법무법인바른 사이트는 IE11이상 혹은 타 브라우저에서
정상적으로 구동되도록 구현되었습니다.

익스플로러 10 이하버전에서는 브라우저 버전 업데이트 혹은
엣지, 크롬, 사파리등의 다른 브라우저로 접속을 부탁드립니다. 감사합니다.

Kim, Yong Woo Attorney (Partner)

Professionals Introduction

Attorney Kim, Yong Woo is a specialist in various disputes related to redevelopment projects, PF projects, and construction subcontracting disputes. He graduated from Sungkyunkwan University School of Law, and completed his master's at Seoul National University School of Law and the Judicial Research and Training Institute. He is currently a partner attorney of the firm.

Attorney Kim holds certifications as a Chartered Fund Manager and a Certified Public Cost Analyst. He serves as a board member of the Korea Subcontract Law Association and has conducted in-depth research on subcontracting law and the Framework Act on the Construction Industry. He was the first in the industry to publish an e-book on the subject. He regularly lectures on construction subcontracting law for the Korean Bar Association and the Korea Specialty Contractors Financial Cooperative. Mr. Kim is also licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois (U.S.), and uniquely among Korean attorneys, he has served on secondment at a Vietnamese branch of a Korean construction company. This experience underpins his involvement in legal disputes related to overseas real estate investments.

Based on this extensive experience, he currently specializes in providing expert advice and litigation services at the firm for disputes in redevelopment and PF projects, construction subcontracting disputes, construction-related sanctions, real estate development, and transactions. He has recently been focusing on construction cost disputes, such as construction guarantee claims and direct payment claims, as well as issues related to the validity of special agreements excluding price fluctuations. Additionally, he provides advisory services to companies that have entered or are planning to enter the Vietnamese market, based on his experience in Vietnam. In recognition of his expertise in such relevant fields, he was honored as an outstanding lawyer by the Korean Bar Association in 2024.

Education

  • 2025University of California, Irvine Korea Law Center Visiting Scholar
  • 2020Seoul National University Graduate School of Law (Commercial Law)
  • 2012Judicial Research and Training Institute of Supreme Court of Korea (41st)
  • 2010College of Law, Sungkyunkwan University (LL.B.)
  • 2008Passed the Korean Bar Exam (50th)
  • 2002Kyunggi Pyoungchon High School

Experience

  • 2021 ~ PresentPartner, Barun Law LLC
  • 2022Admitted to bar, Illinois
  • 2015 ~ 2020Associate, Barun Law LLC
  • 2012 ~ 2013Public Judge Advocate of the Ministry of Justice

Practice Areas and Representative Matters

Construction & Subcontracting

- Disputes related to construction bidding

- Claims for increased construction costs and contract payments

- Disputes concerning construction insurance (payment, performance, advance payment guarantees, etc.)

- Disputes over direct payment of subcontract fees

- Disputes related to the insolvency of construction companies

- Administrative sanctions against construction companies (e.g., suspension of business)

- Comprehensive advisory services on all aspects of construction and subcontracting


Urban Redevelopment Projects

- Disputes regarding establishment of associations and succession of membership status

- Disputes concerning expropriation, compensation, and a claim for sale

- Disputes over project implementation (e.g., execution plans, management and disposal plans)

- Internal disputes over association management (e.g., dismissal of board members)

- Disputes between associations and contractors or partners

- Criminal cases related to redevelopment projects

- Advisory services on overall operation of associations and redevelopment


Real Estate Development

- Disputes involving real estate development (e.g., completion guarantees, development trusts)

- Real estate trust disputes

- Disputes involving REITs

- Criminal cases related to real estate

- Advisory services on real estate development


Real Estate Finance

- Litigation related to incomplete sale of financial products (funds, and investment trusts)

- Litigation involving overseas real estate investments

- Cases involving violations of the Capital Markets Act (e.g., market manipulation)


Real Estate Transactions

- Real estate transactions and eviction disputes

- Disputes related to real estate sales and allotments

- Disputes related to real estate brokerage

- Criminal cases related to real estate matters

- General advisory services on real estate transactions


Leasing

- Disputes over commercial leases (e.g., lease period, key money, demolition)

- Disputes related to reconstruction/remodeling of commercial properties

- Disputes over residential leases (e.g., right to renew, deposit refunds, eviction)

- General legal advice on lease relationships


Southeast Asia (Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia)

- Advisory services on investment, land, and corporate laws in Vietnam


Publication(s)

- Commentaries on North Korean Legislation on Investing in North Korea (joint authorship), Pakyoungsa, 2018

- Simple Summary of Subcontract Disputes, The Construction Economic Daily Publishing Company, 2020

- Scope of Application of Article 10-4 of the Commercial Building Lease Protection Act and Interpretation of Subparagraph 3 of Paragraph 2 – Seoul Bar Association Case Law Review, Vol. 36(1), 2022

- Legal Nature of the Warranty Period under the Framework Act on the Construction Industry – Seoul Bar Association Case Law Review, Vol. 37(2), 2023

