[칼럼] My Story 10 - ● Appointed as the senior attorney-at-law of DR & AJU LLC and distinguished chair professor at Dongguk University Business School

(NewsKorea=Seoul) Digital News Team = My Story 10 - ● Appointed as the senior attorney-at-law of DR & AJU LLC and distinguished chair professor at Dongguk University Business School

September 1, 2011.

After finishing my term as the Consul General of Korea in Shanghai, I joined Kim & Jung  as a legal advisor and led the China Economic and Finance Center. I was pursuing the path of a lawyer with a "dormant license" at that time. The leading lawyer, Kim Ki-su, a former Prosecutor General, was someone I knew through former President Kim Young-sam, and many of the partner lawyers were former students when I taught at Seoul National University. I never felt out of place in this new environment. After handling many cases over five years, I was recruited by DR & AJU LLC, a large law firm ranked 7th in Korea. The firm, with more than 300 lawyers, was renowned as an international law firm. There, I handled numerous China-related cases, including corporate disputes, customs classification issues, capital investment, mergers & acquisitions (M&A), initial public offerings (IPOs), private equity (PEF), venture capital, real estate finance and development, resource development, international arbitration, foreign court litigation, WTO and FTA consultations.

Early in my career as a lawyer, my Chinese friend, Li Yiping, the Chairman of Daziran Group, contacted me about a 1 trillion KRW investment project in Jeju Island. He asked me to arrange meetings with key figures, including the Governor of Jeju Island, the Mayor of Seogwipo, and prominent national leaders, such as former President Kim Young-sam, former Democratic Party president Lee Ki-taek, and Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-su. I had only three days to arrange these meetings. The most challenging part was meeting Governor Woo Geun-min of Jeju Island, as he was not affiliated with the ruling party, and I had no personal connection with him. I first asked Minister of the Interior, Maeng Hyung-gyu, to help, and his chief of staff followed up. However, because of a pre-scheduled meeting with villagers in Gangjeong-ri, I received the response that a meeting would be difficult. However, I had a hunch, so I personally asked Im Jae-hyun, the Presidential Secretary from Jeju Island, to speak to governor Woo directly, only to later learn that the chief of staff of Governor Woo hadn’t passed on the request. Nevertheless, Governor Woo, feeling guilty, warmly welcomed our delegation. A meeting with the Mayor of Seogwipo, a former judge, was much easier to arrange.

Li Yiping's private jet, worth 70 billion KRW, caused a stir when it landed in Jeju Island, making me feel quite important. Hanwha Construction proposed establishing a special purpose company (SPC) and offering me a position as chairman, but I declined. I had originally intended only to assist my friend, though the law firm and some colleague lawyers viewed it as a large-scale development project. The 1 trillion KRW project would generate a commission of 1%, meaning a potential profit of 10 billion KRW. In Seoul, we together visited former President Kim Young-sam, and dined with former Democratic  Party president Lee Ki-taek. Governor Kim Moon-su changed his schedule to host us at a top restaurant. Li Yiping was so moved that he attempted to gift him a bottle of Romanee-Conti (worth 18 million KRW at the time), but Governor Kim refused. Chairman Lee then suggested we share it during lunch, but due to Governor Kim’s integrity, we missed the opportunity to taste the world's finest wine.

September 1, 2013.

I was appointed as distinguished chair Professor in the Faculty of Liberal Arts at Sungkyul University, which was affiliated with one of the top five Christian denominations in Korea, with over 3,000 churches. The position was particularly prestigious since the renowned scholar, former Minister Lee Eo-ryeong, had served in the same role just before me. Although the decision was made by the university president, it was not final until approved by the board of directors. One day, Professor Emeritus Kim Young-su, who had convinced the president to appoint me, relayed that Pastor Na Se-woong, the President of the Sungkyul denomination, wanted to meet with me. During our dinner, Pastor Na, impressed by my background, invited me to speak at the denomination's national pastors’ summer conference. The topic was challenging, as I was a layperson speaking to a large group of pastors, but I found inspiration in a past experience. In August 2011, I had given a lecture to over 2,000 elders and deacons at the Yoido Full Gospel Church's summer conference. Afterward, I received a surprise invitation to lunch with Pastor Cho Yong-gi and his wife, which was a miraculous experience. I gained confidence from this and chose to speak on the topic, "Western Capitalism and the Christian Spirit," which received a standing ovation, likely due to the pride in Christianity's influence on Western capitalism.

