Partner
Kwangik SON
Defense Industry
Kwangik Son is a partner in the Defense Industry Group. He is an expert in the areas of defense industry, government contracts, and aerospace.
Mr. Son was commissioned as a Judge Advocate in 2002 and worked at the Ministry of National Defense, the Army Headquarters, the Special Warfare Command, and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) for most of his legal career. As a Judge Advocate officer, he was in charge of military disciplinary (or non-judicial punishment) procedure and military judicial proceedings. He handled other legal matters such as serving as legal counsel to defense acquisition programs and defense installation projects, domestic and overseas lawsuits, and international arbitration.
After serving in the Army for 20 years, Mr. Son was honorably discharged as a Colonel of the Army in 2022.
Mr. Son was commissioned as a Judge Advocate in 2002 and worked at the Ministry of National Defense, the Army Headquarters, the Special Warfare Command, and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) for most of his legal career. As a Judge Advocate officer, he was in charge of military disciplinary (or non-judicial punishment) procedure and military judicial proceedings. He handled other legal matters such as serving as legal counsel to defense acquisition programs and defense installation projects, domestic and overseas lawsuits, and international arbitration.
After serving in the Army for 20 years, Mr. Son was honorably discharged as a Colonel of the Army in 2022.
Education
| 2012 | New York University School of Law - LL.M. |
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| 2004 | Judicial Research & Training Institute, Supreme Court of Korea |
| 1999 | Korea University – LL.B. |
Work Experience
| 2024-Present | Lee & Ko |
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| 2024-Present | Adjunct Professor, Korea University Graduate School of Legal Studies |
| 2024-Present | Member, Korea Coast Guard Investigation Review Board |
| 2024-Present | Arbitrator, Korean Commercial Arbitration Board |
| 2024-Present | Member, Gyeonggido Yangpyong Education Council |
| 2023-Present | Legal Advisor, National Agency for Administrative City Construction |
| 2023-Present | Human Rights Legal Advisor, 7th Corp of the Army |
| 2023-Present | External Member, Defense Media Agency Disciplinary Board |
| 2023-Present | Member, Korean Bar Association Human Rights Council |
| 2022-2024 | Dong In Law Group |
| 2020-2022 | Human Rights Counsel, Human Rights Division of Ministry of National Defense |
| 2019-2020 | International Lawsuit and International Arbitration Legal Officer, Defense Acquisition Program Administration |
| 2017-2019 | Advisory Legal Officer, DAPA Maneuver Firepower and Naval Ship Program |
| 2015-2017 | Head of Disciplinary Action, Army Headquarter |
| 2013-2015 | Staff Judge Advocate, Army Special Warfare Command |
| 2012-2013 | Jacob, Medinger & Finnegan LLP |
| 2010-2012 | Regulatory Interpretation Officer, Legal Counsel of Ministry of National Defense |
| 2008-2010 | Head of Public Litigation, Prosecutor’s Office of Ministry of National Defense |
| 2007-2008 | Public Prosecutor, Prosecutor’s Office Army Headquarter |
| 2006-2007 | Military Judge, Army Special Warfare Command |
| 2004-2006 | Military Prosecutor, Army Special Warfare Command |
Languages
| Korean and English |
Awards and Recognitions
| 2022 | Honorable Member of Army Judge Advocate General |
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| 2020 | Prime Minister Award |
| 2020 | Minister of Defense Acquisition Program Administration Award |
| 2018 | Minister of National Defense Award |
| 2015 | Chief of Staff of the Army Award |
