金荣勳

Mr. Young-Hoon Kim is a partner at Shin & Kim, specializing in defense and the defense industry, national and public contracts, military-related criminal and disciplinary matters, and a wide range of legal advisory services.

Mr. Kim was the first Air Force long-term judge advocate appointed through the 2008 Korean Bar Examination, and has served in various key judicial positions within the military, including Military Judge at the Air Force Court, Chief Prosecutor of the Air Force High Prosecutors’ Office, and Chief Public Defender of the Military Court. In 2022, he was appointed as the inaugural Chief Prosecutor of the Air Force and became the youngest colonel across all branches of the Korean Armed Forces, underscoring his deep expertise and unique insight in the specialized field of military law.

In 2019, Mr. Kim became the first military judge advocate to serve as an Administrative Officer in the Office of the Legal Secretary to the Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Blue House, where he was responsible for providing legal advice on national defense and security matters, including those related to the defense industry, for about two years. He also served for many years as a judge advocate, where he was responsible for matters related to defense capability, defense industry, military logistics, facilities, and national property at the Ministry of National Defense and the Air Force, through which he developed a broad network and extensive experience in national defense and defense industry matters.

During his tenure as the inaugural Chief Prosecutor of the Air Force, he led major institutional reforms, including the planning and introduction of the Air Force’s AI-based case management system and the establishment of the Air Force Prosecutors’ Soldiers Committee. He also strengthened the military’s rule-of-law framework through extensive training, counseling, and grievance-resolution programs for service members. Drawing on his extensive public-sector and defense-related expertise, he continues to provide comprehensive and practical legal advice at Shin & Kim.

1. Military Criminal, Disciplinary, and Personnel Appeal Matters

• Defended a military officer in a criminal case involving assault on a sentry
• Defended a military officer in a criminal case involving violations of the Medical Service Act
• Defended a military officer in a criminal case involving falsification of public electronic records
• Defended a non-commissioned officer in a criminal case involving unauthorized absence
• Defended a civilian military employee in a criminal case involving the preparation of false official documents
• Defended an active-duty soldier in a criminal case involving aggravated assault
• Defended a civilian in a criminal case involving violations of the Act on the Punishment of Crimes Involving Military Supplies
• Represented a military officer in an administrative lawsuit seeking revocation of a decision of ineligibility for reappointment and an application for suspension of execution
• Represented a non-commissioned officer in an administrative lawsuit seeking revocation of disciplinary action involving verbal abuse and an application for suspension of execution
• Represented civilian military employees in administrative lawsuits seeking revocation of disciplinary actions involving sexual harassment, abuse of authority, violations of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, violations of accounting regulations, and dereliction of duty, as well as applications for suspension of execution
• Represented a military officer in a personnel appeal and administrative litigation concerning a reassignment order

2. Military-Related Litigation and Advisory Matters

• Represented a client in litigation seeking restitution of unjust enrichment in connection with the Defense Medical Information System Enhancement Project
• Represented a client in litigation seeking restitution of unjust enrichment concerning software payments under the Integrated Defense Payroll Information System Development Project
• Advised on changes to military service classification for an active-duty soldier found unfit for active service
• Advised on overseas travel permits for persons subject to military service obligations
• Advised on consultations with the Ministry of National Defense and the respective military services concerning the assessment of military operational impacts of offshore wind power projects on the Korean Peninsula

3. Defense Industry and Government Contract Matters

• Represented a client in litigation concerning liquidated damages for delay in a submarine weapons system project
• Represented a client in litigation seeking damages arising from maintenance defects in a fighter aircraft weapons system
• Represented a client in litigation seeking settlement payments under a defense procurement contract with the price to be finalized during performance for a tank weapons system
• Advised on bidding procedures for a military vehicle weapons system, including negotiations, model selection, and comprehensive evaluations
• Represented a client in filing objections with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and applications for mediation before the State Contract Dispute Mediation Committee concerning bidding procedures, including qualification assessments, for a bulletproof vest force support system
• Advised on permits and approvals for the construction of a testing facility for a laser weapons system
• Advised on contract termination and settlement matters relating to a Rapid Research and Development Program
• Advised on the designation, sale, and acquisition of defense contractors
• Advised on export permits and overseas regulations concerning defense articles
• Advised on the imposition of liquidated damages for delay between defense contractors
• Advised foreign defense contractors on domestic bidding procedures and offset trade requirements
• Provided legal advice to the Korea Defense Industry Association (KDIA), the Korea Space and Aerospace Industry Association, and the Defense Industry Mutual Aid Association
• Provided ongoing legal advisory services to numerous defense contractors

4. General Litigation and Advisory Matters

• Represented a client in litigation seeking damages arising from medical malpractice
• Defended a client in a criminal case involving violations of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act
• Defended a client in a criminal case involving violations of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act
• Represented clients in cases involving the surrender of land, compulsory execution, and cancellation of provisional attachments
• Represented a client in proceedings seeking suspension of compulsory execution
• Advised a company on responding to allegations of software copyright infringement and demands to obtain genuine software licenses
• Advised on civil litigation proceedings and court decisions in lieu of mediation