On the 31st, Law Firm YK made public its decision to hire Professor Kim Hwa-jin from the Seoul National University School of Law as an advisor. Professor Kim is recognized as an authority in the areas of corporate governance and ESG in Korea.

김화진 법무법인 YK 고문 [사진=법무법인 YK]

Widely acknowledged as a pioneering scholar in corporate law within Korea, Professor Kim boasts both an academic and practical background in institutional design and corporate consulting. He began his educational journey in mathematics at Seoul National University, then advanced to earn a Master’s degree in Law from Harvard Law School and a Doctorate from the University of Munich in Germany. His academic involvement extends internationally, having taught corporate governance courses at universities like Michigan, Stanford, Tel Aviv, and New York, while also contributing to journals from Oxford and Cambridge. Presently, he is the Chairman of the Board at Samsung Securities and a 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 essential academic resources in governance studies.

Professor Kim has been actively engaged in institutional and policy advisory roles, previously serving as the Chairman of the Governance Improvement Advisory Committee for the National Pension Service, and the Chairman of the Voting Rights Committee at the Korea ESG Standards Institute. Additionally, he worked as a public director for the Korea Financial Investment Association. Presently, he is tackling issues related to board management, internal controls, ESG regulatory compliance, and shareholder protection at Samsung Securities and Hyundai Mobis. His prior roles include being an outside director and Chairman of the ESG Committee at HD Hyundai, as well as part of the Hyundai Memorial Project Committee commemorating the 20th anniversary of Asan Chung Ju-yung. His book, "Asan Chung Ju-yung Legacy" (2021), published at Seoul National University, attracted noteworthy attention.

During a seminar focused on amendments to commercial law, co-organized by YK and the Korea In-house Counsel Association on the 11th, Professor Kim presented his insights on "The Future of Korean Corporate Governance and Amended Commercial Law." He pointed out that while ESG, shareholder protection, and commercial law amendments are heading in the right direction, there is a need to assess whether the current infrastructure can adequately support these changes.

At YK, Professor Kim is anticipated to deliver detailed counsel on dealing with shareholder meeting disputes and damage claims linked to commercial law amendments. His expertise will also be crucial in examining protections for ordinary shareholders during the sale of management rights, optimizing board functions and internal controls, and crafting corporate strategies amid the institutionalization of ESG.

YK emphasized, "Professor Kim's addition comes at a pivotal time when amendments to commercial law and the tightening of ESG regulations pose new challenges for our corporate clients. We are confident that his blend of academic knowledge and practical experience will offer meaningful guidance in the corporate decision-making process."