Park, Jae Woo
Practice Areas
Introduction
Jae Woo Park is a partner and deputy head of Yulchon’s Human Resources team who regularly provides legal advice to major corporate clients in relation to their human resources and labor issues, as well as assistance with HR-connected litigation. Mr. Park has extensive experience advising clients in the formulation of policies and the resolution of disputes regarding internal subcontracting, employee terminations, wage systems, labor issues in mergers and acquisitions, and workforce restructurings. He served as a member of the committee for inspecting work-related illnesses within the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service. Mr. Park now serves as a member the public interest committee in charge of judgment in Seoul National Labor Relations Commission. He also lectures at the In-House Congress and other conferences, and his columns and articles on labor issues are often published in both Korean and international journals.
- 2011 Visiting Scholar, Duke Law School
- 2003 Judicial Research and Training Institute, the Supreme Court of Korea
- 1997 Korea University, B.A. (Economics)
- 2012-present Yulchon LLC
- 2024-present Legal Counsel, Ministry of Employment and Labor
- 2016-2019 Consultant, Association of High Potential Enterprises of Korea
- 2013-2016 Representative of Public Interest in Charge of Judgment, Seoul National Labor Relations Commission
- 2008-2012 Lee & Ko
- 2008-2010 Committee for the Inspection of Work-related Illnesses, Korea Workers" Compensation and Welfare Service
- 2003-2006 I&S Law Offices
- 2003 Admitted to Bar , Republic of Korea
Korean, English
Representative Matters
- 2025 Represented company D, a health functional products seller, in a case involving a petition for payment of unpaid severance pay, and obtained administrative closure
- 2025 Represented a global cosmetics manufacturer in a case involving alleged violations of the Temporary Agency Workers Act, and obtained a non-indictment decision
- 2025 Represented a regional office of the Ministry of Employment and Labor in a lawsuit seeking cancellation of the office’s rejection of a report on establishment of Social Service Agent Union, and secured final victory
- 2024 Represented company S, a global enterprise, in a peak wage lawsuit and prevailed on all claims
- 2024 Represented the CEO of a security solution company in a case involving violations of the Labor Standards Act, and prevailed in the first-instance proceeding
- 2024 Successfully represented company M (public institution) in a lawsuit involving peak wage system and obtained a favorable conclusive ruling from the Supreme Court
- 2023 Represented company A (automobile manufacturer) in conducting an internal investigation and an HR consulting project
- 2023 Represented company K and obtained from the court a decision accepting its application for separation of a collective bargaining unit
- 2023 Represented company L (communications carrier) and prevailed in a lawsuit involving ordinary wages
- 2023 Successfully represented company K (semiconductors company) in a dispute over which the company’ employment rules were amended in disfavor of its employees, and prevailed in the Supreme Court
Awards/Recognition
- 2023-2026 Litigation star, Labour and employment, Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific
- 2020-2026 Leading Lawyer, Employment, Chambers AP
News/Publications
A Ban on the ‘Comprehensive Wage System’ Comes Into View to Eradicate Unpaid Labor: How Should Corporate Readiness Respond?, Hankyung Law & Biz (June.)(2026)
The Scope of Application of the Principle of Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value, Work Law (June.)(2026)
For Whom the Labor Law Is Written, Hankyung Law & Biz (May.)(2026)
Algorithm-Driven Work, Outdated Labor Laws—Time for Lawmakers to Catch Up, Hankyung Law & Biz (Apr.)(2026)
Presumption of Employee Status Fuels Concerns Over "Devil's Proof" Despite Good Intentions, Hankyung Law & Biz (Mar.)(2026)
On Two Pillars of Determining the Legal Nature of Bonuses Amid Confusing Case Law, Hankyung Law & Biz (Feb.)(2026)
Amendment to the Labor Relations Act Enables Trade Unions to Negotiate Over Management Matters - What Employers Must Know to Prepare, Hankyung Law & Biz (Jan.)(2026)
Imminent Enforcement of the So-called "Yellow Envelop Act" and Labor Ministry's Decree Fuel Concerns Over Potential Labor Disputes, Hankyung Law & Biz (Dec.)(2025)
65 Set to Become the New Retirement Age – How Companies Should Prepare, Hankyung Law & Biz (Nov.)(2025)
"Quiet Quitting,” a Question Posed to Companies in a Low-Growth Era, Hankyung Law & Biz (Oct.)(2025)
“Low Performance Grade” Does Not Justify Dismissal of Temporary Employees – How to Ensure Fair HR Evaluation, Hankyung Law & Biz (Sep.)(2025)
Conditions for Recognition of “Substantial Control” of Prime Contractors, Work Law (Sep.)(2025)
“Yellow Envelope Act” Tears Down Wall between Prime and Sub-Contractors, Putting Labor-Management Relations to the Test, Hankyung Law & Biz (Aug.)(2025)
Sixty-Five Is the New Retirement Age, but at Whose Expense?, Hankyung Law & Biz (Jul.)(2025)
Company Could Get Fined for Asking Interviewees “What Does Your Father Do” – How to Ensure Safe Hiring Process, Hankyung Law & Biz (Jun.)(2025)
Court Reshapes Labor Market, Compelling Companies to Redo Labor Cost Calculations, Hankyung Law & Biz (May.)(2025)
Simply “I wouldn’t Have Hired Him” Doesn’t Work – Probation Needs to be Well-Designed for Employee-Employer Mutual Benefit, Hankyung Law & Biz (April.)(2025)
