Lee & Ko, a leading South Korean law firm, announced Thursday that it has recruited attorney Choi Jae-man, former chief of the Criminal Division 3 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, to strengthen its corporate criminal risk advisory capabilities. Choi is a graduate of the 36th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute.
Choi began his prosecutorial career at the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office after completing his training at the Judicial Research and Training Institute in 2007. He subsequently built his investigative expertise while serving at major prosecutors' offices nationwide, including those in Busan, Suwon, and Seoul Central, as well as the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. He played a leading role in investigating defense procurement fraud and corruption cases at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's Defense Procurement Investigation Division and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Joint Defense Procurement Corruption Investigation Unit and Corruption Crimes Investigation Unit.
Choi also served as a prosecutorial researcher at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office from 2019, participating in institutional reform and policy development. In 2024, he spearheaded efforts to strengthen the national response framework for organized crime, including drug trafficking, violent criminal organizations, and sophisticated financial crimes. Last year, as chief of the Criminal Division 3 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, he oversaw the investigative coordination system with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. He also led dedicated investigations into anti-corruption and major fire-related cases, demonstrating outstanding capabilities in both policy and field operations.
Kim Sang-gon, managing partner of Lee & Ko and a member of the 23rd class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, said of the recruitment, "As a practice-oriented expert, we expect him to provide clients with reliable legal services in areas such as responding to investigative risks that companies may face, internal investigations, and compliance enhancement."