South Korea’s major law firm Shin & Kim LLC (Shin & Kim), led by Managing Partner Jong-Han Oh, has announced the launch of its AI & Digital Competition Team to address the various competition law issues arising in the AI and digital landscape.
“A broad range of market participants, from global technology companies to Korean conglomerates, small and medium-sized enterprises, and startups, are actively pursuing technological innovation, strategic partnerships, and business expansion to capitalize on this trend and strengthen their competitiveness,” said Shin & Kim in their statement.
Shin & Kim has established its AI & Digital Competition Team, focusing on delivering in-depth, comprehensive competition law assessment of the AI and digital industries and strategic guidance on regulatory risk management.
Through its AI & Digital Competition Team, Shin & Kim aims to provide expert guidance and practical solutions on a broad range of complex competition law issues arising across the AI and digital industries. These include issues relating to core infrastructure such as AI semiconductors and cloud services; the increasing concentration of training data and computing resources; the integration of AI services with major platforms; exclusionary concerns arising in the deployment and distribution of AI models; competition law risks associated with strategic investments, partnerships, and ecosystem expansion; the exercise of platform market power; access to data and core infrastructure; interoperability; vertical integration in the course of ecosystem expansion; and algorithm-driven anticompetitive concerns.
Shin & Kim’s AI & Digital Competition Team will be led by Partner Changhun Lee (Judicial Research and Training Institute, who has extensive experience handling matters in digital sectors, including mobile, semiconductors, and AI.
Over the past two decades, Lee has represented clients in numerous high-profile domestic and cross-border antitrust cases and is highly regarded across industries for his strategic acumen and deep understanding of complex competition law issues.
He also brings a strong blend of practical and academic expertise, having served as Planning Director of the Korea Competition Law Association, External Affairs Director of the Platform Law and Policy Association, Steering Committee Member of the Seoul National University Center for Competition Law, and Director of the Korea Competition Forum.
Since 2021, Lee has also served on Shin & Kim’s Management Committee, contributing to the firm’s remarkable growth.
Senior Foreign Attorney (U.S.) John H. Choi, Chair of Global Cases and Investigations, will also serve as a key member of the team. Choi has nearly 30 years of experience in antitrust and has handled a wide range of major global competition law matters.
He is consistently recognized as a Tier 1 practitioner in competition law by leading legal directories, including Chambers.
In addition, Senior Foreign Attorney (U.S.) Hyunah Kim, together with Partner Gyutae Park (Judicial Research and Training Institute, Partner Seungjun Woo, Partner Taeseok Kim, and Partner Jaeyi Kim, as well as other professionals with deep industry insight and competition law expertise in the AI and digital sectors, will play key roles in supporting the team and further strengthening its capabilities.
Senior Advisor Chul-Ho Ji, former Vice Chairman of the Korea Fair Trade Commission, and Senior Advisor In Ho Lee, an expert in economic analysis, will also contribute to the team, enabling the firm to deliver comprehensive advice that combines regulatory insight with sophisticated, data-driven economic analysis.
Changhun Lee, Head of Shin & Kim’s AI & Digital Competition Team, stated, “As competition authorities in Korea and abroad approach the regulation of AI and digital markets through new perspectives and under evolving standards distinct from traditional frameworks, companies need to identify and assess competition law issues proactively and carefully from the earliest stages of formulating and implementing their business strategies.”
He added, “Drawing on Shin & Kim’s accumulated experience and deep understanding of competition law issues in the AI and digital industries, we will provide clients with strategic guidance to help them navigate the evolving competitive landscape and enhance their long-term competitiveness.”
