[Invest&Law] Law Firm Taepyungyang Launches 'Virtual Asset Criminal Response Team'... Full-Scale Response to Criminal Issues

by Choi Sukjin

Published 31 Jul.2024 08:23(KST)

"Financial, Tax, Criminal, and Forensic Experts Join in Large Numbers"
"Prompt Solutions Offered for Virtual Asset Criminal Issues"

The 'Virtual Asset Criminal Response Team' of the law firm Taepyungyang. (From the front row, starting from the left, counterclockwise) Lawyers Kim Daehyun, Park Jiyoung, Kim Beomgi, Jin Museong, Park Jaeyoung, Heo Cheolho, Kim Hyobong, Yoon Saro, and Go Yuseong.

Law firm Bae, Kim & Lee LLC (Representative Attorney Lee Jun-gi) has launched the ‘Virtual Asset Criminal Response Team’ to handle criminal issues such as unfair trading alongside the enforcement of the Act on the Protection of Virtual Asset Users.

The Bae, Kim & Lee Virtual Asset Criminal Response Team is composed of 50 experts in criminal, financial, and tax fields, centered around Attorney Kim Beom-gi (56, Judicial Research and Training Institute Class 26), who previously served as the 2nd Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, Head of the 2nd Division of Financial and Tax Investigation at Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and Director of the Review and Analysis Office at the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

In the criminal field, the team includes Attorney Jung Soo-bong (58, Class 25), former Digital Investigation Officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office; Attorney Heo Cheol-ho (57, Class 23), former Chief Prosecutor of the 4th Criminal Division at Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, specializing in economic cases; Attorney Lee Jeong-ho (58, Class 28), former Deputy Head of the 1st Financial and Tax Investigation Division at Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office; Attorney Park Ji-young (54, Class 29), former Deputy Chief Prosecutor at Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office, a patent crime-focused office, with extensive knowledge in corporate and financial criminal cases; and financial and criminal litigation experts such as Attorney Kim Jeong-hwan (49, Class 33), Attorney Yoon Sa-ro (41, Class 40), and Attorney Go Yoo-sung (36, Class 45). In September last year, they further enhanced their expertise in virtual assets by recruiting Attorney Kim Dae-hyun (44, Class 45), a former police officer who handled criminal analysis of virtual asset transactions at the FIU.

To secure virtual asset analysis technology, Attorney Kim Kwang-jun (57, Class 23), head of the Digital Forensics Center, and Specialist Won Yong-gi, a former forensic investigator at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Science Investigation Department, provide support. Attorney Kim Hyo-bong (43, Class 41), who built expertise in the virtual asset sector at the Financial Supervisory Service’s Digital Finance Innovation Bureau and Virtual Asset Supervision Bureau, also collaborates. Attorney Kim joined the Financial Supervisory Service’s first dedicated virtual asset team in 2022 and is a leading expert who was involved throughout the preparation of the Act on the Protection of Virtual Asset Users.

In the financial and tax fields, Attorney Hong Seung-il (45, Class 38), specializing in virtual asset transactions and regulations; Attorney Lim Se-young (39, 1st Bar Exam), specializing in virtual asset-related law and investor protection; and Attorney Park Jae-young (43, Class 37), specializing in tax criminal litigation and tax advisory, have joined to provide close support.

Attorney Kim Beom-gi of Bae, Kim & Lee said, “With the implementation of overseas virtual asset reporting systems and the enforcement of the Act on the Protection of Virtual Asset Users, virtual assets are expected to be incorporated into the institutional framework. Bae, Kim & Lee will offer the best response strategies and solutions for all possible criminal issues arising in the virtual asset sector.”

Following the pioneering launch of the ‘Digital Innovation Group’ in the law firm industry in 2021, Bae, Kim & Lee has continuously expanded its digital asset-related business areas by establishing the Digital Finance, Fintech, and Blockchain & Virtual Asset Task Forces (TF) under the group. In May, they also established the ‘Future Finance Strategy Center,’ encompassing the digital finance sector.