SOUTH KOREA Law and Practice Contributed by: Woong-kyu Cho, Ji-eun Kim and Hyun-kyung Kim, Barun Law LLC
Barun Law LLC is a leading Korean law firm with more than 350 Korean and foreign-qualified lawyers, former government officials, and industry profes - sionals. Founded in 1998, the firm provides seam - less, multidisciplinary legal services through close collaboration. Its Estate Planning Center (EPC), the first dedicated estate planning centre established by a Korean law firm, offers one-stop services cov - ering wealth succession planning, trusts, taxation, and dispute resolution. Comprising approximately 50 specialists in inheritance, trusts, taxation, real es -
tate, and finance, the EPC advises high net worth in - dividuals, families and business owners on complex private wealth matters. The team has represented leading family-owned conglomerates, founders of major start-ups, and privately held companies in suc - cession planning and inheritance disputes. Through its international network, including capabilities in Sin - gapore and the United States, Barun also provides comprehensive cross-border private wealth and suc - cession planning solutions.
Authors
Woong-kyu Cho is a partner specialising in estate planning, inheritance and business succession. He advises high net worth individuals, family businesses and major Korean corporations on succession planning,
Hyun-kyung Kim is a partner in the family law practice group at Barun Law LLC, where she has practised since joining the firm in 2015. Her practice focuses on divorce, inheritance and adult guardianship
inheritance disputes and tax-efficient wealth transfers. Woong-kyu led the establishment of Korea’s first Estate Planning Center dedicated to proactive succession planning and chairs his firm’s Estate and Trust Research Society. A recipient of the 6th Korea Legal Awards, he is a frequent lecturer, columnist and published author on inheritance, trusts and business succession, while also contributing to succession policy through industry advisory committees.
litigation. Hyun-kyung is also a court-appointed professional guardian registered with the Seoul Family Court and regularly serves as a legal guardian, providing practical insight into Korea’s guardianship system. Drawing on this experience, she advises clients on guardianship matters and actively promotes public awareness of the system through articles and other publications, contributing to its broader understanding and effective use.
Ji-eun Kim is a partner in the administrative and tax practice group at Barun Law LLC, specialising in tax advisory and tax litigation. Before joining Barun in 2017, she served as a judicial research officer at the Seoul
High Court and worked at the Seoul Regional Tax Office. Ji-eun has extensive experience in tax appeals and administrative litigation involving national and local taxes, including VAT and capital gains tax. Since 2022, she has served as outside counsel to the Incheon Regional Tax Office. As a member of Barun’s Estate Planning Center, Ji-eun advises high net worth individuals and business owners on tax-efficient wealth succession, inheritance, gifts and business succession.
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