Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • U.S., Iran Near One-Page MOU on Nuclear Enrichment Pause and Steps to End War
    U.S., Iran Near One-Page MOU on Nuclear Enrichment Pause and Steps to End War The United States and Iran are said to be close to a one-page memorandum of understanding outlining positions on the nuclear issue as part of efforts to end the war. According to Yonhap News Agency and U.S. online outlet Axios on the 6th, the draft MOU contains 14 items setting basic principles for ending the war and for detailed nuclear talks. The White House is waiting for Iran’s response on key issues within 48 hours. While a final agreement has not been reached, the two sides are reported to have come to terms since the war began in February. The MOU includes a temporary moratorium on Iran’s nuclear enrichment; U.S. relief from sanctions on Iran and the partial release of frozen funds; a gradual easing of Iran’s restrictions on passage through the Strait of Hormuz; and a gradual easing of the U.S. maritime blockade of Iran. The talks are seen as gaining momentum after President Donald Trump abruptly suspended the “liberation project” in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social on the 5th that he would temporarily halt the project, citing “requests from Pakistan and other countries,” what he called “tremendous military achievements” during operations against Iran, and “big progress” toward a “complete and final agreement” with an Iranian delegation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 19:39:14
  • KOSPI Tops 7,000, Extends Record Run Over Past Year
    KOSPI Tops 7,000, Extends Record Run Over Past Year A level once dismissed as out of reach became reality as South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI pushed past 7,000, extending a streak of record-setting gains despite external headwinds including war in the Middle East and worries about a global slowdown. According to the Korea Exchange, the KOSPI opened on May 6 at 7,093.01, up 156.02 points (2.25%) from the previous session, marking the first time it crossed 7,000. The move came just 47 trading sessions after it first topped 6,000 intraday on Feb. 25. The index has been breaking through higher levels faster as it climbs. It took 18 years and four months for the KOSPI to rise from 1,000 to 2,000 (March 1989 to July 2007). It then took 13 years and five months to move from 2,000 to 3,000 (July 2007 to January 2021), and four years and nine months to reach 4,000 (January 2021 to October 2025). By contrast, it cleared 5,000 in three months and 6,000 in about a month. The KOSPI’s gains also outpaced major global markets. Investing.com data showed the KOSPI posted a 186.39% return over the past year, the highest among major global indexes. Taiwan’s TAIEX rose 98.11%, South Korea’s KOSDAQ gained 66.21%, and Japan’s Nikkei 225 advanced 61.81%. The market’s size has surged as well. The KOSPI’s market capitalization reached a record 6,058 trillion won on May 6, nearly triple the roughly 2,107 trillion won level a year earlier. Large-cap chipmakers dominated: Samsung Electronics was valued at 1,555 trillion won and SK hynix at 1,141 trillion won, for a combined 2,696 trillion won — about 44.3% of the KOSPI’s total market cap. Exchange-traded funds, another driver of the rally, expanded quickly. The number of ETFs listed on the KOSPI rose to 1,099 from 973 a year earlier, and their market value climbed to 452 trillion won, topping 450 trillion won for the first time. That was more than double the 192 trillion won recorded a year earlier. More stocks have been setting new highs. As of the May 4 close, 76 stocks — including preferred shares — had hit 52-week highs over the past year based on closing prices. On a trade-price basis, 55 stocks did so. Investor money has also flowed in. The Korea Financial Investment Association said the number of active stock-trading accounts stood at 105.22 million as of May 4, up about 17% from 89.92 million a year earlier. Investor deposits, a measure of cash waiting to enter the market, jumped to 125 trillion won from 56 trillion won over the same period. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 19:03:17
  • KOSPI Nears 7,400 as Analysts See Room for 8,000 to 9,000 on AI, Chip Boom
