Minjoo Cho

Minjoo Cho

  • Advisor
  • T. +82-2-3404-0592
  • F. +82-2-3404-0801
  • E. minjoo.cho@bkl.co.kr

Overview

Minjoo Cho devotes herself mainly to providing consultancy and advice on the respective regulations governing the healthcare industry, pharmaceutical industry, medical device industry, food industry, and cosmetics industry, and on criminal litigation concerning the violation of those regulations. She tailors her consulting and advisory services to the needs of each client from various fields by tapping into her extensive experience and expert knowledge built while working in, among others, a pharmaceutical company, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

Ms. Cho, after majoring in Pharmaceutical Science and finishing a Graduate School of Pharmacy, joined a pharmaceutical company in which she took charge of clinical trial design and management. Afterward, she moved to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (Biologics Division, Criminal Investigation Division, Pharmaceutical Policy Division, a regional office, etc.)—in which she worked for as long as 17 years, engaged in a wide range of tasks, for example: examining drugs to decide whether to approve or authorize them; undertaking investigations into illegal food products, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices; establishing pharmaceutical policies; and conducting GMP audits on drug manufacturers. In addition, during her career in the ministry, she was even dispatched to, and played an active role in, the pan-government special team under Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office for investigations into narcotics crimes, such as over-prescription of narcotics for medical purposes.

Representative Experience

2023-Present Bae, Kim & Lee LLC
2023 Member, Special Narcotics Crime Investigation Team, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Secondment)
2006-2023 Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
2005-2006 Pharmaceutical Business Department, CJ

Representative Matters

Undertook investigations into illegal food products, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, and narcotic substances (with regard to, e.g., the over-prescription by a medical institution of narcotic painkillers, the manufacturing of cosmetics containing illegal pigments, the manufacturing and sale of unapproved drugs, the manufacturing and sale of medical devices whose changes were not approved, and the manufacturing of quasi drugs deprived of their main ingredients)
Established drug-related policies at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and resolve suspensions in the supply of drugs
Performed drug evaluation activities—such as conducting the approval and authorization procedures for blood derivatives, etc.; reviewing clinical trial plans; and designating certain drugs as orphan drugs

Education

2006 Seoul National University (M.S.)
2004 Dongduk Women's University (B.S.)

Selected Activities

Awards
Citation (Public Prosecutor General, 2020)
Citation (Minister of Food and Drug Safety, 2015)

Qualifications

2016 Authorized Administrative Agent (Korea)
2004 Pharmacist (Korea)