BARUN LAW

Legal Inquiry
Legal Inquiry

Attorney Cho Woong-kyu is a specialist in inheritance and business succession, focusing on estate planning using wills and will substitutes (including testamentary trusts), inheritance disputes such as reserved portion and division of estate, and corporate succession strategies incorporating management control and tax optimization. He has advised major Korean conglomerates as well as small and mid-sized enterprises and high-net-worth individuals on estate planning, inheritance procedures, disputes, and business succession.

He has developed differentiated strategies and delivered outstanding results in matters involving leading conglomerates (e.g., Group L, Group H1, Group H2), as well as mid-sized companies such as an automotive parts manufacturer (with market capitalization of KRW 1.3 trillion), a chemical manufacturer (with market capitalization of KRW 300 billion), and an electronics components manufacturer (with market capitalization of KRW 20 billion), along with numerous individual high-net-worth clients.

He also led the creation of Korea's first dedicated "Estate Planning Center" specializing in pre-structured inheritance and business succession planning. As President of the firm's Inheritance Trust Research Group, he leads monthly academic seminars. In recognition of his achievements, he was named a "Rising Star 2023" in Private Wealth Law by Legal Times and received the 6th Korea Legal Awards. He has delivered dozens of lectures on inheritance and business succession at major conglomerates, life insurers, securities firms, banks, universities, law schools, executive programs, economic organizations, and the Korean Bar Association. Since 2022, he has contributed columns to The Law Times and The Korea Economic Daily, and continues to publish scholarly articles in KCI-indexed journals on inheritance, trusts, and business succession. He also serves as an advisor and committee member for business succession policy development at organizations such as the Korea Federation of Middle Market Enterprises and the Korea Federation of SMEs.

Education

  • 2020University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
  • 2012Judicial Research and Training Institute of Supreme Court of Korea (41st)
  • 2009Passed the Korean Bar Exam (51st)
  • 2007College of Law, Seoul National University (LL.B.)
  • 2001Changwonnam High School

Experience

  • 2021 ~ PresentPartner, Barun Law LLC
  • 2026 ~ PresentAdjunct Professor, Real Estate & Finance Academy, Sogang University
  • 2025 ~ PresentLecturer, Business Law Training Program (Inheritance/Business Succession), Seoul Bar Association
  • 2025 ~ PresentChair, Special Committee on Self-Declaration Trusts, Korean Bar Association
  • 2025 ~ PresentVice President, Korean Self-Declaration Trust Research Association
  • 2024 ~ PresentColumnist, "Inheritance Insights by Cho Woong-kyu," The Korea Economic Daily
  • 2024 ~ PresentVice President, Trust Bar Association, Korean Bar Association
  • 2023 ~ PresentAdvisory Member and Committee Member, Business Succession Activation Committee, Korea Federation of SMEs
  • 2022 ~ PresentStanding Director, Korean Academic Society of Trust Law
  • 2022 ~ PresentHead of Asset Succession Division, Estate Planning Center
  • 2023 ~ 2024Director, Trust Bar Association, Korean Bar Association
  • 20236th Korea Legal Awards – Advisory Award (first testamentary trust via self-declaration structure in Korea)
  • 2023Selected as "Rising Star 2023" (Private Wealth Law), Legal Times
  • 2022 ~ 2024Member, International Committee, Seoul Bar Association
  • 2022 ~ 2023Columnist, "Refined Inheritance by Attorney Cho Woong-kyu," The Korea Economic Daily
  • 2022Columnist, "Legal Prism," The Law Times
  • 2021 ~ PresentBusiness Succession Counsel, Korea Federation of Middle Market Enterprises
  • 2021 ~ PresentPresident, Inheritance Trust Research Group, Barun Law LLC
  • 2019Completed Financial Law Program (Trust Law), Seoul National University
  • 2015 ~ 2020Associate, Barun Law LLC
  • 2018Completed Tax Training Institute, Korean Bar Association
  • 2015 ~ 2017Secretary General, Inheritance Trust Research Group
  • 2013 ~ 2015Public Interest Legal Officer, Prosecution Bureau, Ministry of Justice
  • 2012 ~ 2013Public Interest Legal Officer, Korea Legal Aid Corporation

