Jin-uk (Joseph) Kim is a partner at Peter & Kim and is dual qualified in Korea and California. He has extensive experience representing and advising clients in international arbitrations, cross-border disputes, and compliance related matters. He is also an adjunct professor at George Mason University Korea.
Joseph represented clients in international arbitrations conducted under the rules of the ICC, SIAC, HKIAC, AAA, JAMS, and KCAB. In addition, He has acted as counsel in proceedings before Korean courts for clients based in a wide range of jurisdictions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Russia, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Saudi Arabia. He also has significant experience coordinating and managing cross-border disputes before courts in multiple jurisdictions, including the United States, France, Italy, New Zealand, and Israel, working closely with local counsel to develop and implement effective dispute resolution strategies.
Joseph also represented clients in matters involving the recognition, enforcement, and annulment of foreign court judgments, as well as applications for interim measures before Korean courts. Furthermore, he has advised corporations on a broad range of compliance and regulatory matters, helping clients identify legal risks and develop practical, business-oriented compliance solutions.
He is native in Korean and fluent in English.
Career details
- Partner, Peter & Kim (2026 – present)
- Adjunct Professor, George Mason University Korea (2025 – present)
- Partner, Lee & Ko (2019 – 2026)
- Visiting Attorney; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher (Washington D.C. office) (2023 – 2024)
- Senior Associate, Lee & Ko (2017-2019)
- Associate, Yoon & Yang (2012– 2017)
Education details
- UC Berkeley, School of Law (LL.M., 2023)
- Judicial Research and Training Institute, Supreme Court of Korea (2012)
- Yonsei University, College of Law (LL.B., 2010)
Experience
International Arbitration Cases
- Represented a Korean cloud and software company against the Korean subsidiary of a British IT company in a dispute concerning a software license agreement (JAMS rules).
- Represented a Chinse online gaming company against a Korean gaming company in multiple disputes about an IP licensing contract concerning a famous online game (ICC and KCAB rules).
- Represented a major Korean construction company against a Netherlands-based catalyst company in a dispute regarding a supply agreement that involved an oil refinery in the U.A.E. (ICC rules).
- Represented a Hong Kong-based company against a Korean company in a dispute concerning a franchise and trademark license agreement (ICC rules).
- Represented a renowned construction company in Korea against a Korean subsidiary of a France-based company in a dispute involving a long term supply agreement (ICC rules).
- Represented a major Korean furniture company against a U.S. company in a dispute arising from a joint venture agreement (AAA Rules).
- Represented a Korean steel company against a Hong Kong steel suppling company in a dispute relating to a supply agreement (HKIAC rules).
Cross-Border Litigations – Inbound
- Represented and provided legal assistance to one of the largest conglomerates in Korea against several U.S. companies and a Singapore company in a case concerning a joint venture dispute brought before both a Korean court and a U.S. court.
- Represented a German company operating ambulance aircraft against a Korean maintenance company in relation to a maintenance-related accident that occurred at Gimpo Airport, Korea.
- Represented a U.S. company operating aircraft against its Korean guarantors with regard to an aircraft lease agreement and guarantee agreement.
- Represented a U.S.-based automotive parts manufacturer in Korean court proceedings against claims raised by its Korean counterpart arising from a supply agreement and related AAA arbitral award.
- Represented a global resort company in Korean court proceedings against claims raised by a resort guest arising from an accident that occurred while staying at the resort.
- Represented an Italian fabric manufacturing company against a Korean entity in relation to a dispute concerning a sale and purchase agreement heard before a Korean court (governing law: CISG and Italian law).
- Successfully defended and advised Korea’s leading airline in numerous international carriage cases heard by Korean courts where the application of the Montreal Convention of 1999 was at issue.
- Represented the Korean affiliate of a U.S. company providing financial lease services in Korea against a Korean company in relation to a financial lease agreement dispute heard before a Korean court.
- Represented six Italian solar companies against a subsidiary of a Korean financial institution in relation to a loan agreement dispute heard before a Korean court.
- Successfully obtained recognition and enforcement of a Russian court judgment for the first time in Korea based on reciprocity (mutual recognition) while representing a Russian company against a Korean company.
- Represented a U.S. food distribution company in recognition and enforcement proceedings in Korea concerning a U.S. default judgment against a Korean company.
