On the 31st, Law Firm YK disclosed the appointment of Professor Kim Hwa-jin from Seoul National University School of Law as an advisor. Professor Kim is recognized as a prominent figure in corporate governance and ESG in Korea.

Professor Kim Hwa-jin, YK Advisor [Image=Law Firm YK]

Professor Kim is acknowledged as a pioneer in the field of corporate law in Korea, with expertise in institutional design and corporate consultancy. He completed his undergraduate studies in Mathematics at Seoul National University, followed by a Master of Laws from Harvard Law School, and a Doctorate in Law from the University of Munich, Germany. His academic contributions include teaching corporate governance at various universities such as the University of Michigan, Stanford University, Tel Aviv University, and New York University. His research has been published in journals associated with Oxford and Cambridge. Currently, he holds the position of Chairman of the Board at Samsung Securities and Senior Outside Director at Hyundai Mobis. His authored works, "Ownership and Management" (2005), "Mergers and Acquisitions" (2008), and "Corporate Governance and Corporate Finance" (2010), have been acknowledged as outstanding academic publications by the National Academy of Sciences of Korea and are regarded as essential resources in governance studies.

Professor Kim has engaged in roles involving institutional design and policy consultancy, serving as the Chairman of the Governance Improvement Advisory Committee of the National Pension Service, Chairman of the Voting Rights Committee of the Korea ESG Standards Institute, and as a public director of the Korea Financial Investment Association. His current responsibilities include addressing board operations, enhancing internal controls, responding to ESG regulations, and formulating shareholder protection measures at Samsung Securities and Hyundai Mobis. He has previously served as an outside director and Chairman of the ESG Committee at HD Hyundai and was involved in the Hyundai Memorial Project Committee for the 20th anniversary of Asan Chung Ju-yung, contributing to the publication "Asan Chung Ju-yung Legacy" (2021) at Seoul National University, which received notable attention.

During a seminar on commercial law amendments held on the 11th, co-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 remarked, "While ESG, shareholder protection, and commercial law amendments are progressing in a favorable direction, we need to evaluate our capability to manage them effectively."

At Law Firm YK, Professor Kim is anticipated to offer specialized guidance on challenges such as shareholder meeting disputes, damages lawsuits following commercial law amendments, the examination of general shareholder protection during management rights transactions, enhancement of board functions and internal governance, and the development of corporate strategies amid ESG institutionalization.

According to a statement from YK, "The inclusion of Professor Kim comes at a critical juncture as amendments to commercial law and ESG regulations become increasingly significant, which is crucial for addressing the institutional challenges faced by corporate clients." The firm is optimistic that "his academic background and practical experience will contribute to effective decision-making within corporations."