    KOSPI Nears 7,400 as Analysts See Room for 8,000 to 9,000 on AI, Chip Boom The KOSPI’s ceiling appeared to give way as the benchmark surged to just below 7,400. The index was up nearly 450 points from the previous session, extending a rally that has accelerated since it closed above 6,000 on Feb. 25. That move came about 50 trading days ago. Despite headwinds cited by the market — war in the Middle East, a weakening real economy and concerns about an AI bubble — brokerage research chiefs said the rally could continue into the second half, with some projecting the KOSPI could move beyond 8,000 and even approach 9,000. "KOSPI could go as high as 9,000" On the 6th, Ajou Economy conducted an emergency survey of research heads at seven brokerages: Korea Investment & Securities, NH Investment & Securities, Samsung Securities, Kiwoom Securities, Shinyoung Securities, Yuanta Securities and SangSangIn Securities. Several respondents said further upward revisions were likely, and some said a top-end scenario could reach 9,000. Choi Hyun-jae, head of research at Yuanta Securities, said, “Under the best-case scenario, there is room up to 8,100,” adding, “In terms of market capitalization, above 9,000 is also possible.” Yoon Seok-mo, head of research at Samsung Securities, said he raised his previous annual band top to 8,400 from 7,200, based on “a 12-month expected ROE of 19.6% and an appropriate P/B of 2.2 times.” Baek Young-chan, head of research at SangSangIn Securities, said he plans to raise his forecast from 7,540 and that 8,000 is possible, citing profit growth at Samsung Electronics and SK hynix as “the key driver.” Others said they also need to revisit forecasts after the unprecedented run-up. Lee Jong-hyeong, head of research at Kiwoom Securities, said that while the firm previously suggested a 5,200 to 7,300 range, “given the current price level and earnings momentum, an upward revision is needed,” adding that a trend in which semiconductor demand overwhelms supply “will continue for some time.” Yoo Jong-woo, head of research at Korea Investment & Securities, said the firm is presenting 7,250 as the upper end but could raise it further in the second half, explaining that rising EPS is driving the index higher. Kim Hak-kyun, head of research at Shinyoung Securities, said it is difficult to set a ceiling and argued the market remains undervalued. “This is a phase where the power of semiconductors is showing up dramatically,” he said, adding that the market is hard to view as a bubble. He said Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are trading at about six times earnings, while the overall KOSPI is below eight times. Kim said it is better to keep an open mind “until upward revisions to earnings estimates start to fade.” AI value chain and the power of semiconductors Research chiefs broadly pointed to AI and semiconductors as the main reasons they expect the rally to persist. They said the KOSPI is in a phase of restructuring its earnings base around AI and chips, prompting a reassessment of index levels. Cho Soo-hong, head of research at NH Investment & Securities, said, “More than the number itself, the AI cycle is key,” adding that the semiconductor industry is being reshaped from consumer-led demand to infrastructure-led demand. Choi said that next year Samsung Electronics could post the largest profit in the global semiconductor industry, adding that a profit structure “similar to Nvidia’s, or even higher,” is possible. Baek said the second-half outlook should consider conditions and Middle East variables, but added that next year the index could reach the mid-8,000s. For the second half, most respondents said leadership is likely to remain concentrated in the AI value chain centered on semiconductors. Some also cited brokerage and defense sectors as potential gainers. Lee said the AI value chain, along with power equipment, brokerages and defense, would lead. Choi said earnings estimates are barely rising outside semiconductors and IT, adding, “In a major uptrend, market leadership does not change.” He also cited power equipment, nuclear power and materials tied to data centers. Yoo said industrials such as energy, power machinery and robots, along with the AI value chain, are key. Yoon said that with global liquidity expanding, Samsung Securities is maintaining a preference for the AI value chain — including semiconductors, power equipment, nuclear power and robots — and also holds a positive view on industrials and financials. Baek cited solar power, secondary batteries, brokerages, construction and optical communications and fiber as leading groups. Cho said the rally is spreading from semiconductors to AI infrastructure, power equipment, nuclear power, defense and brokerages. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 18:34:42
