Overview
Hongjoong (HJ) Kim is a partner at International Arbitration and Litigation Practice Group, Bae, Kim & Lee LLC.
Mr. Kim joined BKL in 2006 after three years of service in the Korean Air Force as a judge advocate. Since then, he has been involved in hundreds of large-scale international disputes. His experience covers a wide range of disputes over the industries, including but not limited to post-M&A, distributorship, shipbuilding, aerospace, retail, automobile parts, oil, and health care.
Mr. Kim served as Vice President of International Affairs at the Korean Bar Association from February 2023 to February 2025. He has also been serving as Chairman of the International Committee at the Korean Bar Association since February 2023.
Related Practices
Representative Experience
2006-Present
Bae, Kim & Lee LLC
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2023-Present
EXCO member, LAWASIA
2023-Present
Councillor, Republic of Korea, LAWASIA
2023-Present
Member, Foreign Legal Consultant Disciplinary Committee, Ministry of Justice
2023-Present
Chairman, International Committee, Korean Bar Association
2023-2025
Organisation Member, International Bar Association (IBA)
2023-2025
Director, International Association of Korean Lawyers (IAKL)
2023-2025
Vice President of International Affairs, Korean Bar Association
2023-2023
Member, the ICCA (International Council for Commercial Arbitration) 2028 Seoul Congress Bid Committee
2022-Present
Mediator, Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC)
2018-Present
International Arbitrator, Korean Commercial Arbitration Board International
2016-2023
Advisor, Legal Advisory Group for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises' Entry into Overseas Markets, Ministry of Justice
2015-Present
Arbitrator, The Korean Commercial Arbitration Board
2014-2017
Court-appointed Mediator, Seoul Central District Court
2014-2016
Member, Revision Committee of International Arbitration Rules, Korean Commercial Arbitration Board
2012
Mediator, Los Angeles County Superior Court
2003-2006
Judge Advocate, Republic of Korea Air Force
Representative Matters
Represented a retail company in an ICC arbitration in Singapore in relation its supermarket business in China
Represented a US medical equipment manufacturing company in an ICC arbitration in Singapore regarding the termination of its distribution agreement in Korea
Represented a heavy industry company in an ICC arbitration in Paris involving a dispute among its shareholders
Represented a IT & engineering company in the pursuit of cancelling an arbitral award (regarding its waste recycling agreement) in Seoul
Represented a client in a dispute over its nuclear power plant system supply agreement under the KCAB rules in Seoul
Represented an insurance company in an ad hoc arbitration in Thailand regarding its retrocession contract (life insurance)
Represented a Saudi subsidiary in an ICC arbitration in Saudi Arabia involving construction costs
Represented a retail company in an ICC arbitration in Singapore in relation its supermarket business in China
Represented a US medical equipment manufacturing company in an ICC arbitration in Singapore regarding the termination of its distribution agreement in Korea
Represented an aircraft developer in an ICC arbitration in Switzerland involving its helicopter supply agreement
Represented a client in an LMAA arbitration in London in connection with the delivery of vessels
Represented a client in a LCIA arbitration in London in relation to the termination of a distribution agreement for food production equipment
Represented a heavy industry company in an ICC arbitration in Paris involving a dispute among its shareholders
Represented a client in an ICC arbitration in Seoul involving the termination of a construction materials production agreement
Represented a client in an ad hoc arbitration in Seoul in relation to insurance claim under erection all risks insurance (thermal power plant)
Represented an airline company in an ICC arbitration in Singapore involving its in-flight meal supply agreement
Represented a IT & engineering company in the pursuit of cancelling an arbitral award (regarding its waste recycling agreement) in Seoul
Represented a client in a dispute over its nuclear power plant system supply agreement under the KCAB rules in Seoul
Represented a client in an ICC arbitration in Seoul in relation to a multifunctional new town development project
Represented a Philippine subsidiary in a CIAC arbitration in the Philippines in relation to its local construction works
Represented a client in a dispute over its combined cycle power plant supply agreement under the KCAB rules in Seoul
Represented a Chinese joint venture company (food company) in an ICC arbitration in Hong Kong involving a dispute among its shareholders
Represented a client in a KCAB arbitration in Seoul regarding its port management agreement
Represented a client in a U.S. lawsuit in Philadelphia in relation to solar panel defects
Represented a client in a U.S. lawsuit in New York involving stock price manipulation
Represented a client in an ICC arbitration in Seoul involving its solar power plant in Bulgaria
Education
2012
Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law (LL.M.)
2003
Judicial Research and Training Institute, Supreme Court of Korea
2002
Yonsei University (LL.B.)
Selected Activities
Publications
ICLG - International Arbitration 2023 – South Korea (Global Legal Group, 2023)
Chambers Global Practice Guides: Enforcement of Judgments 2023 (Co-author, Chambers and Partners, 2023)
GAR - The Investment Treaty Arbitration Know-how 2022 - South Korea (Global Arbitration Review, 2022)
Chambers Global Practice Guides: Enforcement of Judgments 2022 - South Korea (Chambers and Partners, 2022)
ICLG - International Arbitration 2022 (Global Legal Group, 2022)
ICLG - International Arbitration 2020: Promotional Guidelines (International Comparative Legal Guide, 2020)
A Financial Arrangement in International Arbitration through Third Party Funding, Arbitration Journal Vol. 351, pp. 6-17 (Korean Commercial Arbitration Board, 2019)
Arbitration Law & Practice (Co-author, Pakyoungsa, 2016)
Analysis of the Supreme Court Judgment 2012Da4824 concerning whether the operating loss resulting from the product defect can be compensated under the Product Liability Act, Risk and Insurance Vol. 120 (Korean Reinsurance Company, 2016)
In-House Counsel's Attorney-Client Privilege concerning Discovery Procedures, Arbitration Journal Vol. 344, pp. 48-53 (Korean Commercial Arbitration Board, 2016)
About Revision of the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board's International Arbitration Rules on Appointment of Arbitrators, Arbitration Journal Vol. 343, pp. 14-21 (Korean Commercial Arbitration Board, 2015)
Arbitration Law of Korea: Practice and Procedure (Co-author, Juris Publishing, 2012)
Awards
Chambers Asia-Pacific - Leading Lawyer (2022-2024)
Chambers Global - Leading Lawyer (2019-2024)
Who's Who Legal - Leading Practitioner (2024)
Qualifications
2015
New York
2003
Korea
Awards and Recognition
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Chambers Global 2024 - Leading Individual (8 consecutive years)
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WWL Leading Practitioner (2024): Arbitration
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Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024 - Leading Individual (3 consecutive years)
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Chambers Asia-Pacific 2023 - Leading Individual
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Chambers Global 2022 - Leading Individual
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Chambers Asia-Pacific 2022 - Leading Individual
Related Content
View morePractice Areas
Awards and Recognition
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Chambers Global 2024 - Leading Individual (8 consecutive years)
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WWL Leading Practitioner (2024): Arbitration
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Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024 - Leading Individual (3 consecutive years)
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Chambers Asia-Pacific 2023 - Leading Individual
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Chambers Global 2022 - Leading Individual
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Chambers Asia-Pacific 2022 - Leading Individual
