Lawyer, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) UAE Nuclear Business Division
General Legal Counsel
Byeong Ik(Ben) Kim
Attorney Byung-Ik Kim has provided comprehensive legal advisory services throughout the entire duration of the UAE Barakah Nuclear Power Plant Project — the first nuclear power plant construction project in the UAE and Korea’s first nuclear export project — from the time of the First Concrete Pouring in 2012 to the commercial operation of all four reactors.
By residing on-site and offering legal counsel during the project, he developed a deep practical and technical understanding of all phases of nuclear power plant construction, establishing himself as a leading expert in the overseas deployment of Korean nuclear technology. He has also collaborated with prominent local law firms in the UAE to advise on various labor and tenancy law disputes arising locally.
Prior to becoming an attorney, he served as the Construction Contract Manager at the Naval Central Procurement Office, gaining hands-on experience in bidding and contract management for construction projects. Furthermore, he spent over a decade in overseas sales roles at Hynix, MagnaChip Semiconductor, and Hyundai Petrochemical, building extensive knowledge across various industrial sectors.
Practice Areas
Education and Career
· Graduated from Korea Naval Academy
· MBA, Sogang University Graduate School of Business
· Master of Laws (LL.M.), Handong International Law School
· Visiting J.D. Program, University of Illinois Chicago, School of Law
· Licensed Attorney, Washington D.C., United States (2011)
· Attorney, Law Office Coryo, Illinois, USA (June 2011 – March 2012)
· General Legal Counsel, UAE Nuclear Business Division, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) (April 2012 – Present)
· Legal Advisor, Ministry of Justice, Legal Advisory Group for Korean SMEs Expanding Overseas (March 2016 – February 2020)
· Overseas Sales, Hynix Semiconductor / MagnaChip Semiconductor / Hyundai Petrochemical (February 1998 – February 2008)
Achievements
· Co-authored and published "Legal and Practical Issues in Nuclear Power Plant Export and the Case of the UAE Barakah Nuclear Power Plant", Journal of International Business Transactions Law, Vol. 33, No. 1 (July 2024), with attorney Deokgeun Yoon.
· Published "Key Legal Principles to Consider from a Comparative Law Perspective When Concluding Construction Contracts for UAE Projects", SCL Korea (August 2022).
· Presented as a panelist on "Practical Lessons in Arbitration in Major Projects", ACICA/CiArb Australia International Arbitration Conference (October 2021).
· Provided full legal advisory services throughout the UAE Barakah Nuclear Power Plant Project — Korea’s first nuclear power plant export — from the initial First Concrete Pouring stage to the commercial operation of all four reactors, covering EPC contracts, various cooperation agreements, supply agreements, dispute negotiations, and LCIA arbitration support.
· Advised on compliance with nuclear-related regulations and standards set by international regulatory bodies such as FANR (Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation), US NRC (United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission), IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), and WANO (World Association of Nuclear Operators).
· Provided legal advisory services on disputes related to UAE labor law, criminal law, and tenancy regulations.