  • Korea’s Big Drugmakers Post Strong Q1 Gains, but Face Price-Cut Pressure in H2
    Korea’s Big Drugmakers Post Strong Q1 Gains, but Face Price-Cut Pressure in H2 South Korea’s leading traditional drugmakers are extending solid growth in the first quarter, with operating profit rising by double digits from a year earlier. Industry officials said Tuesday that Yuhan Corp., GC Biopharma and Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp. each posted double-digit operating-profit growth in the January-March period from a year earlier. Yuhan reported consolidated first-quarter revenue of 526.8 billion won and operating profit of 8.8 billion won, up 7.2% and 37.3%, respectively. The company missed market expectations because milestone revenue tied to its lung cancer drug, Lazertinib, was not booked in the quarter. Chong Kun Dang, on a separate basis, posted revenue of 447.7 billion won and operating profit of 17.6 billion won, up 12.2% and 36.9%. The company benefited from steady sales of established prescription drugs such as Godex and Dilatrend, along with a co-marketing boost from the obesity drug Wegovy. Prescriptions for Wegovy have been expanding in the domestic obesity-treatment market, contributing more meaningfully to sales, the report said. Among the traditional drugmakers, GC Biopharma is drawing the highest expectations. Securities-industry consensus forecasts put its first-quarter revenue at 439.2 billion won, up about 14% from a year earlier, with operating profit expected to jump about 40% to around 12.2 billion won. A key driver is Aliglo, a blood product that has gained traction in North America. Aliglo is estimated to have generated about $21 million (about 31 billion won) in first-quarter sales, helped by expanding prescriptions in the United States. The company also benefited from strong sales of the obesity drug Mounjaro, distributed through its affiliate GC Wellbeing. Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., which has yet to report results, is also expected to post growth. Analysts forecast first-quarter revenue of 388.3 billion won and operating profit of 44.2 billion won, up about 8.9% and 14.2%. They cited rising global sales of the botulinum toxin product Nabota and steady domestic prescriptions for the gastroesophageal reflux disease drug Fexuclu. The bigger concern is the second half. Companies face continued cost pressure from global supply-chain instability, including the Middle East war, and a government push to cut drug prices. The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to issue an administrative notice this month on a revision to its standards for setting and adjusting drug prices. The revision is expected to include changes to generic pricing formulas, tighter criteria for stepwise price cuts, and measures related to policy add-ons and support for so-called exit-prevention drugs. The government is aiming for implementation in August. “Companies got through the first quarter with new-drug sales and efficient cost control, but government pricing policy and rising global logistics costs are external variables management cannot control,” an industry official said. “In the second half, performance gaps will become clearer between companies with strong new-drug portfolios and those without.” The official added that with profitability likely to shrink as prices fall, failure to expand R&D and overseas sales could lead to a downturn in results. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 18:33:18
  • Jo Sumi marks 40th anniversary debut with vision for young artists
