JIPYONG LLC

Partner

Kye Kwan WI

TEL +82-2-6200-1732
FAX +82-2-6200-0811
E-MAIL kkwi@jipyong.com

V CARD
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“A criminal defense attorney who delivers results through hands-on investigative experience and rigorous advocacy”

Mr. Kye Kwan Wi brings a decade of frontline experience as a police officer, during which he investigated a broad range of criminal matters, including economic crime, sex offenses, and illegal business operations, and performed close protection duties and public security policy planning.

In private practice, Mr. Wi has successfully represented clients in a wide range of criminal cases relating to the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act, as well as cases involving white-collar crimes such as fraud, embezzlement, and breach of trust; bribery by public officials and tax and accounting matters; and defamation or violations of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection in the entertainment sector. He is particularly recognized for his work in serious accident and industrial safety cases, where he develops structured response strategies from the earliest stages of an investigation to , managing each phase with the precision needed to minimize clients’ legal exposure.

Drawing on his ten years of investigative practice within the police, Mr. Wi offers distinctive strength in handling investigations at both the police and prosecution stages and has consistently secured the best available outcomes for clients in complex and sensitive matters through carefully calibrated strategy and a practice-oriented approach. Drawing on extensive experience across the full spectrum of criminal work, from general criminal cases, such as property crimes, to matters requiring a high degree of expertise, such as serious accidents, he provides trusted legal services. His practice extends beyond mere case management to preventive counsel, helping companies build sound safety management systems and manage legal risks on an ongoing basis.

Education Close

2026 Yonsei University, Graduate School of Law (Ph.D., coursework completed, Candidate in Criminal Law)
2024 University of Southern California, Gould School of Law (LL.M.)
2017 Kyungpook National University, Graduate School of Law (J.D.)
2005 Korea National Police University (B.A.)

Experience Close

2018-Present JIPYONG LLC
2025-Present Legal Advisor, Korea Entertainment Management Association
2021-2023 Legal Counsel, Investigation Complaint Counseling Center, Seoul Seocho Police Station
2017 Associate, Barun Law LLC
2014 Head of Protection Team, Seoul Yongsan Police Station
2013 Commander, Police Unit, Mobile Police Headquarters, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency
2012Commander, Mobile Police Headquarters, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (Commander of the Special Staff Unit of the 5th Mobile Unit)
2011-2012 Acting Manager/Senior Inspector of the Public Safety Division / Senior Inspector of the Women & Juvenile Affairs Division, Hampyeong Police Station, Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency
2011 Promoted to Senior Inspector
2009-2011 Head of the Innovation Team, General Affairs Division, Seoul Jongam Police Station, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency
2008-2009 Economic Crimes Division, Seoul Jongam Police Station, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency
2007-2008 Jongam Police Station, Seoul Jongam Police Station, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency
2005-2007 Leader of the Mobile Police Unit, Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency

Notable Achievements Close

Secured a non-indictment disposition (on the ground of no suspicion) in a case involving alleged bribery of a public official and violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act by demonstrating that there was insufficient evidence of any connection to the official’s duties, any consideration for an official act, or any provision and receipt of money or valuables
Secured indictments for violation of the Unfair Competition Prevention and Trade Secret Protection Act and occupational breach of trust in a trade secret misappropriation case involving core medical device technology by establishing that the information constituted trade secrets and had been systematically misappropriated and used
Secured non-indictment dispositions on all charges on the ground of no suspicion in a real estate development case involving alleged violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, including embezzlement and fraud, and alleged forgery of private documents, by establishing the legitimacy of the use of funds and the circumstances surrounding the preparation of the documents
Secured an acquittal in a case involving alleged violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (fraud), in connection with the installation of heat pumps and the supply of late-night electricity by establishing that the victim was not mistaken and that the defendant had neither deceived the victim nor intended to defraud
Obtained a Supreme Court reversal and remand in a case involving alleged violation of the Private School Act in connection with the school expense accounts of a foreign school by challenging whether the defendant qualified as a “private school manager.”
Secured a police decision not to refer the case to the prosecution on the ground of no suspicion in a criminal complaint involving alleged fraud in international freight forwarding by clarifying the underlying transaction structure and how payments were settled between the parties, thereby disproving deception and payment liability
Represented a student reported in a school violence matter and secured a decision imposing no measures
Secured a police decision not to refer the case to the prosecution on the ground of no suspicion in a case involving alleged violations of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act and the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act by establishing the legitimacy of the client’s compliance with disclosure obligations and disproving that the conduct constituted advertising
Secured a police decision not to refer the case to the prosecution on the ground of no suspicion in a narcotics purchase case involving alleged violation of the Narcotics Control Act
Secured a non-referral decision (dismissed; no charges) on a charge of false accusation in a case where the client had been accused of filing a false complaint regarding the unauthorized removal of company assets, by establishing the circumstances of the audit that prompted the original complaint, the reasonableness of that complaint, and the absence of any awareness that the report was false
Secured a suspension of indictment subject to completion of an education program in an unlawful filming case involving a public restroom
Secured a non-referral decision (no charges) in a case alleging violation of the Credit Information Use and Protection Act in connection with technology credit rating services, by demonstrating that the applicable statutory provision had been improperly applied, that confusion existed in the interpretation of evaluation standards, and that the alleged conduct fell within practical limitations of the rating process
Secured a police decision not to refer the case to the prosecution on the ground of no suspicion in a case involving alleged indecent assault through physical contact
Secured a full non-indictment disposition (no charges) on charges of professional negligence resulting in bodily injury and violation of the Chemical Substances Control Act arising from a chemical gas leak, by establishing the adequacy of the safety management system in place, the circumstances of the incident report, and the ambiguity of the alleged injuries and causal relationship
Secured an acquittal in an indecent assault case
Secured a non-referral decision (no charges) in a case alleging violation of the Act on Sale of Building Units in connection with a blog post published prior to acceptance of the sale registration, by establishing that the post did not constitute advertising and that the project developer bears no criminal liability
Obtained a non-indictment disposition (no charges) for all executives and employees of a natural gas utility company on charges of professional negligence causing an explosion of dangerous materials and professional negligence resulting in bodily injury, in connection with a fire and explosion at a mixed-use residential-commercial complex in Mokdong
Secured a police decision not to refer the case to the prosecution on the ground of no suspicion in a case involving alleged possession of child or youth sexual exploitation materials
Represented the victim in a trade secret misappropriation case under the Unfair Competition Prevention and Trade Secret Protection Act, overturned a first-instance acquittal to secure a guilty verdict at the appellate level
Obtained acquittals for all safety managers of a manufacturing company on charges of professional negligence resulting in death and violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act
Represented a client charged with obstruction of business in the high-profile Yonsei University ice hockey admissions fraud case, overturned a first-instance conviction and custodial sentence to secure a full acquittal at the appellate level, a decision subsequently affirmed by the Supreme Court
Secured a non-referral decision (no charges) for the company and all of its officers and employees in a trade secret misappropriation case

Honors and Recognitions Close

2023Rising Star in Criminal Defense Practice, Legal Times
2013Commendation (excellence award) from the head of Seoul Police Security Force Command under Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency
2012Commendation (excellence award) from the Police Commissioner General
2011Commendation from the head of Police Training Institute (for contribution to writing examination questions for recruiting police cadets)

Speaking Engagements and Publications Close

[Books]

2025Administrative Interpretation of Major Labor Cases (Co-Author), JoongAng Economy
2022Criminal Defense Practice (Co-author), Pakyoungsa
2020The Story of Construction/Real Estate by JIPYONG, Korea Construction Specialist Newspaper

[Columns]