Shin & Kim LLC Launches AIDC Infrastructure Center, Offering Integrated Support Across Three Mega-Sectors: AI, Semiconductors, and Data Centers

[Front row, from left, Partner Kyoung Soo Chang, Senior Advisor Jeoung Yeol Yu, Senior Partner Yun Seok Jang, and Senior Partner Sinook Kang; back row, from left, Partner Sang-Hyun Lee, Partner Bo Kyung Lim, Senior Foreign Attorney Sejin Kim, and Senior Foreign Attorney Hyunju Helen Pak.]

• Full-scale launch of integrated advisory services for Korea’s national strategic industries, including AI, semiconductors, and data centers
• One-stop advisory across the full project lifecycle, from site selection and permitting to power procurement, AI and data regulation, technology protection, and investment and financing

Shin & Kim LLC (“Shin & Kim”), led by Managing Partner Jong-Han Oh, has announced the launch of its AIDC (AI Data Center) Infrastructure Center to meet the evolving legal needs associated with Korea’s efforts to foster AI, semiconductors, and data centers as national strategic industries and to provide integrated legal services for related projects.

With the Special Act on the Promotion of the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Industry (“AIDC Special Act”) set to take effect next March, the government has recently stepped up policy support to foster AI, semiconductors, and data centers as national strategic industries, and investment and large-scale projects in these sectors are expected to gain momentum. Building AI and data center infrastructure raises a complex mix of legal and policy issues. Beyond site selection and permitting, these include securing large-scale power and grid connection, energy supply, AI and data regulation, protection of national core technologies, and investment and financing. Companies therefore need comprehensive capabilities to address these issues together.

Shin & Kim has established a strong track record by advising on a wide range of major data center projects in Korea and abroad. Its experience spans the full data center lifecycle and includes advising IGIS Asset Management on the development, operation, and sale of its Hanam data center. The firm has also advised on the development of the Goyang Samsong Data Center—the largest hyperscale data center in the northwestern Seoul metropolitan area. Its experience further includes Samsung C&T Corporation’s data center project in Pyeongtaek, Smilegate’s data center project in Munbong, Goyang, multiple data center development projects undertaken by Actis, and the development of a data center in Yongin by Warburg Pincus and Wide Creek Asset Management. In addition, the firm has advised clients on power grid impact assessments relating to electricity supply for data centers.

Building on this experience, Shin & Kim will leverage its data center expertise to expand its capabilities across AI and other advanced-industry infrastructure sectors. The Center will bring together expertise from across the firm to establish an integrated advisory platform covering the entire project lifecycle.

To this end, the Center brings together experts in real estate and alternative investment, projects and energy, data privacy and cybersecurity, AI governance, intellectual property, trade and industrial policy, domestic and cross-border investment and M&A, and project finance, all working in close collaboration. The Center provides comprehensive support across the entire project lifecycle. This starts with early-stage work such as business structuring and site selection, continues through development and permitting, power and energy procurement, AI and data regulation, technology protection, and investment and financing structures, and extends to operation and divestment.

The AIDC Infrastructure Center’s key practice areas include: ▲ due diligence on data center sites and business rights, development and construction, and operation and divestment; ▲ development project finance, power procurement through renewable energy, natural gas, and nuclear power generation, grid connection, power grid impact assessments, and power purchase agreements; ▲ ICT regulatory compliance, including AI, data, and telecommunications regulation, AI commercialization, and data center service agreements; ▲ IP and technology protection advice, covering AI training data and copyright, technology development and licensing agreements, trade secrets, and national core technologies; and ▲ investment and finance advisory, including domestic and cross-border investment, project finance, acquisition finance and refinancing, funds, and GPU financing. The Center will also provide comprehensive advice on government support programs and permitting, foreign investment and incentives, and overseas expansion.

The Center will be jointly led by Partner Kyoung Soo Chang (JRTI Class 32), who heads Shin & Kim’s Real Estate Group and has advised on numerous data center development and investment projects, and Senior Advisor Jeoung Yeol Yu, who brings extensive policy experience in industry, trade, and investment gained through his work at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and his tenure as President of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).

The Center also brings together some 100 key professionals from across the firm to provide comprehensive support for complex AIDC projects. They include Senior Partner Yun Seok Jang (JRTI Class 30), who leads the Corporate Finance Group; Senior Partner Sinook Kang (JRTI Class 33), who heads the ICT Group; Partner Sang-Hyun Lee (JRTI Class 29), Head of the Projects and Energy Group; Partner Bo Kyung Lim (JRTI Class 30), who leads the IP Group; Senior Foreign Attorney Sejin Kim, Head of the Trade and Industrial Policy Center; and Senior Foreign Attorney Hyunju Helen Pak, who brings expertise in international finance and investment transactions.

Managing Partner Jong-Han Oh (JRTI Class 18) commented, “Our work on a broad range of projects involving data centers, AI, semiconductors, and digital infrastructure has enabled us to develop extensive experience and strong advisory capabilities across these sectors. Through the AIDC Infrastructure Center, we will continue to deliver optimal solutions to our clients across every stage of complex, multifaceted AIDC projects, and contribute to the growth and competitiveness of Korea’s national strategic industries.”