JIPYONG LLC

Korean Attorney

Sehun KO

TEL +82-2-6200-1849
FAX +82-2-6200-0821
E-MAIL shko@jipyong.com

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Mr. Sehun Ko is a partner in the firm’s M&A Group and advises clients on M&A transactions, general corporate matters, complex cross-border transactions, tax and investments issues.

Mr. Ko has also been a pivotal member of the firm’s Yangon Office where he spent many years helping the office grow and flourish. Since returning to the Seoul Office, Mr. Ko continues to work on Myanmar-related matters including local M&As, joint ventures, real estate development and investments, incorporation of local corporations including financial institutions, manufacturing companies and construction companies, and also accumulated experiences related to operation of local corporations including license acquisition, labor, taxation and accounting regulations. In 2016, Mr. Ko once again returned to the firm’s Yangon Office as a partner and provided one-stop services with respect to local laws and taxation. As of August 2019, he completed the LLM program at Columbia Law School in the United States and returned to the Seoul office. He currently is a member of the M&A Group.

Before joining Jipyong, Mr. Ko was in charge of standard cost calculation and financial reporting for mobile phone camera module products at Samsung Techwin (currently, Hanwha Techwin) for two years, and then moved to Texas Instruments, an analog semiconductor manufacturer, where he was responsible for designing and analyzing standard costs, designing internal transfer price, and internal control systems for semiconductor products (outsourcing semiconductor fab and assembly/test) for three years. Mr. Ko is able to his extensive commercial experience to provide tailored advice to his clients.

Education Close

2018-2019Columbia Law School (LL.M.)
2012Konkuk University Law School (J.D.)
2004Chung-Ang University (B.A. in Business Administration)
2003Exchange Program, California State University, East Bay, USA

Experience Close

2012-PresentJIPYONG LLC (Partner)
2021-PresentLegal Counsel, Jeju Venture Business Association
2020-PresentMember, Korea Association of Personal Data Professionals (KAPP)
2020-PresentLegal Counsel, Global Business Strategy Planning Committee (GSC), Korea Land and Housing Corporation
2020-PresentStanding Director, Korea Personal Information Protection Law Association
2019Passed the New York bar examination
2016-2018Senior Attorney (Head of Legal Practice and Tax Advisory), JIPYONG MYANMAR Limited
2013-2014Associate, JIPYONG MYANMAR Limited
2006-2009Accounting Manager (Manufacturing Unit), Texas Instruments (Korea)
2007Passed Certified Public Accountant Exam (California)
2004-2006Junior Accountant, Samsung Techwin

