Executive Partner, LIWU Law Group

Attorney at LawKyongsok Chong

정경석 · K.S. Chong

For our clients' rights and interests — thoroughly, persistently, to the very end.

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Portrait of Kyongsok Chong
  • Korea's first use of U.S. §1782 discovery to unmask an anonymous YouTuberFollowed by numerous similar cases
  • Korea's first demolition order against a copycat buildingUnfair competition suits over architecture and interior design
  • Clean Internet CenterAction against online abuse; reputation management for companies and public figures
  • Artist exclusive contract disputesNegotiation and litigation across all types of management contracts
  • Numerous plagiarism disputesMusic, books, film, drama and other content

About

Kyongsok Chong is the Executive Partner of LIWU Law Group in Seoul, Korea. His practice centers on the entertainment and cultural industries, copyright and intellectual property, and cross-border disputes.

He was the first lawyer in Korea to use U.S. federal discovery under 28 U.S.C. §1782 to identify an anonymous YouTuber hiding behind an overseas platform — a case that led to civil damages and criminal penalties in Korea — and he has since handled many similar matters. He also won Korea's first court-ordered demolition of a building that copied an original café design.

He represents Korean and international companies and public figures, handles international litigation and matters involving foreign nationals, and is active in international networks including Law Firm Network (LFN) and the International Bar Association (IBA).

Education & Career

Education

  • Seoul National University, College of Law
  • Korean Bar Examination; Judicial Research and Training Institute
  • University of Washington School of Law, LL.M. (Intellectual Property Law & Policy)
  • Loyola Marymount University, Entertainment Business Program
  • The Wharton School, Strategic Thinking and Management Program

Legal Career

  1. Kim, Chang & Lee
  2. DW Partners
  3. KCL
  4. Sewha Park & Goo
  5. Founder & Representative Attorney, JC Partners
  6. Executive Partner, LIWU Law Group

Corporate Roles

  • Auditor and advisor to a major entertainment company
  • Outside director and auditor of a listed game company

Public Service

  • Auditor and Chairman, Game Culture Foundation
  • Classification subcommittee member, Korea Media Rating Board
  • Arbitrator, Korean Commercial Arbitration Board

Honors

  • Commendation, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism
  • Eisenhower Fellowship
  • IBA San Francisco Scholarship

Has served on advisory and review committees for Korean public bodies, including the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Korea Creative Content Agency, the Korea Copyright Commission and the Korean Film Council.

Practice Areas

Litigation & ArbitrationCivil and commercial litigation; domestic and international arbitration
Copyright & IPPlagiarism and infringement disputes; trademarks and unfair competition
Entertainment & ContentCounsel to major entertainment companies and listed game companies
Cross-border MattersInternational litigation; cases involving foreign nationals, including criminal, family and visa matters
Southeast AsiaMarket entry in Vietnam, Thailand and the region
Corporate AdvisoryJoint ventures, M&A and divestitures
Online ReputationClean Internet Center: reputation management and responses to online abuse
Criminal DefenseFinancial crime, narcotics, voice phishing and Attorney-at-Law Act violations

Key Cases

Cyber defamation
U.S. §1782 discovery

Unmasking anonymous YouTubers through U.S. courts

Using discovery under 28 U.S.C. §1782, he identified the operator of an anonymous channel hiding behind an overseas platform, leading to civil damages and criminal penalties in Korea. It was the first such case in Korea, and he has since handled many similar matters.

ReutersThe New York TimesHankook IlboLaw Timesand more

Architectural works
Unfair competition

Korea's first demolition order against a copycat building

Beyond damages, the court ordered the demolition of a building that copied an original café design — the first such ruling in Korea. He continues to handle unfair competition disputes over architecture and interior design.

JoongAng IlboHankook IlboNewsisand more

Copyright
Plagiarism

Plagiarism disputes in music, books, film and drama

Representing a U.S. composer, he handled a plagiarism suit over a world-famous children's song through to the Supreme Court of Korea, as well as injunctions against film screenings and disputes over the copyrightability of stage direction.

The Washington PostAP (via NBC)Xportsnews interviewand more

Entertainment
Exclusive contracts

Exclusive contract disputes between artists and agencies

For idols, bands, actors, singers and influencers, he has handled both negotiation and litigation — from injunctions suspending exclusive contracts to declaratory actions and claims for unpaid settlements.

Yonhap NewsSeoul ShinmunXportsnewsTenAsiaand more

Publications

Eight books as author or co-author, and more than twenty articles, case commentaries and columns (in Korean).

  • War against Cyber-wreckers (사이버 렉카 전쟁) · Law Times, 2025
  • The Great Exodus (대망명) · Jungjeong Publishing, 2016
  • Corporate Rehabilitation Practice in Q&A (문답기업회생실무) · Jungjeong Publishing, 2016
  • Overseas Content Dispute Casebook (co-author) · Korea Creative Content Agency, 2009
  • Overseas Game Patent Dispute Casebook (co-author) · Korea Game Industry Agency, 2007
  • Stories of Intellectual Property (지적재산권 이야기) · Legal Information Center, 2007
  • Civil Execution Act: Case Commentary (민사집행법 판례 해설) · Euro, 2007
  • Entertainment Business Dispute Casebook (엔터테인먼트 비즈니스 분쟁사례집) · Chungrim Publishing, 2004
Selected articles
  • 2009Introducing "Striking Similarity" in Copyright Infringement AnalysisBupjo No. 633, Korean Lawyers Association
  • 2009On Substantial SimilarityCopyright Quarterly No. 85, Korea Copyright Commission
  • 2009Trade Secret Misappropriation and Breach of Non-Compete ObligationsIntellectual Property Rights No. 34
  • 2008The Theory and Case Law of Portrait Rights in KoreaThe Lawyer Vol. 38, Seoul Bar Association
  • 2007Injunctions Barring Appearances for Breach of Exclusive ContractsBupjo Vol. 56 No. 8, Korean Lawyers Association
  • 2005Copyright Infringement of Game WorksHuman Rights and Justice No. 346, Korean Bar Association

Media

International Media

Korean Media

Featured widely in Korean media, including Yonhap News, YTN, JoongAng Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo and Law Times, with appearances on major TV and radio programs:

Activities

International

  • Eisenhower Fellowship
  • Law Firm Network (LFN)
  • International Bar Association (IBA)

Professional Societies

  • Founding member and officer, Korea Entertainment Law Society
  • Founding member and officer, Korea Game Law Society
  • Officer, International Association of Korean Lawyers

Speaking

  • Presentations and panels at National Assembly policy forums
  • Academic conferences and seminars
  • Lectures for companies, public institutions and universities

International Trade Shows

  • MIPTV (Cannes) and Annecy Festival, France
  • Gamescom (Germany); E3, Comic-Con and SXSW (U.S.)
  • Character licensing shows in Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Shanghai
  • K-Expo in Mexico, Brazil, Thailand, Vietnam, India and Dubai (UAE)

Characters

Characters featured in his YouTube and Instagram content.

Intro video (Korean)
Gallery