modifications in commercial law and ESG regulations are gaining prominence is highly significant. This strategic move is poised to equip corporate clients to better tackle institutional challenges." The firm further shared its optimism, expecting that "leveraging his deep academic knowledge and practical industry experience, Professor Kim will deliver valuable, actionable guidance in the corporate decision-making arena."