Establishing a Trusted Legal Support Partnership Framework
Korea's Ministry of SMEs and Startups signed MOUs with four of the country's leading law firms and launched a 58-attorney Legal Advisory Panel to provide free legal support for startups pursuing global expansion — with RnPT CEO Youju Jo among the startup representatives who shared feedback at the ceremony.
Overview
Korea's Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Minister Oh Young-joo) has established a formal legal support framework for startups pursuing global expansion, signing MOUs with four of Korea's leading law firms and launching an official Startup Legal Advisory Panel on July 2, 2024, at Front One in Seoul's Mapo district.
RnPT CEO Youju Jo was among the startup representatives invited to participate and share firsthand feedback at the ceremony.
MOU with Four Leading Law Firms
The Ministry signed agreements with the following firms to provide free legal advisory services to Korean startups entering global markets:
- Kim & Chang — contracts, IP protection, and international regulatory compliance
- Bae, Kim & Lee LLC (Gwangjang) — cross-border legal support
- Boryung (Taepyeong) — international business and market entry
- Shin & Kim (Sejong) — overseas operations and legal risk management
Each firm will leverage its international office networks to provide customized legal support across nine countries where Korean startup activity is most active, including Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore.
The initiative responds to growing demand as Korean startups scale internationally — covering not just entry challenges but the legal complexities of stable, long-term establishment and growth in foreign markets.
Startup Legal Advisory Panel Launch
At the same ceremony, the Ministry formally appointed 58 specialist attorneys to the Startup Legal Advisory Panel — experts spanning labor, investment, contracts, and intellectual property. The panel was established to support the Startup Online Legal Advisory Program, which has been running since April 2024 following a February public welfare forum that identified the need for dedicated legal support for new-industry startups.
Appointed attorney Song Tae-wook noted at the ceremony:
"The reality is that new-industry startups rarely have the bandwidth to properly evaluate the legal dimensions of their own businesses. As a partner to startups, I commit to providing the specialized legal services that can back their innovation."
RnPT's Participation and Feedback
RnPT CEO Youju Jo was invited as a startup representative alongside Mobi-ation CEO Shin Min to share the program's real-world impact. Both founders highlighted how access to legal documentation and attorney opinion letters — matched to the specific challenges of building new industries — had provided meaningful support.
"Being able to receive legal evidence and attorney opinions tailored to the hurdles we face has been genuinely valuable," said CEO Youju Jo. "We hope to see even deeper, more specialized support as startups like us continue to pioneer new industries and markets."
For RnPT, access to top-tier legal counsel is directly relevant to scaling KRACE internationally — navigating healthcare regulations, data privacy frameworks, international contracts, and IP protection across the US and other target markets.
Additional Resources
Starting July 2024, the Ministry also began publishing a FAQ resource covering common domestic legal questions on labor, corporate law, and contracts — available at K-Startup.go.kr. A parallel FAQ covering key legal considerations by country for major overseas markets is also planned.
Minister's Statement
"Startups can now focus on building their businesses with legal support from Korea's finest law firms — and use those firms' international networks to find new opportunities in global markets," said Minister Oh Young-joo. "This agreement will serve as a foundation for the continued expansion of policy support for globally expanding startups."
The Minister also called on the advisory panel attorneys to approach their role with a sense of mission:
"Given the critical importance of legal issues to the success or failure of innovative startups, I ask that you carry out this role with pride — and give your best to providing the legal counsel that startups need."