    Jo Sumi marks 40th anniversary debut with vision for young artists SEOUL, May 06 (AJP) - World-renowned soprano Jo Sumi marked the 40th anniversary of her international debut Wednesday, outlining a forward-looking vision focused on nurturing young artists while expanding her musical scope through new collaborations. The milestone signals a strategic shift for South Korea's most iconic classical figure as she integrates her legacy with modern entertainment structures. "What I can do now is share what I have with as many people as possible," she said at a press conference held at InterContinental Grand Seoul Parnas in Seoul. The event featured the signing of an exclusive recording contract with SM Classics, a classical label under SM Entertainment, bridging the gap between classical and mainstream music. Jo Sumi, who debuted in 1986 at Italy's Teatro Verdi, has performed at leading global venues including La Scala, the Metropolitan Opera and the Salzburg Festival. She is widely regarded as the first South Korean classical musician to establish a dominant global presence at a time when Asian vocalists were rare on major opera stages. She was also recently named the recipient of the Samsung Ho-Am Prize in the Arts, one of South Korea's most prestigious honors. The award ceremony is scheduled for June 1. The soprano's remarks focused primarily on supporting the next generation rather than her own historical achievements. "It is not just about discovering talented singers, but about creating real opportunities for them to perform," she said. "I want to help young musicians sustain their careers." This philosophy drives the second Sumi Jo International Singing Competition, scheduled for July at the Chateau de la Ferte-Imbault in France's Loire Valley. The inaugural competition drew 500 applicants from 47 countries, while this year's edition has attracted participants from 55 nations. The event coincides with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and France. Jo Sumi emphasized that she hopes young musicians will grow into "artists who serve as messengers of peace." Her 40th-anniversary project includes a special album titled CONTINUUM, which she described as one that looks ahead rather than back. "I am still in progress," she said. "I wanted to reinterpret my life and experiences through a new musical language." Lee Sung-soo, chief administrative officer of SM Entertainment, said the partnership carries broad significance for South Korea's music industry. He noted that Jo Sumi introduced South Korean music to the global stage long before the international rise of K-pop. "We hope this collaboration becomes a meaningful convergence of classical music, K-pop and the broader cultural industry," Lee Sung-soo said. He added that bringing Jo Sumi on board as an exclusive recording artist represents a symbolic step for the country's cultural ecosystem. The album features a duet with Suho of the K-pop group EXO, whom Jo Sumi described as a "very stable artist." She praised his dedication and focus throughout the recording process. A nationwide tour will kick off on Saturday in Changwon, followed by performances in more than 20 cities including Seoul, Busan and Gwangju. Jo Sumi chose Changwon as the opening venue as a tribute to her late parents. "Although they are no longer with me, I wanted them to hear this music first," she said. Throughout the event, she repeatedly identified "freedom" as the defining value of her artistic life. "For an artist, the most important thing is freedom," she said. 2026-05-06 18:18:46
  • People Power Party Opposes Ruling Party’s Special Counsel Bill on Dropping Charges, to Skip Constitutional Vote
    People Power Party Opposes Ruling Party’s Special Counsel Bill on Dropping Charges, to Skip Constitutional Vote The People Power Party on May 6 adopted a resolution opposing the Democratic Party’s proposed “special counsel bill on dropping charges.” After a party lawmakers’ meeting at the National Assembly, floor deputy chief whip Yoo Sang-beom told reporters, “At today’s meeting, People Power Party lawmakers resolved to oppose the unconstitutional and illegal special counsel aimed at dropping charges.” The resolution calls for: opposition to the Democratic Party’s bill; opposition to “all unconstitutional and illegal attempts” to drop charges against President Lee Jae-myung; joint action with political parties, civic groups and citizens