JIPYONG LLC

Partner

Sehun KO

TEL +82-2-6200-1849
FAX +82-2-6200-0821
E-MAIL shko@jipyong.com

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Ko Sehun is a partner in JIPYONG's M&A & Corporate Group and Head of the firm's Climate & Energy Center. Focused on the climate and energy industry, his practice covers domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures (JV), investments and project development.

He counsels clients across the entire life cycle of renewable energy projects — development and permitting, capital raising, project finance (PF), EPC, operation and maintenance (LTSA, O&M) and dispute response — with particular depth in offshore wind. He is equally versed in M&A, joint ventures (JV), international transactions, outbound investment and tax.

Serving as lead counsel to the Yeonggwang Nakwol Offshore Wind Project (364.8MW), one of the largest offshore wind developments in Korea, he has guided the venture across the board — from project development through investment and financing to key project contracts and disputes. His climate and energy work further spans investments in and acquisitions of offshore wind and solar projects, permitting and administrative litigation, wind turbine technology licensing and localization, and investor-dispute and serious-accident response.

Mr. Ko worked at JIPYONG's Myanmar office for approximately four years over two separate periods, advising a wide range of local and international companies on investments and business operations in Myanmar. As Head of JIPYONG's Myanmar Practice, he advised on M&A, joint ventures, real estate development, investments in and licensing of financial institutions, as well as labor, tax and accounting regulations. He subsequently earned his LL.M. from Columbia Law School and was admitted to the New York Bar. Building on this on-the-ground experience, he advises Korean and international clients on cross-border transactions and overseas investment projects.

Before entering the legal profession, Mr. Ko spent some five years in finance and administration at Samsung Techwin and Texas Instruments — handling cost accounting and financial analysis for mobile phone camera module products at the former, and standard cost design and analysis, transfer pricing architecture and internal control systems in the manufacturing division of the latter. He also passed the U.S. CPA (California) examination during this period.

Drawing on this corporate finance background and his extensive international field experience, he delivers advice that reaches beyond legal analysis to deal structures, financial implications, and the purpose and feasibility of the business.

Education Close

2019Columbia Law School (LL.M.)
2012Konkuk University Law School (J.D.)
2004Chung-Ang University (B.A. in Business Administration)

Experience Close

2012-PresentJIPYONG LLC
2026-PresentMember, Korea-U.S. Strategic Investment Project Management Committee (MOTIR); Chair, Legal & Regulatory Response Subcommittee
2025-PresentHead of Climate & Energy Center, JIPYONG LLC
2020-PresentMember, Korea Association of Privacy Professionals (KAPP)
2019Passed the New York Bar Examination
2016-2018Head of Myanmar Practice, JIPYONG Myanmar Office
2013-2014Attorney, JIPYONG Myanmar Office
2006-2009Texas Instruments, Manufacturing Division (Cost Accounting/Financial Analyst)
2007Passed the U.S. CPA (California) Examination
2004-2006Samsung Techwin, Management Support Team (Cost Accounting)

Notable Achievements Close

[Offshore Wind & Renewable Energy Projects]

Lead counsel to the Yeonggwang Nakwol Offshore Wind Project — comprehensive advice on joint venture and investment agreements, project development and permitting, and community claims and compensation
Advised the Yeonggwang Nakwol project on its bridge loan, project financing and lenders' due diligence, as well as the EPC contract, turbine supply agreement (TSA) and long-term service agreement (LTSA)
Advised on the Saemangeum solar project (SMG Zone 3) transaction and shareholders' agreement
Advised on an investment in the Shinan Cheonsa offshore wind project and conducted acquisition due diligence on multiple wind power projects
Advised a wind turbine manufacturer on the review of its turbine technology license and localization agreement
Advised on domestic and overseas solar projects, including solar project financing in Korea and the acquisition of a 70% interest in a 300MW solar power project in Myanmar
Advised a city gas company on a fuel cell power generation business, and renewable energy groups as ongoing general counsel
Advised on the acquisition of convertible bonds issued by a listed wind turbine manufacturer and on the subsequent acquisition of control — due diligence, security structure and merger filing
Conducted an engagement on drafting subordinate regulations under Korea's End-of-Life Battery Management and Industry Promotion Act

[Energy Disputes & Administrative Litigation]

Represented Yeonggwang Nakwol in damages litigation brought by fishermen (claims dismissed in their entirety; first instance)
Represented an offshore wind developer in administrative litigation concerning the revocation of its business transfer approval (stay application and revocation action), the revocation of its electricity business license, and public waters occupancy permits
Represented renewable energy companies in investor disputes, handling preliminary attachments and injunctions, main actions and KCAB arbitration, and prevailed in a service fee claim relating to project development
Advised offshore wind project companies on criminal matters, community claims and media response

[M&A & Investments]

