On the 31st, Law Firm YK announced the appointment of Seoul National University's Professor Kim Hwa-jin, a corporate governance and ESG expert, as an advisor.

김화진 법무법인 YK 고문 [사진=법무법인 YK]

Professor Kim, a pioneer in Korean corporate law, combines academic and consulting expertise. A Seoul National University math graduate, he holds a Master of Laws from Harvard and a Doctorate in Law from the University of Munich. He has taught at top universities like Michigan, Stanford, Tel Aviv, and NYU, and published in prestigious journals. He chairs Samsung Securities and serves as a Hyundai Mobis director. His notable works include "Ownership and Management" (2005), "Mergers and Acquisitions" (2008), and "Corporate Governance and Corporate Finance" (2010).

Kim has led governance initiatives as the National Pension Service's Governance Advisory Chair, Korea ESG Standards' Voting Rights Chair, and a public director at the Financial Investment Association. At Samsung Securities and Hyundai Mobis, he addresses board operations, ESG regulations, and shareholder protection. Previously, he was an outside director and ESG Committee Chair at HD Hyundai, and he authored "Asan Chung Ju-yung Legacy" (2021) for Seoul National University, gaining notable attention.

At a seminar on the 11th, co-hosted by YK and the Korea In-house Counsel Association, Kim discussed "The Future of Korean Corporate Governance and Amended Commercial Law," emphasizing the importance of capacity in handling ESG and shareholder protection amid law changes.

Professor Kim will advise YK on shareholder meeting disputes, damages lawsuits following law amendments, shareholder protection during management sales, board operations, and ESG strategy development.

YK expressed that Kim's addition, amidst rising commercial law and ESG regulation prominence, is crucial for addressing corporate client challenges. They anticipate his academic and practical insights will enhance decision-making processes.