- Basic Laws for Construction: Essential Knowledge, Lbox, e-book, 2024

- Simple Guide to Subcontracting Disputes Lbox, e-book, 2024

- Guide to Real Estate Law (LBX Practical Series), 2025

- Direct Payment Obligation for Subcontract Payment and Order of Disbursement under Trust Agreements – Seoul Bar Association Case Law Review, Vol. 38(2), 2025

- Timing of Extinguishment of the Original Obligation upon Direct Payment of Subcontract Prices under the Framework Act on the Construction Industry, Seoul Bar Association Case Study Review, Vol. 39(1), 2025


Experience(s)

- First Prize (Prime Minister's Award), The 9th Mock Fair Trade Commission Competition, Undergraduate Level (2009)

- Member of Newsletter Editorial Board, Seoul Bar Association (2016 ~ 2019)

- Contributing Writer (KIM Yong Woo's Gap Eul Wars Series), The Orae Column, Korea JoongAng Daily (2018 ~ 2022)

- Member, LAWnB 1000-Word Commentary Board (2021 – Present)

- Measures to respond to construction cost adjustments following inflation, Dnews (2022)

- Commissioner, Examination Committee for Registration of Specialty, Korean Bar Association (2022 ~ 2024)

- 2023: PF Loan Project Contractor Risk Management Strategy Seminar, The Korea Economic Daily (2022)

- Columnist for the Korea Specialized Construction Newspaper - Construction Law Consultation (2023)

- Contributing Writer (Housing Talk), The Korea Herald (2023)

- Legislative Committee Member, Korean Bar Association (2023 ~ Present)

- Lecturer for the “Special Training Course on Construction and Real Estate (Topic: Major issues concerning subcontracting in the construction industry, and comparison and analysis of the Subcontracting Act and the Framework Act on the Construction Industry)” organized by the Korean Bar Association (2023)

- Lecturer at the Korea Finance for Construction's Credit Management Department (Topic: Types and Countermeasures of Unfair Subcontracting Practices) (2024)

- Lecturer at the Korea Finance for Constructions' Construction Law Practical Workshop (Topic: Major Types of Unfair Subcontracting Practices and Countermeasures) (2024)

- Recipient of the Korean Bar Association's Outstanding Lawyer Award (2024)

- Columnist, "Law&Biz" of the Korea Economic Daily (2024)

- Legal Director, Korean Subcontract Law Association (2021 ~ Present)

Qualifications/License

- Korean Bar

- Certified Investment Manager (Korea)

- Illinois State Bar

- Cost Analyst (Korea)

- Certified Reconstruction and Redevelopment Specialist Attorney, registered with the Korean Bar Association

- Certified Construction Specialist Attorney, registered with the Korean Bar Association

Profile

02-3479-2375

yongwoo.kim@barunlaw.com

Recent Cases

[Construction·Real Estate] Barun Law represented an insurance company in a case where a large construction company claimed for more than KRW18 billion as construction insurance money for additional construction cost and obtained the decision that 99% of the claimed amount be dismissed in favor of the insurance company.

[Criminal] Barun Law represents a chief monk of a foundation who was sent to the prosecution for the allegations of falsification of private documents and embezzlement, and obtains the decision of non-indictment for the allegations.

[Construction and Real Estate] Barun Law wins the case made to suspend the effect of a resolution made regarding a management plan at a general meeting of members in relation to the so-called “largest reconstruction project in the Korean history.”

[Construction/Real Estate] Barun Law represents members of a real estate redevelopment association and assists them to dismiss the president of the association and to pass a resolution recognizing cost spent convening the general meeting held to dismiss the president.

[Construction/Real Estate] Representing an urban development association, Barun Law wins the lawsuit filed by the members of the association to seek invalidation confirmation of the approval of a replotting plan for an urban development project on land sized more than 900,000㎡

[Construction and Real Estate] Representing a defendant in a lawsuit filed to cancel a real estate sale and purchase contract, Barun Law reverses the first instance decision to pay about KRW1.2 billion and obtains a decision to recommend settlement by making the payment of KRW95 million

[Reconstruction & Redevelopment] A Case Where an Exception Was Recognized Despite the Existing Precedent That the Buildings Subject to Sale Claims in a Reconstruction Project Must Be Entirely Included Within the Redevelopment Area

[Construction & Real Estate] A Case Where the Cancellation of a Construction Contract Due to Mistake and the Return of Progress Payments—Involving a General Contractor Not Registered for Electrical Work—Were Granted

[Construction Litigation] A Case Where the Issue Was Whether the Trustee of a Real Estate Security Trust Bears Liability for the Settlor's Construction Payment Obligations, in Which Barun Law Successfully Overturned the First Instance Judgment and Secured a Victory for the Trustee Company

[Construction & Real Estate] Case in Which a Valid Adjustment Application Was Deemed to Have Been Made Where the Project Owner Hindered the Fulfillment of Conditions in Violation of the Principle of Good Faith