Yongpyo Yeom

Yongpyo Yeom is the managing partner of Yulchon LLC, one of South Korea's leading full-service law firms, and co-head of its dispute resolution practice. Recognised as Dispute Resolution Law Expert of the Year in South Korea at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2026, he combines firm leadership with a distinguished contentious practice spanning many of the most demanding areas of Korean litigation and disputes.

The Corporate INTL Global Awards recognise leading advisers across jurisdictions and disciplines, and an award in dispute resolution is a significant distinction in South Korea's sophisticated and demanding legal market. For a firm's managing partner who also co-leads its disputes practice, the honour of Dispute Resolution Law Expert of the Year in South Korea reflects a rare combination of leadership and contentious expertise.

Leadership at a leading Korean firm

Yulchon LLC is a major South Korean law firm operating under the values of commitment, innovation and excellence, and holding ISO 27001 certification for information security. The firm serves clients in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese, reflecting the international dimension of its practice, and offers a full range of practice areas and industry-focused services alongside pro bono work and legal education. Since 2025, Yongpyo Yeom has served as the firm's managing partner, having previously led its dispute resolution practice.

His leadership roles extend beyond the firm. He served as vice president of the Korean Bar Association between 2019 and 2021, and earlier in his career he worked as a prosecutor at the Changwon and Suwon District Prosecutors' Offices, experience that gives him a deep understanding of both the courtroom and the workings of the Korean justice system. This combination of firm leadership, professional service and prosecutorial background underpins his standing as one of Korea's foremost disputes practitioners.

A wide-ranging disputes practice

The award as Dispute Resolution Law Expert of the Year in South Korea recognises the breadth and depth of Yeom's contentious work. As co-head of Yulchon's dispute resolution practice, he handles debt, equity and contentious matters across construction, tax and real estate, and his areas of expertise encompass corporate and M&A disputes, environmental and energy disputes, media and press disputes, healthcare and pharmaceutical disputes, sports, entertainment and game disputes, fashion and beauty, and international trade and regulatory compliance. He also has particular experience in internal investigations, including corporate internal investigations for domestic and multinational companies.

His media and press experience includes overseeing responsibilities connected with a media ethics committee, and he has conducted internal investigations for internationally listed companies, reflecting the trust placed in him for sensitive and high-profile matters. This range demonstrates the versatility required of a leading disputes lawyer, who must move fluidly between industries and types of conflict while maintaining consistent strategic judgement.

• Corporate and M&A disputes
• Construction, real estate and tax disputes
• Environmental, energy, healthcare and pharmaceutical disputes
• Media, entertainment, sports and game disputes
• Corporate internal investigations

Education and recognition

Yongpyo Yeom's credentials reflect a strong academic and professional foundation. He earned his LL.B. from Seoul National University in 1996 and completed graduate study there, before obtaining an LL.M. from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2009. He completed his training at the Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea. His work has been recognised in leading legal rankings, including Chambers, Legal 500 and Benchmark Litigation, and he has been acknowledged among Asia's leading disputes lawyers.

For clients facing significant disputes in South Korea, Yongpyo Yeom offers the rare combination of firm leadership, courtroom experience and expertise across an exceptionally wide range of contentious fields. His recognition as Dispute Resolution Law Expert of the Year in South Korea at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2026 confirms his position at the very top of the Korean disputes market and the strength of Yulchon LLC's dispute resolution practice.