Mr Doil Son > Yulchon > Seoul, South Korea > Lawyer Profile
Yulchon Offices
PARNAS TOWER 38F, 521 TEHERAN-RO
GANGNAM-GU
SEOUL 06164
South Korea
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Mr Doil Son
Work Department
IP & Technology, Mergers & Acquisitions, Technology, Media & Telecommunications, Data Privacy, Cyber Security and Crisis Management
Position
Partner, Head of IP & Technology Practice
Career
Doil Son is the Head of the IP & Technology Practice of Yulchon LLC. His experience is focused on Mergers & Acquisitions, Information Communication Technology (ICT), Telecom and Media, Data Privacy and Cyber Security including Trade Secret Protection as well as crisis management.
He represented leading multinational and local e-commerce companies and financial institutions for their ICT businesses involving artificial intelligence, big data, data privacy, cyber security, cryptocurrency, metaverse, fintech, and healthtech. He often goes to regulatory agencies and courts to defend his clients in ICT and data privacy compliance cases. He also represented his clients in major data breach cases, including the biggest data breach case in Korean history which occurred in 2014 where over 100 million users of three credit card companies were affected.
In addition, he also represented his clients in various trade secret violation cases and internal investigation cases. He frequently lectures on ICT issues concerning data privacy, artificial intelligence, fintech, and healthtech in various conferences held by the International Bar Association, Inter-Pacific Bar Association, and Korean government agencies.
Mr. Son has a B.A. in political science from the Seoul National University and an L.L.M. from UCLA School of Law (2002). He joined Yulchon as a partner in 2012, after serving as a judge at Kwangju District Court for two years from 1996 to 1998, and working at other major Korean law firms.
Experience
- 2012-present Partner (Head of IP & Technology Practice), Yulchon LLC
- 2023-present Co-Chair of Technology Law Committee, International Bar Association
- 2022-present Council Member, Korea National Data Policy Committee
- 2022-present Co-Chair of TMT Committee, Inter-Pacific Bar Association
- 2018-present Auditor, Korean Institute of Forensic Sciences
- 2017-present Expert on de-identification of personal information in the financial sector, Korea Credit Information Services
- 2015-present Board Member, TechLaw Group
- 2018-2022 Legal Advisor, Personal Information Protection Commission
- 2018-2021 Financial IT Advisor, Financial Supervisory Service Advisory Committee
- 2017-2022 Legal Advisor, Ministry of Science and ICT
- 2012-2018 Vice Chair of Environmental Law Committee, Inter-Pacific Bar Association
- 2015-2017 Member of ISMS Committee, Financial Security Institute
- 2011-2013 Vice President (international), Korean Bar Association
- 2007-2012 Partner, Hwang Mok Park P.C.
- 2004-2006 Founder, Seoul Law Group
- 2002-2003 Foreign Legal Consultant, Arter & Hadden (CA, USA)
- 1997-2003 Attorney, Shin & Kim
- 1996-1997 Judge, Kwangju District Court
Languages
Korean, English
Memberships
- International Bar Association (IBA), Technology Law Committee
- Senior Vice-Chair: 2021 – present
- Vice Chair: 2019 – 2020
- Publication Officer: 2017 – 2018
- Chair of Disruption Sub-committee: 2015 – 2016
- Inter-Pacific Bar Association, TMT Committee
- Co- Chair: 2022 – present
- Vice-Chair: 2017-2021
- TechLaw (https://techlaw.org/)
- Board Member
- TechLaw Group is comprised on 26 full-service member firms sharing expertise in technology issues, intellectual property and the acquisition, sales and financing of technology companies. Formed in 1986 by five large U.S. law firms, the organization has grown to include 26 law firms with more than 8,400 lawyers and offices in more than 35 countries.
Education
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Law School, LL.M. (2002); Judicial Research and Training Institute, the Supreme Court of Korea (1996); Seoul National University, Political Science, B.A. (1994)
Personal
- 2024 Leading Individual, TMT, Legal 500
- 2023 National Service Medal for ICT Industry, Republic of Korea
- 2022-2024 National Leader, Data, Who’s Who Legal: Korea
- 2022 Leading Lawyer, Fintech & Blockchain, Who’s Who Legal
- 2021 Super 50 TMT Lawyers in Asia, Asian Legal Business
- 2021 Korea Super 30 Lawyers, Asian Legal Business
- 2020~2022 Leading Lawyer, TMT, Legal 500
- 2016-2024 Leading Lawyer, TMT, Chambers AP
- 2016 The exclusive winner for General Corporate sector in South Korea in the Client Choice Awards 2016, International Law Office(ILO)
Lawyer Rankings
South Korea > Fintech and financial services regulatory: local firms
(Leading partners)Yulchon’s finance and financial regulatory team includes a dynamic group of lawyers and experts in financial regulation and technology, offering comprehensive legal counsel across traditional and emerging financial regulations. The team provides full-service advice, covering banking, credit finance, ICT, data protection, financial security, and cloud services. Its expertise extends to fintech investments, including M&A, IP, blockchain, cryptocurrency, and AI matters. Co-led by Doil Son, a top authority on Korea’s fintech policy and regulations, and Young Su Shin, known for his work with financial institutions on approvals, insurance, and regulatory issues. Sun Hee Kim adds depth in data protection, e-commerce, and ICT, advising global clients expanding into Korea.
South Korea > TMT: local firms
(Leading partners)–
Yulchon is recognised for its experience in TMT, with a multidisciplinary team of lawyers and experts in IT and security, alongside policy and administrative specialists. The firm represents both domestic and international clients and offers full-service capabilities, particularly in corporate transactions, regulatory compliance, antitrust, IP, tax disputes, and labour issues. Head of practice Doil Son is highly engaged in international TMT legal organisations and frequently advises on cutting-edge matters such as AI and big data. Seung Hyuck Han oversees telecommunications and media work, defending clients in regulatory investigations. Sun Hee Kim is head of the data and technology team and focuses on online platforms, e-commerce and fintech, with a specialisation in data privacy, while Chung Hwan Choi adds significant strength and experience in the media, entertainment and arts industries.
South Korea > Intellectual property: local firms
Yulchon’s IP and tech group is known for its broad expertise, representing major companies in both litigation and transactions. Led by Doil Son, who brings over two decades of judicial experience, the team is highly skilled across various IP matters. Jeong Yeol Choe directly oversees patent cases and represents clients for civil, administrative and criminal cases relating to patents. Hyeong Joo Lim has extensive experience practising in trade secrets, patents, trade marks, copyrights and design.
Lawyer Rankings
- Fintech and financial services regulatory: local firms South Korea
- Leading partners South Korea > TMT: local firms
- Leading partners South Korea > Fintech and financial services regulatory: local firms
- TMT: local firms South Korea
- Intellectual property: local firms South Korea
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Dispute resolution: local firms
- Fintech and financial services regulatory: local firms
- Tax: local firms
- TMT: local firms
Firm Rankings
- Antitrust and competition: local firms
- Banking and finance: local firms
- Capital markets: local firms
- Corporate and M&A: local firms
- Insurance: local firms
- Intellectual property: local firms
- Labour and employment: local firms
- Projects and energy: local firms
- Real estate: local firms
- Regulatory: white-collar, compliance and investigations: local firms
- International arbitration
- Shipping: local firms