Notable Achievements Close

Advised a new and renewable energy company on all the matters relating to a dispute involving a solar power generation project (provided all the necessary legal assistance in connection with the dispute related to the financial procurement agreement, EPC contract, and operation/management contract relating to the dispute)
Advised a new and renewable power generator on the dispute with its investors
Provided a Korean renewable energy company with the legal due diligence of a solar power project in China
Advised a LED manufacturing company on the injunction for prohibition of infringement upon the exclusive sales right and the exclusive business right and the litigation against the company involving the allegation of its violation of the laws applicable to the prevention of unfair competition and protection of trade secret.
Advised Jejic Co., Ltd., a start-up agricultural corporation, on the matters related to its application for a patent on its business model and applicable laws
Comprehensively advised a music copyright trading platform on its business model, tax issues, and the improvement of its corporate governance
Advice a Korean software production studio on the acquisition of a webcomics company and a small software production studio, etc.
Advised a financial investment company on the acquisition of redeemable convertible preferred stock of Fount Co., Ltd., a financial start-up
Advised Korea Development Bank in connection with the due diligence of the target companies (located in Singapore, Thailand, and South Korea) and the review and execution of related contracts regarding the transaction to acquire the convertible promissory notes issued by Kasa Network Pte. Ltd., a Singapore company.
Advised a Korean entertainment company on matters relating to a joint venture company in Thailand, including a dispute between shareholders, liquidation, trademark rights in Thailand, and other matters such as a joint venture company in Singapore, the company laws in Singapore, the board of directors, and stock options
Advised the Korean government on the laws and regulations on ways to improve the procedure for resolving investment disputes arising out of inter-Korean economic cooperation
Provided Korea Internet & Security Agency with the service for the improvement of the personal information protection laws related to pseudonym processing
Provided the Korean government with the research service relating to the basic model design of the law on foreign investment
Advised a clan on the incorporation of a company (amendments to the articles of corporation of the clan, resolutions by the meeting of a clan, and incorporation of a company)
Advised a domestic steel company on the establishment of a steel sales platform
Comprehensively advised and represented the customers on the dispute related to the funds sold by a domestic financial institution (preparation for the disputes, including submission of the materials to the Financial Dispute Settlement Committee at the Financial Supervisory Service, etc.); and comprehensively advised and represented a financial institution on the dispute related to DLF products
Advised a Korean electronic component manufacturing company on the due diligence of the target company, entering into a partnership contract, and equity acquisition agreement with the target company to acquire the equity in a limited partnership of the fund established in the Cayman Islands as an investor holding the equity in ProLogium Technology Co., Ltd., an all-solid battery manufacturer
Advised a Korean biotech company on matters relating to a US-based biotech company, such as its stock option system, the issuance of convertible promissory notes and securing of the management rights
Advised Miriam Quevedo (a Spanish cosmetics manufacturer) on the dispute related to the distribution contract with a Korean company
Advised a Korean wholesale and retail distributor on the negotiation and execution of franchise agreements to enter the Malaysian and Singapore markets
Advised Industrial Bank of Korea on obtaining a bank license and permit for the establishment of a subsidiary in Myanmar
Advised on obtaining a license under the Export Administration Regulations of the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the delivery of equipment to North Korea for an inter-Korean economic cooperation project
Advised a Korean telecommunication company on the application of the Export Administration Regulations of the U.S. Department of Commerce
Advised on the entry into a guarantee contract with a multilateral investment guarantee agency to provide the investors with a guarantee for the Myanmar industrial complex
Advised a Korean cement manufacturing company on the tax and transaction structure for a subsidiary of the construction company established in Bangladesh
Comprehensively advised a Korean financial institution on matters related to its subsidiaries located in Myanmar and Indonesia (such as the operation of local subsidiaries, applicable regulations, and the regulations on anti-money laundering and financing of terrorism, etc.)
Advised a Korean financial institution on the review of the issues related to the corporate and criminal laws that may arise to its subsidiaries in Myanmar
Advised a Korean engineering company on the dispute over the management rights and the shareholders’ agreement in connection with its subsidiary incorporated in Indonesia
Advised a Korean financial institution on the due diligence and review of contracts in connection with the acquisition of a Cambodian microfinance institution (MFI)
Advised a Korean film distributor on the joint venture in Myanmar and the obtaining of a film distribution license
Advised a Korean animation company on the tax and legal matters related to its business restructuring in Myanmar
Advised Lotte Group on the legal due diligence and joint venture related to its acquisition of a Myanmar beverage company
Advised CJ Logistics on its bidding application for the project contemplated by the Myanmar Land Transportation Authority and investment in a joint venture
Advised POSCO STEELEON on the joint investment and expansion of its business to the Myanmar market
Advised the Incheon International Airport Corporation Consortium on the Myanmar Hanthawady New International Airport Construction Project
Advised LG International Corp. on the legal due diligence and joint investment in a Myanmar cement plant
Advised Korean company “M” on the joint investment in a cement plant in Myanmar and its acquisition of a mining license and investment permit
Advised several companies on their entry into the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (acquisition of investment permit and incorporation of a corporation), including LS Cable & System Asia’s cable manufacturing business, Yojin Construction & Engineering’s cement manufacturing business, Aju Corporation’s piling manufacturing business, and Koryocable’s cable manufacturing business
Advised Sky International on the legal due diligence, investment structure, and operation of its Myanmar cable car business
Advised SUN&L on the legal due diligence and entry into a joint venture agreement in connection with its investment in a joint business with the Ministry of Rail Transportation of Myanmar
Advised Korea Land and Housing Corporation on the transaction for the joint investment in the Myanmar industrial complex (Ministry of Construction)
Advised Shinhan Bank on the bidding to obtain a license for a foreign bank in Myanmar
Advised various financial institutions including BNK Capital, Woori Bank, IBK Capital, NH Bank, DGB Financial Group and Mason Capital on the establishment of micro-credit firms and obtaining of the licenses
Successfully represented Korean Air Yangon branch in a claim for the confirmation of its status of tax exemption under the double taxation avoidance treaty between Korea and Myanmar and an objection to the tax return (the corporate income tax was fully returned as a result)
Represented a Korean expatriate in a claim for the confirmation of his status of the tax exemption under the double taxation avoidance treaty between Korea and Myanmar and an objection to the tax return (the corporate income tax was fully returned as a result)
Represented persons with developmental disabilities in a claim for the temporary measures (injunction) against the National Election Commission in order to request the “permission for voting assistants for persons with developmental disabilities” (and successfully received the permission for voting assistants)

Honors and Recognitions Close

2023Rising Star in Corporate and M&A Practice, Legal Times
2019Award from Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Economy and Finance

Speaking Engagements and Publications Close

2018. 02.Review on Myanmar Land Regulations and Condominium Law in Myanmar, Co-Author, Ilkam Real Estate Law Review
2016. 12. / 2014. 12. FAQs on Myanmar Labor and Myanmar Taxation, Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (Yangon), 2014 and 2016 update
2014. 01.Myanmar Foreign Investment Law and Practice, Practical approach to legal frameworks of investment related laws in Myanmar, Co-Author (Company Act, Labour Laws, Tax Laws) (Purun-namu)
2010. 12.Liabilities for Damages of Certified Public Accountant in Capital Markets, Ilkam Real Estate Law Review
2011. 11.Hedge Funds Regulation in U.S. after Dodd-Frank Act and Legal Proposals to Korea’s Hedge Fund Regulators, International Law Review