Bae, Kim & Lee LLC provides a full-spectrum capital markets service, with a particularly strong reputation for offering ‘expertise in Korean securitisation and covered bonds.’ The group, led by Jeong Rai Cho, continues to handle a strong share of Korean IPOs as issuer and underwriters counsel, at the same time as expanding its practice in certain key growth areas, such as foreign currency-denominated exchangeable bonds. Eui Jong Chung serves as counsel to global financial institutions and private equity funds, among others, with particular expertise in securitisation. Jeong-Hoon Lee has notable experience advising on IPOs in the pharma, entertainment, and insurance sectors, while Hee-Gang Shin specialises in IPOs and overseas securities. Yelim Hyon, promoted to partner in January 2024, primarily represents issuers and investment banks. Annie Eunah Lee and Min Kyung Park are both noted for their contributions.

Kim & Chang’s capital markets practice has considerable experience advising issuers, underwriters, and investors on traditional equity or bond offerings, including IPOs, as well as hybrid instruments such as convertible debt and equity-linked securities. Managing partner Kye Sung Chung leads the group. Young Man Huh’s varied practice covers IPOs and other equity offerings in domestic and overseas markets. Myoung Jae Chung is noted for his experience advising clients in relation to public and private offerings of corporate securities and structured notes. Tae Min Yun‘s client base includes domestic and foreign financial institutions, securities companies and other financial institutions. Yong-Ho Kim and Chang Hyeon Ko are also key contacts in the group.

Lee & Ko remains one of the go-to firms in Korea for debt securities transactions, including those involving ESG bonds. The group also boasts capabilities on the ECM side, with recent involvement in flagship IPOs and REITs transactions. Practice head Hyunjoo Oh has a strong reputation for ‘handling local and international issuances of loans and bonds‘ as well as considerable experience advising on derivatives, capital markets licensing and compliance, foreign exchange regulations, and disputes. Jun Woo Cho has recently been involved in several major listings on the Korea Exchange and is also a REITs specialist. Seung-A Hyun is active on the debt side, advising major clients on such issues as offshore notes offerings. Han Kyung Lee is a compliance and disputes specialist, while Jiseon Kim’s varied ECM practice covers convertible and exchangeable bonds.

Shin & Kim’s capital markets group handles the full range of work, with the team advising securities firms, investment banks, issuers, and originators in relation to IPOs, rights offerings, bond issuances, and securitisations. The group continues to handle IPOs, particularly in the tech sector, despite unfavourable market conditions, as well as expand into new areas, including samurai bonds. Practice head Tae-Yong Seo has a stellar reputation as ‘one of the top capital markets experts‘ in Korea and is noted particularly for handling IPOs and bond issuances. Both Jong-Uk Lee and Kevin(Woo Hyuk) Choi stand out for their asset-backed securities and covered bonds expertise, regularly representing arrangers and originators. Yong Jin Park, Sang Yeon Eom, and Cho Seong Eun all play key roles in the team, handling domestic and cross-border ECM and DCM transactions.

Jipyong LLC’s capital markets group offers considerable combined experience advising underwriters and issuers on IPOs, global depository receipt issuances, secondary listings, and overseas listings, recently handling multiple company listings on the KOSDAQ market as well as REITs listings on the KOSPI market. With notable experience handling IPOs, global depository receipt offerings, and dual listings, Haeng-Gyu Lee leads the group. Ki-Il Ban is active in the Southeast Asian securities market. Joong Sung Ahn, Jin Ha Kim, and Yu Jin Lee all play key roles in the team.

Yoon & Yang LLC’s broad capital markets experience covers IPOs, bonds (including samurai and hybrid bonds), and securities, among other areas, as well as regulatory work. Sang-Hyun Ahn and Hwan Jun Heo lead the team alongside Sung Woon Kang, who specialises in public and private securities offerings, both in Korea and abroad. Sung Bin Jhung is well known for advising on NASDAS, KOSPI, and KOSDAQ listings as well as for defending clients against delistings.

Yulchon offers major clients broad capital markets expertise that covers IPOs, bond issuances, and asset-back securities. The group is noted for its ‘unique experience’ in samurai bonds. Young Su Shin and Sung Wook Eun jointly lead the team, which sits within the firm’s corporate and finance department. Jin Kook Lee specialises in ECM matters, including IPOs, while Gun Kim focuses on bond issuances. Geen Kim stands out for her experience handling cross-border securities transactions. Gunhee Kim and Hyeong Jun Chun also play key roles in the team.