Business · Companies · 3 hrs ago
Barun chief urges companies to identify risks before problems arise
Barun chief Lee Dong-hoon says companies should identify risks early rather than wait for a legal or regulatory problem to occur.
He made the remarks in an interview at the Seoul office of the South Korean law firm.
He says risks now span areas including workplace safety, supply chains and shareholder activism, so checking individual laws may not be enough.
A compliance system must work in practice, with staff training and signs of possible violations reported to management.
Weak internal controls can expose companies and executives to legal penalties and reputational harm, making compliance a responsibility for boards and business teams as well as lawyers.
Lee says changes to criminal procedures make early investigation responses more important, because how facts and evidence are first assembled can shape a case.
He also expects legal teams to use AI for routine work while lawyers remain responsible for final judgments.
Barun chief Lee Dong-hoon urged companies to identify risks early and build working internal-control and compliance systems.
He said companies should not wait for problems to arise before responding.
Lee said risks now span areas including labor, safety, environmental and supply-chain rules, corporate law and shareholder activism.
He said compliance needs to involve boards, executives and business teams, not only legal departments.
Lee also said early responses to investigations have become more important under revised criminal procedure rules.
- Who
- Lee Dong-hoon, chief attorney of Barun.
- What
- He urged companies to identify risks in advance and build effective compliance systems.
- When
- The interview took place on October 1; Yonhap published it on October 16, 2026.
- Where
- Barun’s office in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
- Why
- Lee said corporate risks have become more complex and oversight is shifting toward continuous systems.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Lee was interviewed at Barun’s office in Seoul.
Yonhap published the interview.
- Interviewee
- Lee Dong-hoon
- Firm
- Barun
- Interview location
- Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- Interview date
- October 1
- Publication date
- October 16, 2026
What people are saying
Companies should identify risks proactively and establish internal-control and compliance systems, rather than respond after problems arise.
Investigative and supervisory agencies do not look only at whether compliance rules and manuals existed.
The final judgment and responsibility lie with the lawyer.