Three sessions cover systemic changes and practical issues

In-house lawyers from domestic and foreign firms attend in force

Hwawoo Managing Partner Kang Nam-il delivers a welcoming address at the seminar. [Hwawoo]
Hwawoo Managing Partner Kang Nam-il delivers a welcoming address at the seminar. [Hwawoo]

Law firm Hwawoo held a seminar Thursday at its training center under the theme "Transformation of the Investigation System: Changes in Corporate Criminal Risk and Response Strategies." About 100 in-house lawyers from domestic and foreign companies attended, reflecting strong interest in the evolving criminal justice system.

The event was organized to help companies proactively assess and address criminal risks as South Korea's criminal justice framework undergoes fundamental change — including the abolition of the Prosecution Service, the creation of a new public prosecution office and a serious crimes investigation agency, and an expansion of special judicial police authority.

The seminar opened with a welcoming address by Hwawoo Managing Partner Kang Nam-il. Three sessions examined the shifting landscape of the investigation system and its practical implications from multiple angles.

The first session, titled "Legislative Progress and Amendment Trends," was presented by partner attorney Jo Gyu-ung, a former prosecutor at the Suwon District Prosecutors Office. He outlined the structural changes to criminal procedure stemming from the separation of investigation and indictment functions, and stressed the importance of early responses to specialized investigative agencies and the new prosecution office following the abolition of the Prosecution Service.

The second session, "Changes in Special Judicial Police Investigations and Corporate Responses," was led by partner attorney Lee Seong-sik, a former third deputy chief prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office. He examined how the standing of special judicial police officers in practice has shifted since the restructuring and walked through case-handling procedures. Drawing on major investigation cases, he analyzed evolving patterns in special judicial police procedures and offered guidance on early-stage corporate responses and documentation strategies.

The third session, "Changes in Serious and Criminal Case Investigations and Corporate Responses," featured partner attorney Kim Sang-mun, a former investigation review officer at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. He assessed the shift toward a police-centered investigation environment and explained practical strategies for quickly establishing the facts from the earliest stages of an investigation and securing defense rights in conjunction with digital forensics.

"The rapid transformation of the investigation structure demands a wholesale shift in how companies approach criminal investigations," said Hwawoo Managing Partner Lee Myeong-su. "Hwawoo's Corporate Criminal Response Strategy Center will continue to provide optimal solutions for preventing and responding to corporate criminal risk, built on close collaboration among professionals with deep practical experience and expertise."

Meanwhile, Hwawoo recorded sales of 301.2 billion won ($218 million) last year, including its affiliated firms and overseas offices, surpassing 300 billion won in annual revenue for the first time in its history. Revenue per Korean attorney stood at 762 million won. Sales growth has continued since Lee took office in 2024, supported by strong performance across financial regulation, major litigation, fair trade, intellectual property, serious accidents, and mergers and acquisitions.


park.jiyeong@heraldcorp.com