(Left: Dato’ Andy Low Hann Yong, Managing Partner of Low & Partners / Right: Attorney Dongik Lee, Managing Partner of Sunwoon Law Firm)
[Sunwoon Law Firm]
Malaysia today stands at the center of the Korean Wave (Hallyu), where Korean dramas, variety shows, and products are widely accessible.
Riding on this trend, many Korean companies (such as Cuckoo, Woongjin Coway, and LBB Korea) have already entered the Malaysian market with notable success, and recently, Korean franchise brands (including CU, BHC, and Emart24) have also been expanding actively.
Nevertheless, a considerable number of Korean companies remain hesitant to enter Malaysia due to unfamiliar cultural and institutional business environments
- the unique characteristics of Islamic culture,
- the country’s multi-ethnic composition (Malay, Chinese, and Indian communities),
- the “Bumiputera” policy favoring ethnic Malays.
In particular, beyond these cultural and institutional differences, the lack of systematic legal support has often forced companies to prepare their entry into Malaysia in an ad hoc manner.
On September 1, 2023, Sunwoon Law Firm (Managing Partner: Attorney Dongik Lee) became the first Korean law firm to enter into an MOU with a Malaysian law firm, signing a partnership agreement with Low & Partners, a mid-sized law firm based in Malaysia.
Low & Partners maintains partner offices in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Dubai, specializing in legal services across Southeast Asia. The firm was recognized as Malaysia Law Firm of the Year and Southeast Asia Law Firm of the Year at the ALB Awards (Asia Legal Business Awards) for four consecutive years from 2017 to 2020.
Attorney Dongik Lee of Sunwoon Law Firm has longstanding ties with Malaysian lawyers, dating back to his study period in the UK from 2008 to 2010. Having also resided in Malaysia for the past three years, he possesses deep familiarity with the local legal and business landscape.
This MOU marks the first-ever direct partnership between a Korean law firm and a Malaysian law firm. It is significant in that it enables Sunwoon Law Firm to provide Korean companies seeking to enter Malaysia and the wider Southeast Asian market with structured, efficient, and cost-effective legal services.
Sunwoon Law Firm will continue to focus on the needs of Korean companies and strive to deliver more systematic, efficient, and practical legal services tailored to their business expansion overseas.
▼ Related news articles on this matter can be found at the link below.
https://www.legaltimes.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=74890
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