On the 31st, Law Firm YK proudly declared the appointment of Professor Kim Hwa-jin from the esteemed Seoul National University School of Law. Recognized as a leading figure in the realms of corporate governance and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards within South Korea, Professor Kim joins YK as a trusted advisor.
김화진 법무법인 YK 고문 [사진=법무법인 YK]
Professor Kim stands out as a pioneering scholar in Korean corporate law, lauded for his expertise both in the theoretical aspects of institutional design and tangible consulting within the corporate sector. His academic journey commenced with a degree in Mathematics from Seoul National University, followed by a Master of Laws from Harvard Law School, and culminated with a Doctorate in Law from the University of Munich in Germany. His academic prowess is matched by his active engagement in the international scholarly community, having taught courses on corporate governance at distinguished institutions including the University of Michigan, Stanford University, Tel Aviv University, and New York University. Furthermore, his scholarly contributions have been featured in prestigious journals from Oxford and Cambridge. Presently, he holds significant positions such as Chairman of the Board at Samsung Securities and Senior Outside Director at Hyundai Mobis. His noteworthy publications, such as "Ownership and Management" (2005), "Mergers and Acquisitions" (2008), and "Corporate Governance and Corporate Finance" (2010), have earned accolades from the National Academy of Sciences of Korea, marking them as essential texts in governance studies.
In the realm of institutional design and policy consultancy, Professor Kim has played pivotal roles, notably as the Chairman of the Governance Improvement Advisory Committee for the National Pension Service and as the Chairman of the Voting Rights Committee for the Korea ESG Standards Institute. Additionally, he has been a public director for the Korea Financial Investment Association. His current focus encompasses crucial issues such as board operations, internal control mechanisms, responses to ESG regulations, and creating shareholder protection strategies at Samsung Securities and Hyundai Mobis. His previous roles include serving as an outside director and Chairman of the ESG Committee at HD Hyundai. As part of the Hyundai Memorial Project Committee commemorating the 20th anniversary of Asan Chung Ju-yung, he published the notable work "Asan Chung Ju-yung Legacy" (2021) under the auspices of Seoul National University, which garnered widespread interest.
During a seminar on the amendments to commercial law, co-hosted by YK and the Korea In-house Counsel Association on the 11th, Professor Kim shared insights on "The Future of Korean Corporate Governance and Amended Commercial Law." He posited that while the evolution of ESG standards, shareholder protection, and commercial law amendments is promising, it is imperative to evaluate whether the capacity to effectively implement these changes exists.
Within YK, Professor Kim is anticipated to offer expert guidance on nuanced issues such as addressing disputes arising from shareholder meetings, navigating damages lawsuits post-commercial law amendments, evaluating the safeguarding of general shareholders in management rights sales, enhancing board operations and internal controls, and crafting corporate strategies amidst the ESG institutionalization journey.
YK articulated, "The inclusion of Professor Kim at a critical juncture, where commercial law amendments and ESG regulations rise to prominence, is instrumental in equipping our corporate clients to navigate upcoming institutional challenges." They further conveyed optimism that "his profound academic insights and practical field experience will translate into valuable advice within the corporate decision-making framework."