Korea
Korea overview
Backed by more than four decades' experience advising in Korea related matters, we opened an office in Seoul in 2015 to be close to our clients. Korean entities have relied on us for strategic and commercial solutions to their complex legal issues. Members of our multidisciplinary Korea practice—based in Seoul and located throughout the Firm's global network—are deeply familiar with the needs of Korean clients, and they have strong ties in each of the markets where we practice.
Korea's conglomerates, financial institutions and state-owned enterprises frequently lead or participate in large-scale international projects and investments. Many are global leaders in the construction, energy, infrastructure, electronics, semiconductor, steelmaking, automotive, media and entertainment, technology and pharmaceuticals and healthcare industries, and they turn to White & Case as a trusted advisor when venturing into new markets or deepening their presence in existing ones. Along with being entrusted on major deals and projects, we are called upon by Korean clients to secure their interests in bet-the-company disputes, and high-stakes investigations and trade matters.
In a sign of our commitment to the Korean market, we continually invest to develop foreign-trained Korean-speaking lawyers who can manage the multijurisdictional issues that our clients face.
With our thorough knowledge and international reach, we are fully able to support Korean clients—ensuring quality and consistency across our service offerings—as they pursue opportunities in the global marketplace.
Korea experience
€1.5 billion acquisition of FläktGroup
Representation of Samsung Electronics on its €1.5 billion acquisition of Germany-headquartered FläktGroup, a global provider of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) solutions, from funds advised by German-Swedish investment company Triton, which acquired FläktGroup in 2016.
US$1.9 billion sale of Medit Corporation
Representation of Jinho Chang and Minho Chang, founders of Medit Corporation, a leading manufacturer of dental scanners, in the sale of their portion of the 99.5% stake in Medit Corporation to MBK Partners for approximately US$1.9 billion (majority stake sold by Unison Capital).
Biologics acquisition in the US
Representation of Lotte Corporation in its US$160 million acquisition of pharmaceutical manufacturing assets in Syracuse, New York, from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and its establishment of Lotte Biologics.
Battery recycling and energy storage solutions acquisitions in the US
Representation of LG Energy Solution in its acquisition of NEC Energy Solutions, an energy storage system integration and solutions company, and, together with LG Chem, investment in Li-Cycle, a Nasdaq-listed lithium battery recycling company.
Equity financing
Representation of Brite Energy Partners in its additional equity financing and further financing commitment in an aggregate amount of more than US$400 million from BlackRock Real Assets.
Latin music business platform and acquisitions in the US
Representation of HYBE Co., Ltd., one of South Korea's largest music label and KRX-listed entertainment, media and technology companies, on establishing its Latin music business platform and US acquisitions of Exile Music and Exile Podcast from media and entertainment company Exile Content.
Jeonnam offshore wind project
Representation of the sponsors in its development and project financing of the 99 MW Jeonnam 1 offshore wind project in Shin-an County in Jeonnam Province. This is the first non-recourse project financed offshore wind farm in South Korea. This deal won multiple awards including "Renewable Energy Deal of the Year – Offshore Wind" at the IJGlobal Asia Pacific Awards 2023 and "South Korea Renewable Deal of the Year – Wind" at The Asset Triple A Sustainable Infrastructure Awards 2023.
Naphtha cracker project
Representation of Lotte Chemical Corporation and PT Lotte Chemical Indonesia in the development and financing of a US$2.4 billion naphtha cracker project in the Banten Province of Indonesia. The lenders included Export-Import Bank of Korea, the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation and 12 other commercial banks. This deal was recognized as "Oil & Gas Deal of the Year – Petrochemicals" at the IJGlobal Asia Pacific Awards 2023.
Digital Edge data center
Representation of ING and CACIB on the KRW440 billion (approx. US$345 million) project financing of a data center project in Bupyeong-Gu, Incheon, South Korea. The project is being developed by Digital Edge, a Stonepeak-backed digital infrastructure developer, and SK ecoplant. The 120-megawatt facility will be the largest commercial data center project in South Korea. This transaction was named "Sustainability-Linked Loan – Data Centers" by IJGlobal Asia Pacific Awards 2023.
ICN10 data center
Representation of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) on the project financing for the Digital Seoul 1 (ICN10) data center project located in the Sangam Digital Media City in Seoul, South Korea.
Wampu hydroelectric power plant
Representation of Korea Midland Power Co., Ltd. (KOMIPO), Sprott Korea Investment Corp., Posco Eco & Challenge and PT Wampu Electric Power in connection with the successful refinancing of a 45 MW run-of-the-river hydroelectric power plant on the Wampu River in North Sumatra, Indonesia.
Horus Solar
Representation of The Export Import Bank of Korea and Banco KEB Hana Mexico as Mandated Lead Arrangers, Term Facility Representatives and Lenders in a $50,721,287.37 financing of Horus Solar's capital expenditures in connection with a photovoltaic power plant and associated electrical substation and interconnection line.
Refinery & petrochemical plant
Representation of the Asian EPC Contractor Consortium in a SIAC arbitration seated in Singapore in relation to a US$2 billion dispute arising out of a contract to design, procure and construct a refinery and petrochemical plant in a Southeast Asian country.
Post-M&A SIAC arbitration
Representation of a Korean private equity & venture capital firm in the claims that arose out of breaches of misrepresentations, warranties and covenants by the seller in a PE M&A transaction.
Contractual dispute
Representation of a Korean global chemicals company in a SIAC arbitration arising from a dispute relating to a contract for the sale and purchase of hydrocarbons.
Key contacts
Named "Best Foreign Law Firm in Korea"
Asia Business Law Journal’s Korea Law Firm Awards 2022-2023 & 2023-2024
Ranked as a leading firm in Corporate and M&A, International Arbitration and Projects & Energy in South Korea
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2020-2024
Ranked as a leading firm in Corporate / M&A, Dispute Resolution and Projects & Infrastructure in South Korea
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2019-2024
Project Finance Deal of the Year
ALB Korea Law Awards 2021
"M&A Deal of the Year"—Business Integration of Z Holdings and LINE
ALB Korea Law Awards 2020
