Major large law firms are racing to recruit defense industry experts. With the fallout from war in the Middle East and rising expectations for expanded K-defense exports, they judge that demand for related legal services will surge. As the defense boom takes hold as a structural growth trend rather than a short-term variable, law firms' "first-mover competition" is entering full swing.
◇Recruitment fields are diverse as well… building a "one-stop advisory" system
According to legal sources on the 30th, Shin & Kim LLC brought on Kang Jung-hee, a former brigadier general in the Air Force who headed the Aircraft Systems Program Office at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, as an advisor.
After graduating from the Air Force Academy, Brig. Gen. Kang served as a logistics officer and carried out the establishment of the C4I concept and contracts for fighter jets and helicopters. Kang then spent 20 years at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration handling core defense tasks such as international contracting, acquisition planning, aviation programs, and offset trade. Shin & Kim also hired Jang Sung-gi, a senior advisor who previously served as a team leader at the Defense Acquisition Investigation Division of the Ministry of National Defense Prosecutors' Office.
Gwangjang hired Kang Eun-ho, a former Administrator of the agency, as an advisor early this year. Kang worked at the agency from its inception and in 2020 became the first internally promoted Administrator; Kang has experience overseeing defense export policy and major programs.
Jipyung expanded its organization by launching a Global Defense and Security Team, and DR & AJU hired Jeong Kyeong-doo, a former Minister of the Ministry of National Defense, as an advisor. By securing figures with experience in defense policy and the military leadership, they strengthened their advisory capabilities.
HwaWoo recruited attorneys Lee In-hee and Kim Min-kyu, who have agency experience, while Barun brought on attorney Lee Chae-jun, who worked for 10 years as an executive in the defense sector at Samsung Techwin and Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Ocean, respectively.
YulChon in May last year hired attorney Kim Nan-hyung, who has experience managing guided weapons programs at the agency, and brought on Moon Seung-wook, a former Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, as an advisor.
Taepyungyang in Aug. 2024 hired Lee Chang-ho, a former head of the Defense Industry Policy Division at the agency, and Sim Gyu-chan, a former head of the Naval and Air Force Capabilities Section in the Defense Industry Office at the Defense Security Command, as advisors. Attorney Choi Da-mi, who handled statutory interpretation at the agency, also joined. YK signed a business agreement with a defense-specialized research institute to strengthen its external network.
The pool of recruits is also diversifying. Those from the agency and the Ministry of National Defense cover policy and procurement structures; those with investigative and prosecutorial backgrounds handle defense industry corruption and sanctions responses; and former corporate executives complement contracting and business operations. This is seen as a move to build a "one-stop" system spanning exports, regulation, investigations, and investment advisory, beyond simple staffing increases.
◇Defense exports jumped 60% last year… structural growth
Behind this competition is the growth of the defense industry. According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, last year's defense exports totaled $15.4 billion, up more than 60% from a year earlier. With global demand expanding due to the aftermath of the Middle East war, analysis suggests that the standing of Korea's defense industry is also growing.
Unlike general industries, defense faces various regulations even after contracts are signed. Offset trade, policy finance, export controls, permits and licenses, and technology transfer reviews are intertwined. It is not easy for corporations to respond alone, increasing the need for experts who understand both government policy and regulatory structures.
On top of this, government policies to foster defense startups are expected to further expand legal demand. Advisory areas are broadening beyond reviewing overseas contracts and royalties to investment and mergers and acquisitions (M&A), regulatory responses, disputes, and investigation responses.
In legal circles, the view is that this move is not merely staff expansion but a "race to secure the market first." Choi Gi-il, a professor in the Department of Military Studies at Sangji University, said, "The security industry is a field that requires astronomical budgets and strict controls, making public-private collaboration essential," adding, "For law firms as well, securing talent with an understanding of the industry is becoming a key competitive edge."