who oppose dropping charges against the president; urging the judiciary to immediately resume the president’s five trials; and a pledge to fight what it called the ruling party’s effort to turn South Korea into a “republic of criminals.” The party also said it plans to boycott a National Assembly vote on a constitutional amendment scheduled for May 7. Yoo said most lawmakers believed it would be inappropriate to take part because the Democratic Party was pushing the process unilaterally to align with local elections, without sufficient discussion and deliberation. Responding to criticism that the party did not gather enough views, Yoo said the party line was not formed all at once and that there had been “sufficient discussion” among many lawmakers over a considerable period. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 18:13:42
  • Civic Group Urges Seoul to Disclose Why It Raised Height Limits for Sewoon 4 Redevelopment
    Civic Group Urges Seoul to Disclose Why It Raised Height Limits for Sewoon 4 Redevelopment The Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice on Tuesday urged the Seoul city government to disclose how and why it changed height standards for the redevelopment of Sewoon District Zone 4, near Jongmyo Shrine in Jongno-gu.  The group said it filed a freedom-of-information request seeking internal review materials, reports, alternative-plan reviews and approval documents that would show the basis for raising height limits along Jongno and the Cheonggyecheon stream in Zone 4. It also filed an information request with the Seoul Housing & Communities Corp., known as SH Corp., seeking the reasons for an increase in design fees and the basis for calculating the total design cost.  According to documents including the "Sewoon 4 project implementation approval application" provided to the group by the office of Seoul Metropolitan Council member Lim Jong-guk, the redevelopment height was raised compared with the previously set building plan: along Jongno, from 54.3 meters to 98.7 meters; along Cheonggyecheon, from 71.8 meters to 144.9 meters. Citing a full redesign, the design fee was increased by 16.748 billion won, bringing the total to 52.083 billion won.  The group said the project had been pursued under height-management principles meant to protect the historic and cultural landscape near Jongmyo. It said a recent draft change to the district's redevelopment promotion plan loosened that system, raising concerns that principles for protecting views, scenery and cultural heritage near the shrine could be weakened.  It said the draft explains the height relaxation by citing measures such as securing open green space and providing more publicly accessible space than required, adding that the issue is not only how much taller buildings would be. The key question, it said, is what administrative judgments and procedures led to changes in long-standing management principles and whether preservation of the historic and cultural environment was sufficiently reviewed.  The group also said the design-fee increase tied to the height change is a key indicator of the financial burden of the plan revision, suggesting the decision could lead to substantial additional costs. It called for separate review not only on heritage preservation and landscape management but also on cost efficiency and accountability in project execution.  The group said the Seoul city government and SH Corp. should transparently explain to the public the grounds for the height relaxation, the process behind the plan change, the reasons for the design-fee increase, public contributions and measures to protect tenants. If they delay disclosure and avoid a responsible explanation, it said, suspicions of preferential treatment and public distrust will only grow.  On March 25, the group said the Sewoon 4 case accepted the risk of damaging the landscape near a World Heritage site by raising the floor-area ratio, creating a structure that allowed about 551.6 billion won in additional development gains. It urged authorities to immediately halt administrative procedures related to the high-rise, high-density plan near Jongmyo and to fully disclose how the floor-area ratio and height limits were relaxed and how public contributions were calculated.  A Seoul city document titled "Overview and progress by zone in the Sewoon District" shows that among the district's 34 zones, the floor-area ratio for 11 completed zones ranges from 660% to 940%, while seven zones under way were raised to 1,000% to 1,550%. An analysis of development gains from the floor-area ratio increase in Sewoon 4 put the figure at 551.57 billion won. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 18:12:17