Cross-Border Litigations – Outbound
- Represented and provided legal assistance to one of the largest conglomerates in Korea against several U.S. companies and a Singapore company in a case concerning a joint venture dispute brought before both a Korean court and a U.S. court.
- Represented a German company operating ambulance aircraft against a Korean maintenance company in relation to a maintenance-related accident that occurred at Gimpo Airport, Korea.
- Represented a U.S. company operating aircraft against its Korean guarantors with regard to an aircraft lease agreement and guarantee agreement.
- Represented a U.S.-based automotive parts manufacturer in Korean court proceedings against claims raised by its Korean counterpart arising from a supply agreement and related AAA arbitral award.
- Represented a global resort company in Korean court proceedings against claims raised by a resort guest arising from an accident that occurred while staying at the resort.
- Represented an Italian fabric manufacturing company against a Korean entity in relation to a dispute concerning a sale and purchase agreement heard before a Korean court (governing law: CISG and Italian law).
- Successfully defended and advised Korea’s leading airline in numerous international carriage cases heard by Korean courts where the application of the Montreal Convention of 1999 was at issue.
- Represented the Korean affiliate of a U.S. company providing financial lease services in Korea against a Korean company in relation to a financial lease agreement dispute heard before a Korean court.
- Represented six Italian solar companies against a subsidiary of a Korean financial institution in relation to a loan agreement dispute heard before a Korean court.
- Successfully obtained recognition and enforcement of a Russian court judgment for the first time in Korea based on reciprocity (mutual recognition) while representing a Russian company against a Korean company.
- Represented a U.S. food distribution company in recognition and enforcement proceedings in Korea concerning a U.S. default judgment against a Korean company.
- Provided legal advice and assistance to several Korean financial institutions in multiple litigation proceedings before Russian courts involving S. sanctions against Russia.
- Provided legal advice and assistance to a Korean defense company in a trade secret misappropriation dispute against an Israeli defense company before an Israeli court.
- Provided legal advice and assistance to a renowned fashion clothing company in Korea against a famous U.S. fashion brand company with regard to a trademark license and distribution agreement dispute brought before a U.S. federal court.
- Provided legal advice and assistance to a U.S. ink manufacturing company against a Korean ceramics company in a product liability case heard before a U.S. federal court.
- Provided legal advice and assistance to a Korean IT company against a U.S. IT company with regard to an alleged trade secret misappropriation dispute brought before a U.S. federal court.
- Provided legal advice and assistance to a cosmetic company located in Korea against a U.S. financial company in relation to a dispute involving a U.S. default judgment.
- Provided legal advice and assistance to one of Korea’s leading chemical companies in a dispute against an Israeli insurance company brought before an Israeli court.
- Provided legal advice and assistance to a renowned fashion clothing company in Korea against a fashion brand company in France in a case pertaining to a distribution agreement brought before a French court.
Compliance/ESG/Internal Investigations
- Provided legal advice and assistance to a global company in the energy and electrical vehicle battery industries and its subsidiaries during a compliance project aimed at establishing the company’s global compliance system.
- Provided legal advice and assistance to a leading pharmaceutical company located in Korea during a compliance project aimed at establishing and operating the company’s-wide compliance program.
- Provided legal advice and assistance to a leading energy company located Korea during an ESG compliance project aimed at renovating the company’s overall ESG compliance program.
Professional Affiliations
- Korean and Seoul Bar Associations
Publications
- Co-author, “Lexology Panoramic: Enforcement of Foreign Judgments 2026 – South Korea”
- Co-author, “Legal Systems in South Korea: Overview,” Practical Law (Country Q&A) (2021)
- Co-author, “Regulation of the Legal Profession in South Korea: Overview,” Practical Law (Country Q&A) (2021)
- Co-author, “Covid-19 Outbreak: Managing Legal Issues from the Korean Law Perspective,” International Litigation Group Newsletter, Lee & Ko (2020)
- Co-author, “Enforcement of Foreign Judgments: Fundamental Principles,” Multi-Law (2019)
- Co-author, “Enforcement of Foreign Judgments: Interim and Precautionary Measures,” Multi-Law (2019)
- “Introduction on International Arbitration and Case Studies,” Intensive Course on Civil Law for Public Servants Managing State-Involved Litigation, Korea Institute of Justice (2017)
- Co-author, “Korea Chapter,” GAR The Asia-Pacific Arbitration Review (2016)