On the 31st, Law Firm YK disclosed the appointment of Professor Kim Hwa-jin from Seoul National University School of Law as an advisor. Renowned as a leading expert in corporate governance and ESG in South Korea, Professor Kim's recruitment aims to bolster the firm's capabilities in these areas.
Image of Kim Hwa-jin, Advisor at Law Firm YK [Photo=Law Firm YK]
Professor Kim is recognized as a pioneering scholar in Korean corporate law, with extensive experience in both institutional design and corporate consultancy. His academic background includes 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. Internationally, he has taught corporate governance at the University of Michigan, Stanford University, Tel Aviv University, and New York University, and has contributed to journals from Oxford and Cambridge. He currently chairs the board at Samsung Securities and holds a position as Senior Outside Director at Hyundai Mobis. His notable publications, such as "Ownership and Management" (2005), "Mergers and Acquisitions" (2008), and "Corporate Governance and Corporate Finance" (2010), have been recognized by the National Academy of Sciences of Korea as significant academic resources in governance studies.
Professor Kim has contributed to policy formulation and institutional design in various capacities, including as Chairman of the Governance Improvement Advisory Committee of the National Pension Service and Chairman of the Voting Rights Committee of the Korea ESG Standards Institute. He has also served as a public director of the Korea Financial Investment Association. His current focus includes addressing board operations, internal control, ESG regulatory responses, and shareholder protection measures at Samsung Securities and Hyundai Mobis. Previously, he served as an outside director and Chairman of the ESG Committee at HD Hyundai and participated in the Hyundai Memorial Project Committee, commemorating Asan Chung Ju-yung by publishing "Asan Chung Ju-yung Legacy" (2021) at Seoul National University.
During a seminar on commercial law amendments co-hosted by YK and the Korea In-house Counsel Association on the 11th, Professor Kim discussed "The Future of Korean Corporate Governance and Amended Commercial Law." He remarked on the importance of advancing ESG, shareholder protection, and commercial law amendments while considering the capacity to manage such changes.
Professor Kim is anticipated to offer targeted advice at YK on matters such as addressing shareholder meeting disputes and damages lawsuits post-commercial law amendments, assessing shareholder protection during management rights transactions, enhancing board operations and internal control, and formulating corporate strategies amid ESG institutionalization.
YK remarked that Professor Kim's integration, amidst the growing significance of commercial law amendments and ESG regulations, is crucial for navigating the institutional challenges facing corporate clients. They expressed confidence that his academic and practical experience will offer valuable insights into corporate decision-making processes.