HwaWoo LLC has brought on former Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office third deputy chief prosecutor Lee Seong-sik to strengthen its capabilities in responding to serious accidents and industrial safety, trade secret infringement, and technology leakage cases.
HwaWoo said on the 3rd that it hired former third deputy chief Lee as a partner attorney in its criminal response group. A 32nd class graduate of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, Lee served for more than 20 years as a prosecutor, including as head of the Public Criminal Division at the Ministry of Justice and as third deputy chief prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. He is regarded as having held key posts across labor and serious accidents, elections, and public criminal matters.
Lee in particular built hands-on experience in labor and industrial safety. At the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Lee was involved in labor investigations and, as a research officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, handled labor and election matters. Lee later served as head of the Public Criminal Division at the Ministry of Justice's Prosecutors' Office Bureau, joined the task force that drafted the enforcement decree of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, and also obtained certification as a designated specialist prosecutor in labor.
Experience responding to technology leakage and trade secret cases is also cited as a strength. From 2024 to 2025, Lee served as third deputy chief prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, directing investigations and trials of major criminal cases related to labor, industrial safety, international crime, information technology, and trade secrets. Having served as legal adviser at the National Intelligence Service (NIS), Lee was credited with gaining an understanding of industrial technology protection and overall corporate security issues.
HwaWoo plans to further strengthen advisory services on corporate criminal risk management, investigative response, and trial strategy with Lee's addition. The firm expects Lee to play a major role not only in responses under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act but also in areas where criminal and industrial regulation issues converge, such as trade secret infringement and technology leakage cases.
Lee graduated from Simin High School in Daegu and Seoul National University School of Law, and completed a master's program at the University of Pennsylvania Law School in the United States. Lee also earned a Wharton School business and law certificate. After serving as a public interest judicial officer, Lee was appointed a prosecutor in 2006 and worked at the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, Daegu District Prosecutors' Office, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Seongnam Branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, Pohang Branch of the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office, the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and the National Intelligence Service.
HwaWoo managing partner Lee Myeong-su said, "With the addition of attorney Lee Seong-sik, who brings expertise and trust, HwaWoo's criminal response capabilities have been further strengthened," adding, "We will continue to bring in top talent and provide differentiated client service."