Mr. Seok KO is a partner at DR & AJU LLC. His practice is primarily focused on the Defense Industry, Government Contracts, Criminal Trials and Administrative Litigation, and National Defense & Military Affairs.
After completing the Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea, Mr. Ko obtained a PhD in Criminal Procedure Act from the Seoul National University Graduate School of Law. With over 20 years of experience as a military legal officer, such as serving as Director of the General Counsel Bureau at the Republic of Korea Army and Chief Judge of the High Court at the Ministry of National Defense, he has handled various defense-related legal issues. These include military prosecution and military trials, national litigation involving civil, administrative, and constitutional matters, state compensation, large-scale weapon procurement and construction contracts, issues related to the Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act and the Military Secret Protection Act, and national defense and military facility projects, and state property issues. He also served as a member of various review committees at the Ministry of National Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, and the Republic of Korea Army Headquarters. Serving as a lawyer since 2013, he has provided legal advice and handed litigation on criminal and defense industry corruption cases, including government contract counseling, sanctions against irregular contractors, deferred payment, and penalty imposition.
Legal Advisor, Korea Veterans Association (2018-2019)
Member, National Defense Acquisition Innovation Committee, Ministry of National Defense (2017)
Director, Korea Research Institute for National Strategy (2015-2019)
Member, Mine Victims Review Committee, Ministry of National Defense (2015-2016)
Member, Information Disclosure Review Committee, Ministry of National Defense (2014-2016)
Member, Committee for Ethics, Korea Association of Construction Engineering & Management (2014-2016)
Non-Permanent Government Member, Patriots and Veterans Entitlement Commission, Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (2014-2016)
Legal Advisor, Military Mutual Aid Association (2014)
Arbitrator, Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (2013-2015)
Legal Advisor, U.S. Forces Korea Base Relocation Office (2013-2015)
Director, Korea Association of Defense Industry Studies (2013-2015)
Vice Chairman, The Korea Criminal Procedure Law (2011-2012)
Chief Judge, High Military Court, Ministry of National Defense (2011)
Director, General Counsel Bureau (Chief of Military Division) (Member of the Personnel Appeals Committee , Member of the Disciplinary Review Committee, Advisor of the Personnel Verification Committee, and Member of the General Committee for Examination of Killed or Wounded in Action and Death or Injury in the Line of Duty), Republic of Korea Army (2009-2010)
Brigadier General (2009)
Director, Legal Support Division (Member of the Contract Review Committee and Military Procurement Subcommittee), Defense Acquisition Program Administration (2008-2009)
Director, Judicial Advocate Office (Legal Advisor), Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff (2003-2007)
Legal Officer, General Counsel Bureau (member of the Disciplinary Committee, Posthumous Honors Review Committee, the Military and Civilian Medals Review Committee, the Central Personnel Appeals Committee), Ministry of National Defense (2001-2003)
Judge Advocate, Third Army Command (1999-2001)
Departmental Chief Prosecutor, Ministry of National Defense (1998-1999)
International Law Director, General Counsel Bureau (Member of the Special National Compensation Review Committee), Ministry of National Defense (1996-1998)
Judge Advocate, Capital Corps (1995-1996)
Military Prosecutor, Republic of Korea Army (1994-1995)
Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea (1994)
Professor, Department of Law, Korea Military Academy (1991-1992)
Conducted investigations and trials on defense industry corruption cases
Advised on procurement and R&D projects between domestic and foreign defense companies and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration
Advised cases involving government contract terminations, audits by the Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea, restrictions on inappropriate business entities, and penalties for delay
Advised on cases involving the Act on Contracts to Which the State Is a Party, the Defense Acquisition Program Act, the Military Secret Protection Act, and the State Property Act
Handled various military cases, including those involving military prosecutors or military trials, petitions on personal management of civil management employees, and disciplinary actions within the military
Handled civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional litigation cases
A Study on the Establishment & Reorganization of the Korean Military Justice System: From the Korean Articles of War to the Enactment of the Court-Martial Act (PhD Thesis)
A Study on Acts Committed Under Orders and Their Criminal Legal Effects (Master’s Thesis)