A miracle occurred shortly after. Pastor Na introduced me to the Chairman of the Sungkyul University Foundation, who then recommended me to the board of directors. Two weeks later, I was formally appointed as distinguished chair professor. During my two years in the role, one of the most rewarding experiences was delivering a lecture to 2,000 students, faculty, and staff in the university's chapel. My lecture was titled, "The 21st Century World Order and Korea's Choice."

March 1, 2016.

I was appointed as distinguished professor at Kookmin University’s Graduate School of Politics. Although I had taught law courses at Soongsil Cyber University, teaching political science was a new challenge. The course, East Asian International Relations, covered North and South Korea, the U.S., China, Japan, and Russia. Before studying law, I had been a political science major, with a strong foundation in American politics, European politics, and Middle Eastern politics. Additionally, I had studied Russian politics and history during the Cold War, and I was well-versed in East Asian politics, history, and society through my time at Yonsei University and Peking University. Teaching political science and history over two years allowed me to integrate these areas and gain valuable insights, especially when teaching weekend military officers, which was a unique experience.

September 1, 2016.

I was appointed as distinguished professor in the Faculty of Economics at Hannam University. Teaching subjects like Chinese Economics, Chinese Economic Reform Policy Seminar, and Modern Chinese History and Society was a huge challenge, but my background in law, political science, history, and my experience at the Shanghai Consulate provided a solid foundation. I used my knowledge of China’s political and economic systems, along with real-world data, to make the course more practical. Thanks to the positive feedback from students, I was able to teach for three years.

January 1, 2021.

I was appointed as distinguished chair professor at Dongguk University Business School. In Korea, it is quite difficult to be appointed as distinguished chair professor at a prestigious university. Normally, only Nobel laureates or those with significant achievements in their fields are appointed as distinguished chair professors, but exceptions are made for individuals with extensive experience in public service or leadership roles. My experiences as a university president, consul-general, and senior professor contributed to my appointment, but most importantly, it was due to the efforts of President Yoon Seung-yi, my junior friend from Geoje Island. Out of gratitude, I later helped the university negotiate important deals.

September 1, 2021.

I was appointed as visiting professor at Kyung Hee University’s Techno Business School. My former colleague, professor Park Chan-hwang, asked me to teach a negotiation course that had been difficult to fill. In fact I had focused on ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) during my time at law school and won the CALI Excellence for the Future  Award. I found the task very fulfilling. Teaching negotiation theory was also a way for me to continue evolving as an individual. I believed that if I could internalize the theory, I could update my book 'The Art of Negotiation' which I plan to release in a revised edition within five years to contribute to the healing of Korea’s political and social conflicts.

Over the past 10 years, I consider this period as my lost fifties, as I had moved away from Seoul to live a more introspective life in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, starting on July 1, 2011. During this time, I primarily focused on teaching and mentoring students in the humanities and social sciences. This period of teaching, particularly in law, political science, economics, history, sociology, and negotiation, has given me a broader perspective. I believe that one day this accumulated knowledge will be used for the benefit of Korea.

☆ Author:  Atty Jeong-kee Kim ☆

● Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Summa Cum Laude, State University of New York at Stony Brook
-  Doctor of Jurisprudence, Marquette University Law School
- Senior Executive Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
- Research Scholar in North Korean Studies, Peking University

● Experience
- Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai
- Commissioner General for the Korean Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo
- CEO, Asia-Pacific Local Government Network for Economic and Social Development (CityNet)
- Secretary General, World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization(WeGO)
- Law Clerk, Milwaukee Circuit Court, USA
- Senior Attorney-at-Law, Dr & Aju LLC
- Distinguished Visiting Professor, World Economy Research Institute, Nanjing University
- Research Professor, Institute of Oriental Studies, Peking University
- Distinguished Professor, Graduate School of Political Science, Kookmin University
- Chair Professor, Graduate School of Business, Dongguk University
- First President of Soongsil Cyber University

● Publications
- Georo English Studies Series for College Students [10 volumes] (Georo Publishing)
- I Challenge the Possibility of One Percent (Chosun Ilbo)
- The Art of Negotiation (Cheongnyonneongsin Publishing)
- Korea and the World (Chekmidum Publishing)