On the 31st, Law Firm YK announced the hiring of Seoul National University's Professor Kim Hwa-jin as an advisor, renowned in Korea for corporate governance and ESG expertise.

김화진 법무법인 YK 고문 [사진=법무법인 YK]

Professor Kim, a pioneer in Korean corporate law, brings both academic and consulting expertise. He holds a Mathematics degree from Seoul National University, a Master of Laws from Harvard, and a Law Doctorate from the University of Munich. He has taught corporate governance globally, including at Michigan, Stanford, Tel Aviv, and New York Universities, and published in Oxford and Cambridge journals. He chairs Samsung Securities' board and is a Senior Outside Director at Hyundai Mobis. His books "Ownership and Management," "Mergers and Acquisitions," and "Corporate Governance and Corporate Finance" are pivotal in governance studies and recognized by Korea's National Academy of Sciences.

Professor Kim has led institutional and policy initiatives, chairing key committees at the National Pension Service and Korea ESG Standards Institute. He addresses board operations, ESG regulations, and shareholder protection at Samsung and Hyundai Mobis. Previously, 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."

At a seminar on the 11th, co-hosted by YK and the Korea In-house Counsel Association, Professor Kim discussed "The Future of Korean Corporate Governance and Amended Commercial Law." He noted the importance of ESG, shareholder protection, and law reforms but questioned the capacity to implement them effectively.

At YK, Professor Kim will advise on shareholder meeting disputes, damages lawsuits from commercial law changes, shareholder protection during management sales, board operations, and ESG strategies.

YK stated that Professor Kim's input is critical as commercial law and ESG regulations evolve, expecting his expertise to guide corporate clients through institutional challenges and enhance decision-making processes.