Kyuho Hwang   Partner ∙ Patent Attorney ∙ Ph.D. (Engineering)

Experience

• Shin, Hwang, Yeo & Lee (2026–present)
• Member, Public-Private AI Privacy Policy Council, Personal Information Protection Commission (2026–present)
• DLG Law Corporation (2024–2026)
• Member, Policy Research Review Committee, Personal Information Protection Commission (2025–present)
• Member, Personal Information Technology Forum (2025–present)
• Legal Advisor, Startup Legal Advisory Group, Ministry of SMEs and Startups (2024–2025)
• Private Member, Regulatory Review Committee, Personal Information Protection Committee (2024–present)
• Legal Counsel, Ministry of Intellectual Property (formerly Korean Intellectual Property Office) (2024–present)
• Head of Legal Strategy, Plasmapp Co., Ltd. (2022–2024)
• Advisory Member, AI Law & Policy Research Group, National Information Society Agency (2021–2022)
• Yoon & Yang (2013–2022)
• Research Specialist, Intelligent Robotics Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (2018–2019)
• Engineer, Iljin Diamond Co., Ltd. (2002–2005)

Representative Activities

Awards

• Commendation from the Minister of SMEs and Startups (Legal and Regulatory Support to Startups, 2025)

Publications/Activities

• Technology Protection: A Practical Guide (co-author, Oneness Media, 2026)
• Virtual Assets A to Z: From Investment to Dispute Resolution (Co-author, Korea Economic Daily, 2022)
• Study on Liability for Damages Arising from Artificial Intelligence Conduct (Co-author, National Information Society Agency, 2022)

Key Credentials

• Advised a major manufacturer on trade secret misappropriation involving EV battery materials, cells, modules, packs, and testing processes; represented client in related civil and criminal proceedings
• Represented a major manufacturer in criminal proceedings involving alleged leakage of LNG carrier manufacturing technology; handled related civil litigation on patent validity
• Advised a multinational automotive manufacturer on trade secret misappropriation involving AI processors (NPU); represented client in criminal proceedings
• Represented a major manufacturer in civil and criminal trade secret disputes involving former employees and competitors
• Advised an SME manufacturer on export control compliance involving national core technologies and strategic items

• Advised on expedited regulatory review for services utilizing emerging technologies (AI, robotics, drones, and IoT)
• Represented a credit card company in civil litigation arising from a personal data breach
• Advised a healthcare data platform on the design and implementation of data protection frameworks
• Advised a medical device company on compliance for personal data collected through devices
• Advised on regulatory and legal issues relating to the integration of AI services into software-based medical devices
• Advised on data sharing and compliance in joint clinical research involving medical information
• Advised on the installation and operation of video information processing devices (including security cameras) in compliance with data protection laws
• Represented clients in criminal proceedings involving unlawful processing of personal video data

• Advised in connection with the manufacture and sale of products without safety certification
• Represented a multinational manufacturer in civil litigation arising from turbine and generator explosions at a thermal power plant
• Represented a major construction company in defect litigation involving catalyst and dust collection systems at a thermal power facility
• Represented a mid-sized manufacturer in criminal and civil proceedings arising from the Gangneung hydrogen tank explosion
• Represented a mid-sized manufacturer in civil litigation involving battery fire incidents (ESS and electric vehicles)
• Represented a major manufacturer in civil litigation arising from a self-propelled artillery explosion
• Advised and represented a major manufacturer in civil litigation arising from a data center fire incident
• Advised and represented a multinational automotive manufacturer in civil and criminal proceedings involving emissions manipulation
• Represented a multinational automotive manufacturer in product defect and damages litigation
• Represented a major manufacturer in civil litigation arising from a helicopter crash
• Represented a mid-sized company in civil litigation involving defects in SI/ERP/MIS system integration projects
• Represented a major construction company in defect litigation involving a large-scale construction project
• Represented a cryptocurrency exchange in civil litigation arising from server outages and hacking incidents

• Advised a domestic university-industry cooperation foundation on an employee invention dispute
• Represented a major steel manufacturer in civil litigation involving employee invention compensation claims
• Advised and represented a multinational automotive manufacturer in patent infringement disputes involving auto parts, including invalidation proceedings and related civil and criminal actions
• Represented a mid-sized manufacturer in civil and criminal patent infringement litigation involving semiconductor equipment and materials
• Represented a mid-sized software company in patent infringement litigation involving payment processing systems
• Advised a mid-sized semiconductor equipment manufacturer on patent prosecution and filing strategy

• Advised a domestic edtech company on technology product supply and business cooperation agreements
• Advised startups on M&A transactions, including legal due diligence and transaction documentation (SPAs, SHAs)
• Advised startups on equity structuring, including dual-class share issuances, stock options, and RSU grants
• Advised companies on shareholder defense strategies and ownership structure planning
• Advised on the formation of joint ventures and negotiation of shareholders’ agreements
• Advised on structuring and contracting for cross-border joint research and development collaborations