  • Seoul Mayor Candidate Oh Se-hoon Blames Lee Jae-myung Government, Democrats for Housing Woes
    Seoul Mayor Candidate Oh Se-hoon Blames Lee Jae-myung Government, Democrats for Housing Woes Oh Se-hoon, a candidate for Seoul mayor, sharply criticized the Lee Jae-myung government and the Democratic Party’s real estate policies in a Facebook post on Tuesday. Responding to Democratic Party claims that the Seoul city government is to blame for recent instability in home prices and the monthly and long-term rental markets, Oh said, “The cause of this real estate hell is the Lee Jae-myung government and the Democratic Party.” Oh described the party’s approach as a “failed policy centered on suppressing supply and controlling the market.” He argued that Democrats created the conditions behind Seoul’s housing shortage, strains in the jeonse market and a slump in the villa market, then shifted responsibility to others. Political observers said the message went beyond a rebuttal and signaled an intensifying fight over who is responsible for housing conditions, a likely central issue in the Seoul mayoral election. Housing prices and rent are among the most sensitive pocketbook issues for Seoul residents. Oh focused his criticism on supply. He said large-scale cancellations of redevelopment zones during the tenure of former Mayor Park Won-soon are a root cause of today’s shortage. Seoul City under Park pursued a “New Town” and redevelopment exit strategy that lifted designations for many planned redevelopment areas, a move then justified as curbing speculation and protecting residents but, Oh argued, later produced a supply gap. “Redevelopment projects typically take 20 years, but the Democratic Party cut the roots and then asks why the tree won’t grow,” Oh wrote. He said that after returning to office he used the city’s “Rapid Integrated Planning” program to reduce project timelines from 20 years to about 12 years. Seoul City has recently pushed to speed up major reconstruction and redevelopment projects in areas including Apgujeong, Yeouido, Mokdong, Seongsu and Noryangjin, maintaining a supply-expansion stance that contrasts with the strict regulatory approach under the Moon Jae-in government. Critics in the real estate market have long argued that the Moon government’s tough measures distorted the market. They cite heavier taxes on owners of multiple homes, a stronger comprehensive real estate tax, tighter lending rules and the so-called three lease laws as policies that locked up listings and drove up jeonse prices. The three lease laws, implemented in 2020, are often cited as a major shock. With the introduction of a right to renew contracts and caps on rent increases, new jeonse supply fell sharply and apartment jeonse prices in Seoul surged. The government emphasized tenant protection, but critics said the side effect was the “disappearance of jeonse listings.” Oh also linked jeonse fraud to the period of rising home prices and aggressive gap investment under Democratic Party governments. “Gap investment continued as a rollover structure without sufficient capital, and then interest rate hikes and falling home prices overlapped, and jeonse fraud exploded,” he wrote. Large-scale jeonse fraud cases in Incheon’s Michuhol district and other parts of the Seoul metropolitan area have been widely analyzed as involving a mix of factors, including sharply higher villa prices late in the Moon administration, loose jeonse loan structures and inflated appraisals. Oh criticized recent Democratic Party moves to tighten regulations on multi-home owners and to reduce long-term holding deductions for nonresident owners of a single home, calling them policies that would shrink private rental supply. He also opposed expanding land transaction permit zones, saying it would effectively bind all of Seoul in a controlled economy and worsen market anxiety. Some in the industry have complained that prolonged permit requirements have reduced transactions and distorted the market. Oh said the dispute is not simply about prices but about who blocked supply and destabilized the market. “Citizens’ memory that when the Democratic Party takes power, home prices rise and rental crises repeat is no exception this time,” he wrote. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 18:08:11
