Kim & Chang‘s deep and broad maritime practice group remains a leading authority on Korean shipping law. The firm is regularly instructed by large domestic and international shipowners, shipbuilders and P&I clubs to handle transactions, wet and dry litigation and arbitration cases, marine insurance issues, and complex regulatory issues, with capabilities also encompassing the areas of international trade and offshore energy projects. ‘Leading maritime lawyers’ Chul-Won Lee and practice head Byung-Suk Chung have wide-reaching experience, ranging from shipping and shipbuilding matters to trade disputes. Former P&I club claim manager Jae-Bok Lee focuses on shipping finance and insurance cases, while Joon Hwan Park has experience covering offshore energy, shipping regulation and collisions. Attorneys Na-Rae Kim and Sang-Hyup Lee are also noted.

Providing ‘an excellent all-round service’, Lee & Ko is known for advising leading financial institutions, shipping companies, and export credit agencies on a range of high-value ship finance and transaction matters. The firm is also well respected in the marine insurance, regulatory and disputes spaces, with further capacities in sanctions and international bidding. With experience spanning from disputes and insurance, to energy commodity trading, Jin-Young Jung heads the shipping and logistics team, while Yun-Jeong Seo leads the firm’s ship finance side. Yang Ho Yoon is noted for handling mandates relating to ship arrests, chemical cargo contamination and collisions.

Bae, Kim & Lee LLC‘s maritime practice group covers the gamut of contentious and advisory shipping matters, including acquisitions and insurance work, shipbuilding disputes, significant collisions, and bill of lading disputes, among others. Co-heads Jaiyoung Kim and Yoon Jeong Park count a range of shipping, shipbuilding, and P&I clubs as their regular clients. Young-Joon Cho is experienced in ship financing and contract matters, while disputes expert Sung Won Park handles collisions, pollution incidents and charterparty disputes. Joon Sung (Justin) Kim is another key contact.

Praised for its consistently ‘prompt and precise advice’, boutique firm Kwon & Co is led by Tae Il Kwon, a renowned charterparty dispute, rehabilitation and bankruptcy specialist with expertise in Korean and English law. Suyeon Jung, who has considerable experience assisting with cargo claims and handling cases relating to seafarers’ injury and illness, provides valuable support. With clients comprising domestic and global shipping companies, along with P&I clubs, the firm is regularly instructed to act on vessel arrests, collisions and groundings, and cases involving criminal and maritime tribunals, all of which the team is adept at handling.

Moon & Song, a maritime boutique, expertly advises on the gamut of wet shipping matters, including oil spills, collisions and groundings. The firm is more generally versed in handling all varieties of contentious and non-contentious shipping matters for major shipowners, charterers, government bodies, insurers and P&I clubs. Kwang-Myeong Moon, Sang Hwa Lee and Hun Song are the key senior contacts.

Leveraging its ‘deep legal experience and skill’, Sechang & Co. advises major national and international clients on shipping, shipbuilding, maritime and logistics matters. In particular, the firm provides support in high-value rehabilitations and liquidations. The client base spans shipping companies, P&I clubs and insurance companies. The team is led by Hyun Kim, who specialises in transportation and maritime-related matters. Thomas Kim is also recommended.

Yulchon combines its strong shipping background with the expertise of the firm's other practice groups to provide its clients with comprehensive support on any matter that may arise, including both contentious and non-contentious issues. The firm is well versed in wet and dry shipping law, including ship financing and shipping-related restructurings. Young Su Shin and Sung Wook Eun jointly lead the shipping group.

Cho & Lee assists clients with critical shipping matters, including those relating to marine insurance, salvage, sea pollution and vessel arrest. The firm is well versed in advising foreign and domestic cargo underwriters and hull underwriters, as well as freight forwarders, shipowners and charterers. Managing partner Sung Keuk Cho heads up the practice, and mainly focuses on matters bringing together elements of insurance, shipping and international trade.

DR & AJU LLC has expertise in resolving legal disputes related to bills of lading and air waybills, letter of credit transactions, traditional and international maritime accidents, and charter contracts. Practice head Sang Bong Lee continues to support domestic and international shipping clients and provide ESG-related services.

Jipyong LLC‘s team is ‘very knowledgeable’ across the shipping, insurance, shipbuilding and ship finance areas. The team has extensive experience representing clients in collision disputes and shipping company bankruptcies, as well as assisting with offshore matters. Team head Choon Won Lee ‘provides excellent strategic advice’ on shipping, aviation, insurance and international trade matters, supported by Dahee Kim and Sarah Kwon.

Yoon & Yang LLC‘s practice group provides a full range of legal advisory and dispute settlement services relating to all types of maritime disputes and transactions for domestic and foreign clients. Shipping dispute resolutions specialist Sang-Pil Lee leads the team, while Hae-Wang Jeong has a special focus on maritime insurance matters.