Washington, DC; Seoul, South Korea | April 21, 2025 – The Asia Group (TAG) is proud to announce the launch of its new office in Seoul, South Korea, led by Managing Director Byung-Dae Lim. This strategic physical investment in South Korea reflects TAG’s conviction that South Korea is a world leader in global economic innovation and next generation technologies, with Korean companies leading the way in foreign investment and manufacturing growth.
“Byung-Dae and our Seoul team enable TAG to be the premier partner for clients that want to seize opportunity with South Korea,” said TAG President Rexon Ryu. “As South Korea expands its global influence across advanced technology, supply chain, and regional investment, Byung-Dae’s leadership strengthens our ability to support Korean and multinational firms. Amid ongoing geopolitical disruption, TAG remains committed to helping clients unlock new opportunities for investment, market growth, and supply chain assurance.”
“Establishing a strong on-the-ground presence in Seoul underscores TAG’s long-term strategic commitment to the region,” said TAG Chairman and Co-Founder Dr. Kurt M. Campbell, who is visiting Seoul on April 22 and 23. “South Korea’s role as a global innovation leader and strategic player in Northeast Asia makes it indispensable to our clients’ priorities. At a time of heightened geopolitical flux and shifting global supply chains, TAG’s investment in South Korea enhances our ability to deliver timely, meaningful counsel and high-impact business solutions to companies navigating today’s increasingly complex operating environment.”
Byung-Dae Lim serves as TAG’s Managing Director in Seoul, South Korea. Lim brings nearly 30 years of unparalleled experience in legal, corporate, and government affairs roles across leading global corporations. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President of LG Group’s Corporate and Government Affairs office in Washington, D.C., where he led U.S. federal government affairs for seven LG operating companies and advised senior leadership on corporate strategy, government engagement, and regulatory compliance. His extensive legal career includes General Counsel roles in Seoul at LG Innotek, LG Display, and Pfizer Pharmaceutical Korea, as well as legal practice at the prominent Korean law firm Kim & Chang and IMB Korea. Lim began his career as a Judge Advocate General in the Republic of Korea Army, Ministry of Defense.
Lim will join a fast-growing Seoul team powered by TAG Senior Vice President and Korea Country Director Yoochul Kim and Associate Vice President John J. Lee.
Yoochul Kim serves as TAG Senior Vice President and Korea Country Director in Seoul, South Korea. Kim is a seasoned former journalist and brings deep expertise at the intersection of business, media, and geopolitics. He spent over a decade as a journalist with The Korea Times and Yonhap Infomax, where he led coverage of South Korea’s presidential office and major policy areas including technology, telecom, defense, finance, politics, and North Korea. Kim was also a freelance writer at the MIT Technology Review, where he wrote on the cryptocurrency boom and emergence of AI in Korea. Previously, Yoochul led the Korea Business Intelligence Practice at global consultancy Control Risks, advising multinational clients across sectors such as shipbuilding, private equity, fintech, and renewable energy.
John J. Lee serves as TAG Associate Vice President in Seoul, South Korea. Prior to joining TAG, Lee led the Global Affairs Team at the SK Group-affiliated Chey Institute for Advanced Studies and contributed to high-level geopolitical and geoeconomic analysis at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. Lee also played a key role in HD Hyundai Chairman MJ Chung’s 2015 FIFA presidential campaign.
TAG’s Korea Practice – led by Washington D.C.-based TAG President Rexon Ryu, Managing Partner Amb. Kurt Tong, Principal Jennifer Lee and Seoul-based Managing Director Byung-Dae Lim and Country Director Yoochul Kim – offers premier expertise in delivering tailored strategies to understand and excel in South Korea’s dynamic market and help South Korean firms navigate the increasingly complex U.S. and global business environment. With a proven track record advising global technology leaders and businesses on complex regulatory and policy challenges, TAG’s Korea Practice helps clients capitalize on opportunity and manage risk amid today’s volatile geopolitical and economic landscape.
TAG’s Seoul office joins the firm’s extensive network of regional hubs, including offices in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Taipei, Shanghai, Hanoi, Bangkok, New Delhi, Mumbai, Singapore, Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney. Since its 2013 founding in Washington, DC., TAG has grown to include over 150 professionals worldwide.
For more information, please visit www.theasiagroup.com or David Edwards at (202) 771-5222 or dedwards@keybridge.biz.
About The Asia Group
The Asia Group is the premier strategic advisory firm to the world’s leading companies seeking to excel across the Indo-Pacific. With a team of dynamic and experienced professionals – from consultants and former senior government officials to lawyers and investment bankers – The Asia Group supports companies with end-to-end integrated strategies for market entry and expansion.