Practice Areas and Representative Matters

1. Core Practice Areas and Representative Matters

Estate Planning / Private Wealth Management

  • Structuring and execution of asset succession strategies incorporating tax optimization and prevention of inheritance disputes (e.g., testamentary trusts, wills, lifetime gifts, corporatization of personal assets)
  • Advisory on overseas migration and investment for Korean residents
  • Structuring and execution of asset succession strategies for overseas residents (e.g., U.S., Singapore) with Korean assets
  • Asset succession strategies for owner families of large, midsized, and small enterprises
  • Asset management and succession planning for commercial real estate owners
  • Advisory on startup M&A and founder exits
  • Advisory on sale of minority stakes in unlisted companies
  • [Representative matters include inheritance division for Group L, inheritance planning for Group H1, inheritance disputes for Group H2, estate planning for a KRW 200 billionscale company, and estate planning for a founder of one of Korea's largest startups]

Business Succession

  • Advisory on taxefficient succession strategies (e.g., family business inheritance deductions, special gift tax provisions)
  • Structuring succession frameworks to mitigate inheritance disputes (e.g., reserved portion claims)
  • Corporate governance restructuring and M&A review
  • [Representative matters include D Group (automotive parts manufacturer with market capitalization of KRW 1.3 trillion), A Company (children's products manufacturer with market capitalization of KRW 400 billion), I Chemical (with market capitalization of KRW 300 billion), A Publishing (with market capitalization of KRW 120 billion), Y Company (electronics components manufacturer with market capitalization of KRW 20 billion)]

Inheritance Litigation

  • Strategy and execution for securing rightful inheritance shares (including predeath and postdeath strategies such as reserved portion claims)
  • Defense strategies against reserved portion claims
  • Advisory on estate division agreements and related disputes
  • Representation in various inheritance disputes
  • [Representative matters include defense in reserved portion claims for D Group, inheritance disputes for A Group heirs, securing inheritance shares and monetizing minority stakes for A Construction (KRW 120 billion), defense for I Chemical, estate division of approximately KRW 100 billion assets for a real estate company, and reserved portion claims involving estates of approximately KRW 30 billion]

Trusts

  • FirstinKorea structuring and implementation of testamentary trust substitutes using selfdeclared trust structures
  • Establishment of testamentary trusts and will substitute trusts
  • Trust structuring for domestic assets of foreign nationals and overseas residents
  • Litigation involving trusts, including will substitute trusts
  • [Representative matters include advisory for H Bank, H Securities, S Securities on testamentary trusts; advisory on foreign and hybrid trusts; and litigation involving testamentary trusts and reserved portion claims]

Marital Disputes

  • Asset management and succession strategies in contemplation of divorce and property division
  • Representation in negotiations to secure clients' property rights
  • Litigation and dispute resolution relating to divorce and property division
  • [Representative matters include property division litigation involving assets of KRW 200 billion, divorce/property division cases involving a listed company CEO (KRW 50 billion), a unlisted company CEO (KRW 20 billion), and a startup founder (KRW 20 billion)]

Other Civil Matters

  • Advisory and litigation in management control disputes
  • Disputes involving nominee shareholding arrangements
  • Commercial lease and key money disputes
  • [Representative matters include management control disputes of major Korean conglomerates and listed companies, advisory to Seoul National University, Small Enterprise and Market Service, advisory and litigation involving the U.S. Department of Justice, building ownership disputes exceeding KRW 1 trillion, and clan land disputes of KRW 15 billion]

