Overview
Hwijin (HJ) Choi advises and represents clients in fair trade and corporate matters. Mr. Choi earned a B.A. in Economics from Seoul National University and worked at Woori Bank (risk management, corporate credit). He graduated summa cum laude from Korea University School of Law, was admitted to the Korean Bar and then served as a law clerk at the Seoul High Court before joining Bae, Kim & Lee LLC.
Mr. Choi further achieved an LL.M. from Columbia Law School in 2019 and during his studies, engaged in pro bono at the Bronx office of Legal Services NYC as an extern. After graduating from Columbia Law School, he worked at Hogan Lovells US LLP, located in Washington D.C.
Related Practices
Representative Experience
2019-2020
Hogan Lovells US LLP, Washington D.C.
2019
Extern, Legal Services NYC, Bronx office, New York
2014-Present
Bae, Kim & Lee LLC
2012-2014
Law Clerk, Seoul High Court
2004-2009
Woori Bank
Representative Matters
Advised many multinational corporations on various antitrust matters
Advised global franchisors on compliance with the Franchise Act, including the registration of franchise disclosure documents
Managed multiple merger filings, including cross-border M&A deals
Currently handling multiple administrative litigation cases related to internal transactions within large corporate groups
Advised Lotte Shopping on the alleged abuse of its dominant market position
Advised many multinational corporations on various antitrust matters
Advised global franchisors on compliance with the Franchise Act, including the registration of franchise disclosure documents
Managed multiple merger filings, including cross-border M&A deals
Currently handling multiple administrative litigation cases related to internal transactions within large corporate groups
Advised Lotte Shopping on the alleged abuse of its dominant market position
Advised Tving on the filing of a business combination report on its absorption merger of Seezn (Unconditional Approval)
Advised construction company A on its response to KFTC's investigation and deliberation regarding its labelling and advertising (Acquittal)
Advised POSCO on its internal transactions and investigation of unfair transactions
Advised on the response to a case reported by People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy with regard to the terms and conditions of T Family Point (the Act on the Regulation of Terms and Conditions and the Act on Fair Labeling and Advertising)
Represented 3 multiplex companies as Defendants in the appeal seeking damages with regard to free invitation tickets and won a favorable judgment
Represented Company B in the administrative litigation involving a cartel formed by cardboard manufacturers and sellers and won a favorable judgment
Represented Company C as Plaintiff in the litigation seeking damages with regard to the violation of a lease agreement and won a partially favorable judgment
Represented Company D as Plaintiff in the litigation seeking damages with regard to a franchise agreement and won a partially favorable judgment
Represented Company E as Defendant in the litigation filed by a subcontractor claiming increased subcontract price and won a favorable judgment
Represented officers in Company F as Defendants in the shareholders' derivative lawsuit and won a favorable judgment
Represented Company G and Company GA in the case involving a cartel formed by cardboard manufacturers and sellers and obtained a reduction in administrative fines
Represented Company H in the administrative litigation involving unfair trade practices and won a favorable judgment
Education
2019
Columbia Law School (LL.M.)
2012
Korea University School of Law (J.D., summa cum laude)
2004
Seoul National University (B.A.)
Selected Activities
Publications
Digital Markets Guide - Fourth Edition: South Korea (Co-author, GCR, 2024)
The Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides - South Korea: Franchise & Licensing (Co-author, The Legal 500, 2024)
Merger Control 2025 - South Korea (Co-author, Lexology, 2024)
Corporate Group Regulation under the MRFTA – Book 1 (Co-author, Pakyoungsa, 2024)
Trends and Implications of Competition Law Regulations on Big Tech Companies in Japan, Journal of Competition (Korea Fair Competition Federation, 2024)
A Variety of Opinions Should Be Heard and Collected for the Legislation of Platform Fair Competition Promotion Act (etnews, 2024)
From the Practical Perspective: Review on Public Disclosure of Conglomerate Designation Criteria, Journal of Competition (Korea Fair Competition Federation, 2023)
Antitrust enforcement trends: An update from the 2019 ABA Antitrust Fall Forum Tech Summit (Co-author, Hogan Lovells ACER Alert, 2019)
Theory & Practice of the Act on Fair Transactions in Large Retail Business (Revised) (Co-author, Pakyoungsa, 2017)
Recent Examples and Issues related to the Act on Fair Transactions in Large Retail Business, Journal of Competition (Co-author, Korea Fair Competition Federation, 2017)
Sales Promotions: South Korea in Cross-border Commercial Transactions (Co-author, Thomson Reuters, 2017)
Activity
Lecturer, Fair Trade Practice in Subcontracting (Gyeonggi-do/Korea Compliance Initiative, 2024)
Panelist, The Joint Academic Conference of the Korean Competition Law Association - Competition Law and Platforms: Focusing on the Abuse of Market Dominant Position (Korean Competition Law Association/Korea Fair Trade Commission/Seoul National University Center for Competition Law, 2023)
Speaker, the First Seminar on Laws and Policies, SNU Center for Competition Law, Seoul National University (2023)
Speaker, On Enforcement Trends of the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act (CFA Society Korea, 2023)
Lecturer, Korea Fair Competition Federation and multiple corporations on the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act, the Fair Transactions in Subcontracting Act, and etc. (2021-2024)
Lecturer, LAWnB on the Act on the Regulation of Terms and Conditions, the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act, and the Act on Fair Labeling and Advertising (2021)
Qualifications
2023
New York
2012
Korea
2006
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