Differentiated treatment for temporary staff is “discrimination” if not supported by good reason, HanKyung Law & Biz (Mar.)(2025)
Courts’ differing decisions on whether “management performance incentives” are wages arouse confusion among companies, Hankyung Law & Biz (Feb.)(2025)
Why the change of case law on ordinary wages fuels concerns about “market intervention by the judiciary”, Hankyung Law & Biz (Jan.) (2025)
Supreme Court Abandons “Payment on Fixed Basis” Standard in Determining Ordinary Wages, Compelling Businesses to Redesign Wage Structures, Hankyung Law & Biz (Jan.) (2025)
Contract worker dismissal without reasonable cause is considered ‘unfair dismissal', Hankyung Law & Biz (Dec.)(2024)
Three Keywords for Workforce Restructuring in a Changing Era, Hankyung Law & Biz (Oct.)(2024)
Employment terms applicable to temporary agency workers upon conversion of their employment status to direct employment in the absence of employees performing the same or similar duties, Work Law (Apr.)(2024)
Interpretation of clauses under a collective bargaining agreement requiring consent of the union on HR and management decisions, Work Law (Aug.) (2023)
Applicability of the theory of substantial controlling power as the standard for determining parties to collective bargaining, Work Law (Jan.)(2023)
The Wage Peak System Controversy – Differences Between Wage Peak Systems Adopted With and Without an Increased Retirement Age, Economy Chosun (Jun.)(2022)
Status and Shortcomings of the Labor Relations Commission as a Labor Dispute Resolution Organization, Work Law (Jun.)(2022)
Labor Policies of the New Government: Analysis and Prospects, Work Law (Apr.)(2022)
Korean Employment Law Introduction: Labor Relations Commission, American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) Journal (2022)
Expanded scope of relief from the Labor Relations Commission . . . distinct features of LRC proceedings and how to handle them, Economy Chosun (Feb.) (2022)
Major Issues Regarding Gender Discrimination in Employment, Work Law (Feb.)(2022)
Are Bonuses Wages?, Economy Chosun (Jan.) (2022)
Sexual Discrimination in Hiring to be Subject to Review by the Labor Relations Commission from May 2022, Economy Chosun (Dec.)(2021)
"How to Prevent Outsourcing from Being Reclassified as Illegal Worker Dispatch", Economy Chosun (Sept.)(2021)
"Scope of Permitted Workplace Union Activities by Non-Employee Union Members", Work Law (Aug.) (2021) download
“Five Actions to Take When You Receive a Workplace Harassment Report”, Economy Chosun (Aug.) (2021)
“Five Things to Remember When Implementing a Voluntary Retirement Program,” Economy Chosun (May)(2021)
"Can employers prohibit outside work?", Economy Chosun (Apr.)(2021)
"The need for a more practical legal system governing working hours", Economy Chosun (Jan.)(2021)
"Does Korean Labor Law Reflect Reality?", Economy Chosun (Dec.)(2020)
"When Must a Using Company Directly Employ a Temporary Agency Worker under the Temporary Agency Workers Act?", Work Law (Dec.)(2020) download
“When the contract of a fixed-term employee or dispatched-worker is renewed after a hiatus, does it interrupt the worker’s continuous service?,” Work Law (Aug.) (2020) download
“Determining whether different composition of wages for permanent employees and non-permanent employees constitutes unfair discrimination,” Work Law (Nov.)(2019) download
“On the Possibility of Restriction on Trade Union Activities Using Company IT Systems”, Work Law (Aug.)(2019) download
“How a 3rd Party Service Agreement Should be Prepared to Reduce the Risk of Illegal Dispatch,” Work Law (May.)(2019) download
“Analysis of when a union-members vote or other pre-strike procedures must be repeated,” Work Law (Mar.)(2019) download
“Changes and future of labor environment”, Column for Korean Bar Association (2018) download
“Is smoking time included in worked hours?”, Work Law (Sep.) (2018) download
“New ways of providing labor and proposal for change of institutions in respect thereof (Report commissioned by the Ministry of Employment and Labor)”, The Korea Society Of Comparative Labor Law (Co-author) (2017) download
“Review of the Minimum Wage Act”, Work Law (Oct.)(2017) download
“Whether in-house subcontract workers can be recognized as employees”, BFL Vol. 70 (2015) download
“Study on the recent amendment of the Minimum Wage Act of Korea: its effect on the calculation of the severance pay of taxi drivers”, dated Jan. 5, 2015, Law Times (2015) download
“Labor and Criminal Cases”, Work Law (Jul.)(2014) download
“Common HR-related Legal Issues in Practice: Amending the Wage Policy”, Work Law (Mar.)(2014)
“Internal Subcontracting Compliance (Part II)”, Work Law (Jul.)(2013) download
“Business Fluctuation”, Work Law (Mar.)(2013) download
“Economic Dismissal”, Work Law (Jan.)(2013) download
“Resignation en Bloc”, 18th Article, NNA Column (2012) download
“Voluntary Resignation and Dehiring”, Work Law (Nov.)(2012) download
“Cost-cutting Measures aside from Wage Reduction”, the 16th Article, NNA Column (2012) download
“Wage Reduction and Relinquishment”, Work Law (Sep.)(2012) download
“Distinction between Laborers and Independent Entrepreneurs”, the 14th Article, NNA Column (2012) download
Do Regular Bonuses Constitute Ordinary Wages?, Investment Korea (co-author)(2012) download
“Main Issues in the Discrimination Against Non-regular Employees”, the 12th Article, NNA Column(2012) download
“Recent Precedents on Regular Bonuses, the 11th Article, NNA Column(2012) download
“Non-regular Employee Protection Law and Measures for Managing Non-regular Employees”, In-house Congress Seoul (2008)