2. Publications and Articles

  • "Comparative Guides 2026, Private Client: South Korea," Legal 500 (Jan. 2026)
  • Legal Guide to Family Business Succession for SMEs, Ministry of SMEs and Startups / Korea Federation of SMEs (Dec. 2025)
  • "Key Legal Issues in a SuperAged Society and the Role of Lawyers," Human Rights and Justice No. 527 (Feb. 2025)
  • "Legal Restrictions and Solutions for Business Succession," Business Law Review Vol. 37 No. 4 (Dec. 2023)
  • "Current Status and Challenges of Will Substitute Trusts," BFL No. 119 (May 2023)
  • "Feasibility of Business Succession Using Foundations," Korea Federation of Middle Market Enterprises Report (Sept. 2022)
  • "Business Succession Using Corporate Foundations," Korea Federation of Middle Market Enterprises Report (May 2022)
  • "Business Succession through Trust Structures – Resolving Reserved Portion Issues via Separation of Beneficial Interests," Trust Law Review, Vol. 4 No. 1 (2022)
  • "Activation of Will Substitute Trusts, Trust Declaration Method," Family Law Review No. 73 (2022)
  • "Business Succession Strategies Using Trusts," LL.M. Thesis, Seoul National University (Feb. 2022)
  • "Legal Issues in the Digitalization of Beneficial Interests Using Blockchain," Commercial Law Review, Vol. 40 No. 3 (2021)
  • "Review of the Enforceability of Share Pledge Execution through Trust Structures," Inheritance Trust Research Vol. 2 (2016)
  • "Review of Property Tax Liability of Trust Property," Inheritance Trust Research Vol. 2 (2016)

