Law firm Barun said on the 16th that it has brought on former Suwon High Court high court judge Choi Jong-won (Judicial Research and Training Institute class 33), former Changwon District Court Geochang branch presiding judge Hong Seok-hyun (class 38), and others.
Attorney Choi Jong-won was appointed a judge in 2007 and, during 19 years on the bench, gained broad trial experience across criminal and civil, family, and rehabilitation and bankruptcy matters. At the Judicial Research and Training Institute, Choi served as chief instructor for criminal trial practice. Choi took part as Head of Team in the revision of "Guide to Trial Work (Criminal)," a trial practice textbook for judges. On the Suwon High Court's civil construction-dedicated panel, Choi also handled numerous construction cases, including large-scale construction projects and defect lawsuits over apartment construction.
Attorney Hong Seok-hyun was appointed a judge in 2009 and, over 17 years on the bench, served as presiding judge for criminal panels, appeals, and single-judge divisions, as well as handling warrant-only duties. In addition to assignments at the Seoul Northern District Court's redevelopment and reconstruction division, the Seoul Administrative Court, and the Seoul Family Court (Seoul Family Court) family panel, Hong also built trial experience in civil, administrative, and family cases.
While serving as a judge, Attorney Choi, in a case involving a double sale of real estate, found that the first sales contract was void due to failure of conditions and acquitted the defendant of breach of trust charges. While serving as a judge, Attorney Hong handled cases including a suit to confirm the invalidity of a local government ordinance limiting business hours and mandating closures for big-box retailers, and a case canceling the disposition refusing to initiate abolition of an urban planning facility related to Bongeunsa's Bongeun Neighborhood Park development urban planning project.
Barun also hired Attorney Kim Mi-jung (class 35), a financial regulation expert from the Financial Supervisory Service, and Attorney Lee Ui-gyu (first bar exam), a corporations compliance expert.
Attorney Kim worked in finance for 18 years, including at NH Investment & Securities, the Financial Supervisory Service, and law firms. At the Financial Supervisory Service's Asset Management Examination Department, Legal Affairs Office, and Corporations Disclosure Department, Kim oversaw inspection and sanction advisory work, headed litigation, and handled disclosure regulation.
Attorney Lee carried out hands-on work on compliance, governance, internal transactions, and whistleblower investigations for seven major Samsung affiliates at the Samsung Compliance Committee. Lee also served as Head of Team for legal affairs and compliance at Law&Company, a legal tech startup.
Kim Do-hyung, managing partner at Barun, said, "With the addition of two attorneys with extensive trial practice experience, we have strengthened our civil and criminal litigation capabilities, and we have also reinforced our expertise in financial regulation and compliance."
Barun hired experienced attorneys Oh Yun-ju (13th bar exam) and Bae Seong-eun and Park Seung-woo (both 14th bar exam), as well as 10 first-year attorneys (15th bar exam).