  • South Korea’s Kospi Hits Record Close After Briefly Topping 7,400
    South Korea’s Kospi Hits Record Close After Briefly Topping 7,400 The Kospi extended its rally after the once-unthinkable “7,000” level became reality, briefly topping 7,400 during the session and setting another record. Gains eased late in the day as profit-taking emerged. According to the Korea Exchange on May 6, the Kospi closed up 447.57 points, or 6.45%, at 7,384.56. It opened at 7,093.01, up 156.02 points, or 2.25%, from the previous session, touched the 7,400 level, then gave back part of its advance to finish in the 7,300 range. Foreign investors drove the move, posting net purchases of 3.1346 trillion won, the largest on record. Retail investors and institutions were net sellers, unloading 572.4 billion won and 2.3126 trillion won, respectively, as they took profits. Most heavyweight stocks rose. Samsung Electronics gained 15.27%, SK hynix 11.61%, SK Square 11.81%, Hyundai Motor 2.23%, LG Energy Solution 2.01%, Doosan Enerbility 0.24% and Samsung Electro-Mechanics 0.44%. Hanwha Aerospace fell 1.57%. Lee Kyung-min, a researcher at Daishin Securities, said the surge in the top three stocks by market capitalization — Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and SK Square — led the index higher. But he noted the rally was concentrated in large caps: 195 issues rose, nine were unchanged and 691 fell, even as the Kospi jumped on a gap-up open. The Kosdaq ended lower. It fell 3.57 points, or 0.29%, to 1,210.17 after opening up 7.16 points, or 0.59%, at 1,220.90. The index later turned negative and at one point slipped below 1,200. On the Kosdaq, retail investors were net buyers of 610 billion won, while foreigners and institutions sold 63.3 billion won and 543.8 billion won, respectively. Moves among Kosdaq heavyweights were mixed. EcoPro BM rose 6.73%, EcoPro 4.30%, Rainbow Robotics 3.07% and HLB 1.64%. Alteogen fell 2.41%, Samchundang Pharm 1.59%, Lino Industrial 3.89%, Kolon TissueGene 1.15%, ABL Bio 3.92% and LigaChem Bio 2.37%.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 18:07:15
  • Yulchon Expands Audit Board Pre-Consulting and Audit Review Team
    Yulchon Expands Audit Board Pre-Consulting and Audit Review Team 법무법인(유) 율촌은 감사원과 중앙부처·지방자치단체·공공기관의 사전컨설팅 제도가 기업과 이해관계자까지 확대·활성화되는 흐름에 맞춰 기업의 행정 리스크를 종합 지원하기 위해 조직을 ‘감사원 사전컨설팅&감사 진단팀’으로 확대 개편하고 고도화된 서비스를 본격화한다고 6일 밝혔다. 사전컨설팅은 관공서가 행정업무를 집행하는 과정에서 처분이나 조치 이전 단계에 감사원에 의견을 구하는 제도다. 법령이나 규정이 불명확하거나 현실과 맞지 않고 선례가 없어 이견이나 다툼이 생겼지만 감사 부담으로 판단이 어려운 경우, 사전에 의견을 받아 처리하면 면책을 받을 수 있고 기업은 사전에 권리 구제를 받을 수 있다고 율촌은 설명했다. 율촌은 이 제도가 개발사업, 공공조달, 투자유치, 민투사업, 공장 신·증설, 산업단지 조성, 도시개발, 환경·에너지·전력, 국세, 지방세 등 행정 전 분야에서 활용될 수 있다고 밝혔다. 입찰, 계약 및 설계변경, 사업승인 등 인허가, 개발행위, 각종 건설공사, 도시개발계획, 부담금, 조세 등을 둘러싼 이견이 있을 때 유용하다고 덧붙였다. 감사원은 사전컨설팅 신청권을 관공서의 장 중심에서 기업과 이해관계자도 사실상 소속 단체나 협회를 통해 신청할 수 있도록 감사원 사전컨설팅 제도 운영규정(감사원 훈령)을 5. 4.자로 개정·시행했다(감사원 홈페이지 게재). 율촌은 이에 따라 민간기업의 감사원 사전컨설팅을 비롯해 중앙부처·자치단체·공기업 등 공공기관 사전컨설팅 수요가 늘 것으로 예상했다. 사전컨설팅과 감사·조사 리스크, 내부통제 등 기업활동 전반에서 체계적인 진단과 대응 필요성도 커지고 있다고 했다. 율촌은 원스톱 전문 서비스를 제공할 준비를 마쳤다며 주요 서비스로 △감사원·중앙부처·지자체·공공기관 사전컨설팅 및 감사·조사 진단 △적극행정·내부통제 자문 △기업 행정리스크 사전진단 등을 제시했다. 팀은 부동산건설그룹 대표 김남호 변호사, 조세그룹 대표 김근재 변호사, 최성호 전 감사원 사무총장, 감사원 지방행정감사국·공공기관감사국·재정경제감사국·특별조사국 등에서 수석 감사관으로 근무하며 행정 전반 경험을 쌓은 김실근 고문·세무사를 중심으로 운영된다고 율촌은 밝혔다. 국방 및 공공계약·조달 분야의 정원 변호사, 민간투자사업 및 건설행정 분야의 김태건 변호사, 건설클레임 분야의 정유철·송민경 변호사, 도시정비·개발 분야의 이강만 변호사, 국세 사전진단 및 세무조사 대응 분야의 임정훈 세무사도 핵심 멤버로 참여한다. 또 공공조달·방산, 부동산 개발·금융, 건설 분쟁·제재, 도시계획·인허가, 국세·지방세·관세, 금융규제, 환경에너지, 의료제약, 지적재산권, 공정거래 등 행정업무 전반의 실무 경험이 풍부한 전문가들과 고문단이 함께 업무를 수행한다고 했다. 율촌 관계자는 “율촌 감사원 사전컨설팅&감사진단팀은 감사원·행정기관·공공기관의 정책 및 감사기준, 감사 방향을 정밀하게 분석한다”며 “이를 기반으로 종합적이고 체계적인 사전컨설팅과 감사·조사 리스크 진단 및 대응 역량을 갖춘 것이 강점이며, 기업과 공공기관이 안심할 수 있는 최적의 대응 시스템을 구축했다”고 말했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 18:06:14