On the 31st, Law Firm YK announced the recruitment of Professor Kim Hwa-jin from Seoul National University School of Law. Professor Kim is recognized as a prominent figure in corporate governance and ESG sectors within Korea and will serve as an advisor.
김화진 법무법인 YK 고문 [사진=법무법인 YK]
Professor Kim is known for his pioneering work in corporate law in Korea, bringing both institutional design and practical consultancy expertise. He holds a Mathematics degree from Seoul National University, a Master of Laws from Harvard Law School, and a Doctorate in Law from the University of Munich. His academic contributions include teaching corporate governance at various international institutions, such as the University of Michigan, Stanford University, Tel Aviv University, and New York University. He has published in journals from Oxford and Cambridge. He currently chairs Samsung Securities and is a Senior Outside Director at Hyundai Mobis. His books, including "Ownership and Management" (2005), "Mergers and Acquisitions" (2008), and "Corporate Governance and Corporate Finance" (2010), have been acknowledged by the National Academy of Sciences of Korea as significant academic resources in governance studies.
Professor Kim has been involved in institutional design and policy consulting roles, including as Chairman of the Governance Improvement Advisory Committee of the National Pension Service and the Voting Rights Committee of the Korea ESG Standards Institute. He has also been a public director at the Korea Financial Investment Association. At Samsung Securities and Hyundai Mobis, he is engaged in matters such as board operations, internal control, ESG regulation response, and shareholder protection measures. Previously, he was an outside director and Chairman of the ESG Committee at HD Hyundai and participated in the Hyundai Memorial Project Committee for the 20th anniversary of Asan Chung Ju-yung, resulting in the publication of "Asan Chung Ju-yung Legacy" (2021) at Seoul National University.
At a seminar on commercial law amendments on the 11th, co-hosted 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 pointed out that although ESG, shareholder protection, and commercial law amendments are progressing positively, the capacity to manage these changes needs assessment.
Professor Kim is anticipated to provide specific guidance at YK on issues such as disputes at shareholder meetings, damages lawsuits following commercial law amendments, reviewing shareholder protection during management rights sales, and enhancing board operations and internal controls. He will also contribute to developing corporate strategies amid ESG institutionalization efforts.
According to YK, Professor Kim's association at a time when commercial law amendments and ESG regulations are gaining attention is crucial for addressing the institutional challenges of corporate clients. YK expects that his combination of academic and practical field experience will result in valuable advice for corporate decision-making processes.