On the 31st, Law Firm YK announced the appointment of Professor Kim Hwa-jin from Seoul National University School of Law as an advisor. Known for his expertise in corporate governance and ESG in Korea, Professor Kim is set to enhance the firm's advisory capabilities.
김화진 법무법인 YK 고문 [사진=법무법인 YK]
Professor Kim is recognized as a pioneering scholar in Korean corporate law, combining experience in institutional design and corporate consulting. He holds a degree in Mathematics from Seoul National University and earned a Master of Laws from Harvard Law School and a Doctorate in Law from the University of Munich. His teaching record includes courses on corporate governance at institutions such as the University of Michigan, Stanford University, Tel Aviv University, and New York University. He has published work in academic journals from Oxford and Cambridge. He currently holds positions as Chairman of the Board at Samsung Securities and Senior Outside Director at Hyundai Mobis. His published works, such as "Ownership and Management" (2005), "Mergers and Acquisitions" (2008), and "Corporate Governance and Corporate Finance" (2010), are recognized by the National Academy of Sciences of Korea as significant contributions to governance studies.
Professor Kim has played roles in institutional and policy consultations as the Chair of the Governance Improvement Advisory Committee for the National Pension Service, Chair of the Voting Rights Committee at the Korea ESG Standards Institute, and as a public director for the Korea Financial Investment Association. His current focus includes board operations, internal control, ESG regulation response, and the development of shareholder protection at Samsung Securities and Hyundai Mobis. He has also been an outside director and Chair of the ESG Committee at HD Hyundai and participated in the Hyundai Memorial Project Committee for the 20th anniversary of Asan Chung Ju-yung, leading to the publication "Asan Chung Ju-yung Legacy" (2021) at Seoul National University.
During a seminar on the 11th, co-hosted by YK and the Korea In-house Counsel Association, Professor Kim addressed "The Future of Korean Corporate Governance and Amended Commercial Law," suggesting the importance of assessing the capacity to implement ESG, shareholder protection, and commercial law amendments.
At YK, Professor Kim is expected to provide expert advice on addressing shareholder meeting disputes and damage lawsuits related to commercial law changes, reviewing protections for general shareholders during management rights sales, enhancing board operations and internal control, and formulating corporate strategies amid ESG regulation implementation.
A representative from YK emphasized the significance of Professor Kim's appointment as commercial law amendments and ESG regulations become more prominent, highlighting the value of his academic and field experience in addressing institutional challenges for corporate clients and providing practical guidance in corporate decision-making processes.