Mr. Ki Ju TAG is a partner at D&A LLC. His practice is primarily focused on Investigations, including Corporate Economic & Financial Crimes, Serious Accidents, Drug Crimes, and Industrial Technology Leakage Cases.

Since 2007, Mr. Tag has served as a police investigator for over 17 years, holding various positions, such as Chief of the Major Crime Investigation Division at the Korean National Police Agency, Chief of the Drug Crime Investigation Unit at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Chief of the Criminal Investigation Division at the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency, and Chief of the Major Crime, Violent Crime, and Forensic Investigation Divisions at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

Bar Admissions

• Admitted to Bar, Korea (2007)

Education

• Korea University (BA in Business Administration, 1995)
• Dongam High School (1987)

Significant Accomplishments

• D&A LLC (2024-Present)
• Chief, Subway Police Investigation Unit, Crime Prevention Department, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (2024)
• Chief, Drug Crimes Investigation Unit, Regional Investigation Team, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (2024)
• Chief, Major Crimes Division, Investigation Bureau, Korean National Police Agency (2022-2024)
• Chief of Police, Seoul Seongbuk Police Station (2021-2022)
• Chief, Victims Protection Division, Office of the Inspector General, Korean National Police Agency (2020-2021)
• Chief of Police, Hoengseong Police Station (2018-2020)
• Chief, Detective Section, Investigation Department, Gangwon Provincial Police Agency (2017-2018)
• Chief, Major Crime Section, Investigation Department, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (2015-2017)
• Chief, Violent Crime Section, Investigation Department, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (2014-2015)
• Chief, Forensic Section, Investigation Department, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (2011-2014)
• Chief, Investigation Division, Seoul Dongdaemun Police Station (2010-2011)
• Chief, Investigation Division, Incheon Yeonsu Police Station (2009-2010)
• Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea (2007)