3. Presentations and Lectures

  • Dec. 2025, Presentation on "Utilization of SelfTrusts and Related Issues for the Popularization of Trusts" at the Winter Academic Conference of the Korean Academic Society of Trust Law
  • Dec. 2025, Participated as a discussant at the 2nd Corporate Succession Activation Committee Meeting (Korea Federation of SMEs)
  • Nov. 2025, Lecture on "Testamentary Substituted Trusts by Declaration of Trust" at the Korean Bar Association Trust Academy 2025
  • Oct. 2025, Lecture on "Asset Management and Estate Planning for Seniors" at Maeil Business Newspaper Senior Festa
  • Oct. 2025, Lecture on "Asset Management and Estate Succession Strategies in Korea for Korean Americans" at the KASCPA Annual Conference
  • Oct. 2025, Lecture on "Successful Estate Planning Strategies" at Korea Investment & Securities GWM Wealth Conference
  • Sep. 2025, Presentation on "Activation Measures for Trusts through Declaration of Trust" at the National Forum for the Promotion of SelfTrust Declarations (National Assembly Members' Office Building)
  • Sep. 2025, Lecture on "Estate Succession Strategies for Business Owners" at Korea Investment & Securities Owners Forum
  • Sep. 2025, Lecture on "Asset Management and Estate Succession Strategies" at Sookmyung Women's University AMP
  • Aug. 2025, Presentation on "Activation of Testamentary Substituted Trusts by Declaration of Trust" at the 19th IndustryAcademia Trust Colloquium (Korean Academic Society of Trust Law)
  • Aug. 2025, Lecture on Contract Law and Inheritance Law for the Comprehensive Asset Management (FP) Program at Kyobo Life Insurance
  • Aug. 2025, Lecture on "Practical Estate Planning/Business Succession for InHouse Counsel" at the 1st Corporate Law Training Program (Seoul Bar Association)
  • Jun. 2025, Lecture on "Inheritance and Business Succession" at Kyobo Life Insurance
  • May 2025, Participated as a discussant at the Spring International Conference of the Korean Academic Society of MediumSized Enterprises ("Current Status and Issues of Business Succession Tax Systems in Japan")
  • May 2025, Participated as a discussant at the Family Business Association ("Legislative Directions for Transforming the Business Succession Paradigm")
  • May 2025, Attended as a member of the Corporate Succession Activation Committee (Korea Federation of SMEs)
  • May 2025, Lecture on "Current Status and Utilization of Testamentary Substituted Trusts" at the Korean Bar Association Special Training (Trust Law, Daegu)
  • Apr. 2025, Presentation on "SuperAged Society and Activation of Testamentary Substituted Trusts" at the 100th Anniversary Seminar of the Trust & Estate Planning Research Society
  • Mar. 2025, Lecture on "Business Succession and Legal Issues" at the 2025 NextGeneration CEO School (Korea Federation of SMEs)
  • Mar. 2025, Lecture on "Key Legal Issues in Korea's Inheritance, Gift, and Forced Heirship Systems" at a joint seminar with the LA Korean Chamber of Commerce
  • Mar. 2025, Lecture on "Key Systems of Asset Management and Estate Succession in Korea" for members of the LA Chapter of the World Korean Traders Association
  • Mar. 2025, Lecture on "Business Succession and Legal Issues" at the 2025 NextGeneration CEO School (Korea Federation of SMEs)
  • Mar. 2025, Lecture on "Trusts and Estate Succession" at Kyobo Life Insurance (WM/WE Professional Program)
  • Mar. 2025, Presentation on "Analysis of Recent Case Law and Successful Estate Planning Strategies" at an Estate Planning Center Seminar
  • Feb. 2025, Lecture on "Key Legal Issues in Estate Succession and Asset Management" at Kyobo Life Insurance (WM/WE Professional Program)
  • Jan. 2025, Lecture on "Gifts and Inheritance" at CHANGBAL (Korean Tech Professionals in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle)
  • Jan. 2025, Participated as an expert panelist at the SME Tax Reform Expert Meeting (Korea Federation of SMEs)
  • Dec. 2024, Presentation on "Necessity and Practical Measures for Estate Planning, Understanding Forced Heirship, and Key Issues in Inheritance and Business Succession" at an Estate Planning Center Seminar
  • Nov. 2024, Participated as a member of the Corporate Succession Activation Committee at a meeting on "Business Succession Support Systems in Japan and Germany: Status and Implications"
  • Nov. 2024, Participated as a discussant at the Autumn Academic Conference of the Korean Academic Society of MediumSized Enterprises ("Legal Challenges for the Growth of MediumSized Enterprises")
  • Oct. 2024, Participated in the inheritance session at Herald Economy MONEY FESTA 2024
  • Sep. 2024, Lecture on "Inheritance Systems of Korea for Overseas Koreans" at the KASCPA 2024 Academic Conference
  • Aug. 2024, Lecture on "Inheritance Planning after the Constitutional Decision on Forced Heirship" at the 6th Hankyung Money Inheritance Forum
  • Aug. 2024, Participated as a discussant on "Diversification of Trust Business Operators, Delegation of Trustee Duties" at the 2024 Summer Academic Conference of the Korean Academic Society of Trust Law
  • Aug. 2024, Presentation on "Legal Constraints and Improvement Measures for Business Succession" at an expert advisory meeting hosted by the Korea SMEs and Startups Institute
  • May 2024, Participated in a Chatham House Roundtable hosted by Asia Economy ("Business Succession Strategies for SMEs toward 100Year Enterprises")
  • May 2024, Participated as a discussant at the Policy Debate on SME Legislative Agendas for the 22nd National Assembly
  • May 2024, Participated as a discussant at the 2024 Business Succession Hope Forum
  • Nov. 2023, Participated as a discussant at the forum on "Policy Directions for Fostering LongStanding Enterprises"
  • Oct. 2023, Presentation on "Legal Constraints and Solutions for Business Succession" at the Korean Bar Association Academic Conference
  • Sep. 2023, Lecture on "Inheritance and Tax Planning" at Busan University of Foreign Studies AMP
  • Sep. 2023, Lecture on "Overview of Business Succession and Legal Issues" at Samsung Electronics Advanced Executive Program
  • Jul. 2023, Participated as a discussant at the 2023 Business Succession Hope Forum (Korea Federation of SMEs)
  • Jun. 2023, Lecture on "Testamentary Substituted Trusts" at Seoul National University School of Law
  • May 2023, Lecture on "Estate Succession Costs and Business Succession" at Samsung Life Insurance GFC Program
  • May 2023, Presentation on "Legal Constraints and Solutions for Business Succession" at the Korean Commercial Law Association
  • Apr. 2023, Lecture on "Costs and Reduction Strategies in Estate Succession" at the Korea Federation of SMEs Young CEO Network Seminar
  • Nov. 2022, Special lecture on "Legal Norms of Business" at Sungkyunkwan University, School of Global Leadership
  • Sep. 2022, Lecture on "Business Succession Strategies and Key Legal Issues" at Samsung Electronics Executive Program
  • Sep. 2022, Presentation on "Activation Measures for Business Succession Systems" at the 2nd Innovation Growth Policy Forum for MediumSized Enterprises
  • Jul. 2022, Presentation on "Issues in Real Estate STOs, From the Perspective of Trusts and Financial Regulation" at a Digital Asset Regulation Webinar
  • Apr. 2022, Lecture on "Understanding Business Succession in Mold Manufacturing Companies" at the NextGeneration CEO Seminar (Korea Mold Industry Cooperative)
  • Apr. 2022, Presentation on "Business Succession Using Trusts, Overcoming Forced Heirship Issues through Beneficial Interest Structuring" at the Korean Academic Society of Trust Law
  • Dec. 2021, Lecture on "Inheritance and Trusts" at the Korea Federation of SMEs CEO Seminar for LongStanding Enterprises
  • Oct. 2021, Presentation on "Legal Issues in the Digitalization of Beneficial Interests" at the Korean Commercial Law Association
  • Jun. 2020, Presentation on "Inheritance Law in the United States and Korea" at ACTS Coworking
  • Jan. 2020, Presentation on "Comparative Research on the United States and Korea's Trust Law" at UCLA International Institute, Center for Korean Studies Colloquium
  • Oct. 2017, Presentation on "Requirements for Wills by Notarial Deed" at the Trust & Estate Planning Research Society

