Kim & Chang’s practice, led by Byung-Suk Chung, offers extensive expertise in shipping, shipbuilding, insurance, and international trade, along with related international arbitration and litigation. The team represents both domestic and international shipowners, as well as their respective P&I clubs and insurers. Its full-service capabilities encompass marine casualties, shipbuilding disputes, regulatory advice, insolvency, enforcement actions, and marine insurance. Chul-Won Lee brings wide-ranging experience in maritime law, including vessel arrest and shipbuilding matters. Jae Bok Lee covers charterparty disputes, as well as offering an expanding ship finance practice. Joon Hwan Park handles major maritime incidents in Korean waters and international disputes. Na-Rae Kim and Sang-Hyup Lee were recently promoted to the partnership.

Lee & Ko offers a comprehensive service across all aspects of shipping law and related sectors, providing clients with a full range of expertise. In recent years, the team has successfully expanded its practice into cross-over industries, including port terminal operations, warehousing, offshore construction, and commodity trading. The practice is led by Jin-Young Jung, a seasoned expert in maritime law, marine insurance, and international commercial disputes. Yun-Jeong Seo leads the firm’s highly-regarded shipping finance team, advising shipping companies, financial institutions, and investors on complex transactions such as acquisitions and structured financing. Complementing the team’s strength, Yang-Ho Yoon brings a wealth of experience in shipping-related litigation and arbitration, while Young Jae Park advises on transactions in the industry and general average.

Bae, Kim & Lee LLC has a well-established reputation for advising a broad spectrum of clients in the shipping industry, including shipping companies, P&I clubs, insurance companies, and financial institutions. The team brings a wealth of expertise across various areas, including charterparty disputes, international arbitration, insolvency and restructuring, corporate advisory, shipping finance, and marine insurance. The practice is jointly led by Sung Won Park and Yoon Jeong Park. Sung Won Park is a seasoned expert in shipping law, with significant experience in maritime disputes, particularly those involving ship collisions, oil pollution incidents, bill of lading and charterparty matters, and insurance claims. Yoon Jeong Park, who is dual-qualified in both the US and UK, is highly experienced in both contentious and non-contentious shipping matters, further strengthening the team’s capabilities across the sector. Joon Sung (Justin) Kim is also a key member of the practice.

Kwon & Co provides wide coverage of both wet and dry shipping matters, with recent activity in crew death and injury cases, as well as rehabilitation and bankruptcy proceedings. The team is led by Tae Il Kwon, who brings a wealth of experience in casualty cases, charterparty disputes, and bankruptcy proceedings. Suyeon Jung is highly regarded for her advisory work with foreign clients, having built significant expertise in crew-related issues under the Korean Seafarers Act. She also possesses strong experience in vessel arrest cases and cargo defence claims.

Boutique transportation and shipping firm Sechang & Co. is experienced in representing major domestic and international shipping companies, alongside P&I clubs, in cargo claims, as well as insurance companies in damage recovery cases. The team is particularly noted for its strength in high-value shipper rehabilitation and liquidation cases, where it acts on behalf of prominent foreign claimants and creditors. Founder Hyun Kim brings over 30 years of experience, offering expert guidance to both local and foreign clients on a broad range of maritime matters, further solidifying the firm’s reputation in the sector.

Moon & Song is highly regarded for its expertise in a wide range of shipping matters, with particular experience in collision and grounding cases within Korean territorial waters, as well as cargo claims and crew-related disputes. The firm regularly acts as counsel for major P&I clubs and leading Korean shipping companies. The team is led by founding partner Kwang-Myeong Moon, who boasts a strong track record in shipping, insurance, and international litigation and arbitration. Sang Hwa Lee and Hun Song also bring extensive experience representing international shipowners, major Korean companies, and P&I clubs.

Yulchon offers comprehensive expertise across both contentious and non-contentious shipping matters, with a particular focus on shipping finance for domestic clients. The practice is co-headed by Young Su Shin and Sung Wook Eun, both of whom are highly regarded in the field. Christopher Joon Tae Cho brings a strong financial background to his focus on shipping finance, providing clients with in-depth expertise in complex financial transactions. Geen Kim specialises in alternative investments, while Sung Keun Park has extensive experience representing financial institutions, private equity funds, and corporations in a wide range of cross-border transactions.

DR & AJU LLC provides a wide range of professional services to resolve legal disputes regarding a range of shipping matters, including maritime incidents such as ship collisions, fires and sinking. The team collaborates with other practice groups, such as ESG advisory and serious accident advisory, to offer a well-rounded service. Sang Bong Lee heads the practice and is experienced in both domestic and international disputes regarding shipping and its related industries. Woo Rin Sung bolsters the practice with demonstrated expertise in maritime-related work.

Jipyong LLC is experienced in representing Korean domestic and international clients from the major sectors of the shipping industry, including shipowners, P&I clubs, shipyards, ship financiers and more. Choon Won Lee heads the team with extensive experience in litigation and arbitration related to the carriage of cargo, chartering, shipbuilding, and investigations and handling of maritime casualties, both domestically and internationally. Dahee Kim specialises in issues surrounding bill of lading, charterparty and shipbuilding disputes.

Yoon & Yang LLC provides a full range of legal advisory and dispute settlement services on all types of maritime disputes and transactions for domestic and foreign ship caterers, P&I clubs, maritime insurance companies, government agencies and shippers of every type. Sang-Pil Lee heads the practice and has extensive experience in a wide variety of shipping and maritime matters, specialising in shipping-related dispute resolution. Elayne Heeseung Sung is a foreign attorney and holds extensive experience of advising financial institutions and businesses on cross-border transactions, with a focus on lease and transportation finance.