Professional Activities and Experience

• |N|[Cases involving ship collision, sinking, fire, and aircraft crash (Wet Case)]
• Represented a shipping company in investigations, criminal litigations, and maritime safety inquiries involving a case in which 15 casualties resulted from the collision of the 336-ton tanker Myeongjin-15 and a fishing boat
• Represented Incheon Port Authority in a lawsuit over the payment of port facility usage fee in a case involving the ship fire incident on the Auto Banner docked at Incheon Port
• Represented a shipowner in maritime safety inquiries involving a sinking of a tug-boat moored in the Yeonan Pier in Incheon
• Represented the bereaved family members of victims of the cargo ship Samsung NO.1, which sank near Wando County, in litigation for damages caused by illegal activities of the shipowner, etc.
• Represented the Korean government in litigation involving the collision of a container ship Milano Bridge with a crane at Busan Port
• Consulted the Korea National Oil Corporation, which managed loading and discharging facilities, in a case involving an oil spill by the oiler Kahla
• Represented a shipowner in criminal litigation involving injuries caused by the collision of water sports vehicles in the Bukhan River
• Represented the bereaved family members of victims of the Kyoto 1, which sank in the Taiwan Strait, in a damage suit against the shipowner in the U.A.E.
• |B|
• |N|[Cases involving charter contracts and other maritime and air transport contracts (Dry Case)]
• Represented Woori Bank, the holder of the bill of lading, in litigation on a claim for payment under a letter of credit against a shipper who had transported sea freight without permission
• Represented a charterer (a domestic shipping company) in Hong Kong International Arbitration Center (HKIAC) on a claim for charterage against a shipping company in Singapore
• Represented a seafarer in litigation on a claim for accident compensation under the Seafarers’ Act against the shipping company that is a party to the seafarer labor contract
• Represented and consulted a Japanese shipping company on the priority rights upon ships and seizure of ships in domestic ports
• Represented and consulted Ambrey Risk, a British maritime security company, on permission under the domestic Act on the Prevention of Damage to Ships on International Voyages from Piracy
• Consulted a domestic bank on the opening of an import letter of credit and transaction in the maritime transportation
• Provided legal advice on a vessel purchase agreement with a shipowner in Greece for the introduction of a cruise ship to Korea
• |B|
• |N|[Consultation on ship or aircraft financing]
• Advised on structuring ship financing agreements for the Turtle Ship Fund, a private capital-based fund for constructing patrol vessels for the Korea Coast Guard
• Advised on structuring ship financing contracts for the National Treasury Passenger Ship Fund, a fund for constructing new vessels to replace aging passenger ships and reserve vessels operating on government-subsidized routes
• Advised a domestic securities company on the structure of advance refund guarantees using RG management accounts in connection with shipbuilding
• Represented and advised Qatar Fuel, a Qatari state-owned shipping company, on entering into a purchase agreement for an oil tanker owned by a domestic shipping company
• |B|
• |N|[Cases involving port management and port authorities]
• Represented Busan Port Authority in a petition for provisional disposition for suspension of bidding procedures related to the harbor hinterland complex development project of Busan New Port near Mt. Yokmang
• Represented Incheon Port Authority in litigation involving the collection of anchorage fees for users of national mooring facilities outside port areas
• Represented Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority in litigation involving the fees for indirect occupancy of the dolphin facility
• Consulted on the subject of the duty to preserve investment costs of a non-management port authority
• Consulted on the sale of buildings and sites of a passenger terminal of Incheon Port
• Consulted on the participation of a port authority in a harbor hinterland complex development project proposed by the private sector
• Consulted on implementation of technical advice when approving an implementation plan of a non-management authority
• Consulted on the appropriateness of the calculation of private investment expenses in private investment projects on ports
• |B|
• |N|[Consultation on the implementation of policies by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Coast Guard]
• Consulted on the Special Act on Investigating the Truth of the April 16 Sewol Ferry Disaster and Building a Safe Society
• Consulted on the application of IMDG Code and IMSBC Code for sea freight
• Consulted on requests from the Sewol Ferry Special Investigation Committee
• Consulted on the amendment of the Coast Guard Act concerning the adjustment of the investigative authority between the prosecution and police
• Consulted on the execution of maintenance payments for aircraft owned by the Korea Coast Guard
• Consulted on type approval of ballast water treatment systems
• Consulted on the delegation of designation of sea lanes outside the port limit under the Act on the Arrival, Departure, etc. of Ships
• Consulted on the selection of the operator for the Busan New Port
• Consulted on the amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Ship Officers Act
• |B|
• |N|[General Civil/ Criminal/Administrative Litigation, Arbitration]
• Represented the franchise headquarters of Hanam F&B in civil litigation involving the violation of the Fair Transactions in Franchise Business Act
• Represented Monalisa Co., Ltd, a domestic manufacturer of sanitary papers, in patent litigation, including a trial to invalidate trademark registration
• Represented Ssangyong C&B Inc., a face mask manufacturer, in litigation concerning the unpaid product payment
• Represented a client in criminal litigation concerning embezzlement at the MG Community Credit Cooperative
• Carried out a lawsuit for revocation of dismissal of a high-ranking official of the Korea Coast Guard in connection with the sinking of the Sewol Ferry
• Represented Korea Western Power Co., Ltd. in arbitration on penalty for delay related to the supply contract of Taean Thermal Power Plant
• Advised Skinidea, a leading K-beauty company, on contracts related to overseas cosmetics exports and marketing

• Chambers & Partners Global Shipping Guide 2026 (South Korea), Co-author (2026)
• Getting the Deal Through - Port and Terminal 2024 (Korean Chapter), Lexology (2024)
• Legal Issues Related To The Acquisition Of Wind Turbine Installation Vessels In Korea, Mondaq (2023)
• Getting the Deal Through - Port and Terminal 2023 (Korean Chapter), Lexology (2023)
• Getting the Deal Through - Port and Terminal 2022 (Korean Chapter), Lexology (2022)
• Ship Arrests And Maritime Liens In South Korea, Mondaq (2021)
• A Study on Legal Issues Concerning Floating Cities, Journal of Korean Maritime Police Science. Vol. 13, No. 2. (Corresponding author)
• Study on Improving the Seafood Self-Help Fund System (Lead Researcher and Co-author)
• Research Services for Legal Reforms Regarding Search and Rescue Laws, Including the Enactment of the Private Rescue Act, Etc. (Lead Researcher and Co-author)
• Research Services on the Legal Reforms of the Water-related Leisure Activities Safety Act (I, II) (Lead Researcher and Co-author)