Recent Cases

Barun Substantially Reduced the Burden of Returning Forced Heirship Shares through a Renunciation-of-Inheritance Immediately Following the Opening of the Succession, with Subsequent Claims Also Successfully Defended
Barun Secured an Acquittal by Establishing that Conduct Alleged as Fraud under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes Constituted Merely a Civil Default on a Loan
Barun Prevailed in Claims for Delivery of a Building and Cancellation of a Registration of Preservation of Ownership by Establishing That Land Owned by a Clan Association Had Been Held in Trust in the Name of the Head Descendant and by Proving the Circumstances Surrounding Construction of the Ancestral Shrine
[Family/Inheritance] Barun Law Obtains Court Recognition for the Right to Claim Reimbursement Based on Statutory Inheritance Shares Despite the Inheritance Distribution Not Being Finalized
[Family/Inheritance Litigation] Barun Law Obtains Dismissal Decision by Establishing that the Lawsuit Was Primarily Intended as a Litigation Trust Transaction
[Personal Asset Management] Barun Law Successfully Invalidates a Gift Contract Misaligned with Deceased's Intentions, Leading to Dismissal of Ownership Transfer Claims in KRW 14 Billion Real Estate Dispute
[Estate Planning] A case in which Barun Law recognizes the tax consequences of holding unlisted stock during a wealth succession consulting engagement, and proposes and consummates a disposal thereof
[Estate Planning] A case in which we represent a successor of a company to limit the value of stock subject to the claim for the return of the forced share to its value at the time of gift (i.e., 14% of the value at the commencement of inheritance)
[Estate Planning] A living trust in the form of a declaratory trust
[Family and Inheritance] " A living trust estate is not subject to a claim for the return of a forced shair."

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