Advised a Korean holding company on its bid for a major cement company
Advised a leading media group on multiple M&A transactions, including the acquisition of program providers and content production companies, new share subscriptions and the establishment of a Japanese joint venture
Advised private equity funds and venture capital firms on acquisitions, convertible bond investments, IPOs and the acquisition and merger of an asset management company
Advised on the acquisition of limited partnership interests in a Cayman fund holding shares in Prologium, a solid-state battery manufacturer — due diligence, partnership and acquisition agreements
Advised on redeemable convertible preferred share (RCPS) investments in a fintech start-up and on new share subscriptions and acquisitions of control involving listed and unlisted companies
Represented shareholders in shareholder and control disputes — injunctions on voting rights, inspection of books and records, and director removal actions
Advised a music royalty sharing platform on its business model, tax and governance, and advised on the establishment and operation of a steel sales platform company

[Banking & Capital Markets]

Advised an offshore wind construction company on a cross-border receivables factoring structure and the related regulatory filing
Advised Korea Development Bank on its acquisition of a Convertible Promissory Note issued by a Singapore company (due diligence on target companies in Singapore, Thailand and Korea), on the workout and capital increase of a major tire manufacturer, and on an investment in Indochina Bank in Laos
Advised a major Korean bank and securities company on an equity investment in an Indonesian bank
Advised a Korean bank on disputes relating to DLF and other funds sold to customers, including proceedings before the FSS Dispute Mediation Committee

[Cross-Border Transactions & Outbound Investment]

Advised a major Korean construction company on a comprehensive legal mandate for the Lakhta Center super high-rise development project in Russia
Advised a major Korean logistics company on M&A transactions in Brazil
Advised a Korean capital company on an equity investment in an Indian NBFC, and a Korean logistics company on an LNG business investment in Indonesia
Advised a Korean retailer on master franchise negotiations and agreements in Malaysia and Singapore
Advised the Incheon International Airport consortium on the Hanthawaddy new airport project in Myanmar
Advised Korea Land & Housing Corporation on a Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) guarantee for investors in a Myanmar industrial complex
Advised on obtaining a U.S. Department of Commerce Export Administration Regulations (EAR) license for equipment to be brought into North Korea for an inter-Korean economic cooperation project
Conducted a research project for KOTRA on the design of a basic legal framework for outbound investment (for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy)
Advised the Ministry of Economy and Finance on improvements to investment dispute resolution procedures for inter-Korean economic cooperation

[Industrial Safety & Serious Accidents]

Advised on serious industrial accidents at offshore wind construction sites — investigation and trial-stage criminal defense, root cause analysis and recurrence prevention measures
Advised energy and construction companies on Serious Accidents Punishment Act and Occupational Safety and Health Act compliance, including safety management system reviews

[Myanmar Practice]

Advised Korea Land & Housing Corporation on its Myanmar industrial complex joint venture and the operation of the Korea-Myanmar Industrial Complex (KMIC) joint venture company
Advised the Lotte Group on its acquisition of a Myanmar beverage company — legal due diligence, joint venture, post-acquisition integration and eventual divestiture
Advised LX International (formerly LG International) on legal due diligence and a joint venture for a cement plant in Myanmar, and a major Korean conglomerate on a mixed-use development project and its exit
Advised CJ Logistics on its bid and joint venture with Myanmar's Road Transport authority
Advised LS Cable & System Asia, Aju Industries, Goryeo Cable, Yojin Construction and other companies on entering the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (investment permits and incorporation)
Advised Shinhan Bank and Industrial Bank of Korea on Myanmar banking license bids, and BNK Capital, Hana Capital, Mason Capital and other financial institutions on establishing or acquiring microfinance institutions (MFIs) and obtaining licenses
Successfully obtained corporate and individual income tax refunds under the Korea-Myanmar tax treaty, confirming tax-exempt status
Conducted a research project on Myanmar investment legislation for the Ministry of Knowledge Economy

[Pro Bono]

Secured an injunction against the National Election Commission permitting voting assistants for voters with developmental disabilities, and litigated a related disability discrimination remedy action
Provided legal advice and seminars for Korean residents and companies through the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Myanmar
Conducted a regulatory improvement study on pseudonymization under Korean data privacy laws for the Korea Internet & Security Agency

Honors and Recognitions Close

2025Best Lawyer in Global Finance & Global Dispute Resolution Practice, JoongAng Ilbo and Korea In-House Counsel Association
2024-2025Leading Lawyer in Corporate and M&A Practice, Legal Times
2024Best Lawyer in Overseas legal affairs & International arbitration Practice, JoongAng Ilbo and Korea In-House Counsel Association
2023Rising Star in Corporate and M&A Practice, Legal Times
2019Award from Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Economy and Finance

Speaking Engagements and Publications Close

2018A Study on Myanmar Land Law and the Condominium Law, Il-Kam Real Estate Law Review No. 16, Konkuk University
20162016 Myanmar Tax & Labor FAQ, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Myanmar & KOTRA Yangon
2014Myanmar Foreign Investment Law and Practice (co-author; corporate, labor and tax chapters)
2011Implications of U.S. Hedge Fund Regulation after the Dodd-Frank Act for Korean Hedge Funds, International Law Review Vol. 3 No. 2, Jeju National University
2010CPAs’ Liability for Damages in the Capital Markets, Il-Kam Real Estate Law Review No. 5, Konkuk University