Bonne Clef is a unique strategic think tank built upon a powerful network of professionals with backgrounds in law, accounting, and taxation; a distinguished advisory board of professors engaged in rigorous academic research on current issues; and seasoned project managers with extensive experience leading large-scale corporate initiatives.
Our strategies are crafted by experts who, through decades of experience, have mastered the nuances and competitive advantages of specific markets. These strategies are further reinforced by academic advisors skilled in gathering and analyzing comprehensive, high-level data—ensuring that our insights are both credible and empirically grounded. In addition, project managers with hands-on experience in top-tier corporations take part in implementing these strategies on both short- and long-term bases, offering differentiated, execution-focused solutions.
In an era of unprecedented global change, Bonne Clef is your dedicated partner—delivering insight tailored to the evolving world and supporting those who will shape the future.
Hyun Jong Kim. CEO, Bonne Clef
Message from the CEO
OUR TEAM
Advisory Board of Specialists
Ki Wan Kim
Former Vice President of
LG Electronics
Senior Advisor Kiwan Kim, as the Global Marketing Officer (GMO) of LG Electronics, led creative and customer-centric marketing initiatives that contributed to establishing LG as a leading global brand. He spearheaded early entry into emerging markets such as Eastern Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and India—building a solid market foundation ahead of competitors. He was also a pioneer in introducing Korean Wave (Hallyu) marketing, enhancing Korea’s national brand on the global stage.
Nam Chul Kim
CEO & Vice Chairman of
IBIG Tech. Inc.
Senior Advisor Namchul Kim is a seasoned expert in overseas business with 34 years at Daewoo Construction (1983–2017), including over 25 years as a resident representative in more than 10 countries across Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. As Executive Vice President, he also led overseas sales, exploring new markets in Latin America and the CIS.
After retiring, he served as CEO of Young Hwa Engineering and Vice Chairman of multiple companies, and is currently the CEO (Vice Chairman) of iBigTech Co., Ltd. He founded the nonprofit “Construction Veterans Embracing the World” in 2017 and has been active in mentoring young global entrepreneurs through the GYBM program.
Sung Koo Yoo
CEO, JEIL L Trading & Co., Ltd
Senior Advisor Sungkoo Yoo founded JEIL L Trading & Co., Ltd. in Seoul in 2014, a general trading company that continues to source and export a wide range of products—including K-beauty and household goods—to markets in Hong Kong, the Middle East, Asia, Europe/Russia, and Canada. He previously worked at LG Electronics for 17 years, overseeing overseas marketing and sales across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Prior to that, he was responsible for reviewing international business operations at Kohap Group (now Lotte Chemical).
Choong Keun Cho
Former Executive Director
at LG Electronics
Senior Advisor Cho Choong-Keun worked for 33 years in the overseas sales and marketing division at LG Electronics, including 22 years on overseas assignments in Dubai, Istanbul, Saudi Arabia, and Germany. During this time, he implemented customer-centric marketing strategies aimed at expanding exports and strengthening the brand, gaining extensive field and practical experience. In Germany and the United States, he participated in annual supply contract bids for major retail chains. In Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, he was responsible for identifying local distributors and partners, as well as establishing exclusive LG brand dealer networks to drive export growth in key markets.
Young Ho Lee
Former Ambassador to Yemen
Senior Advisor, World Korean Network
Senior Advisor Youngho Lee began his diplomatic career in 1988 with Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He held various key roles both at headquarters and overseas, including posts in Thailand, South Africa, Kazakhstan, and the UK, as well as serving as Consul General in Beijing and Ambassador to Yemen.
After retiring in 2016, he became a Distinguished Professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, mentoring junior diplomats, and also led the Jeollabuk-do International Exchange Center.
Boong Gu Cho
Chairman, KOMAC Co., Ltd
Chairman Boong-gu Cho founded KOMAC in 1997 and became a pioneer in the overseas export of construction equipment. He opened new markets across the Middle East—including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, and Syria—and built an extensive global network under the KOMAC brand in the United States, Europe, and South America.
As a review committee member for the “Trade Person of the Month” award, he actively discovered promising export-driven SMEs and played a key role in helping them grow into global unicorns. He also co-developed overseas joint logistics center initiatives in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy.
Phils Kim
President, Bonplus Hospital
Chairman, Legal Affairs Committee, Korean
Hospital Association
Dr. Phils Kim graduated from the Premedical Program at Korea University and served as an adjunct associate professor at Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine. He holds both a Doctor of Law and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Ethics—an exceptional combination that highlights his interdisciplinary expertise. He currently serves as Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Korean Hospital Association and Vice Chair of the Legal Committee of the Korean Orthopaedic Association, playing a key role in shaping legal and ethical standards in the healthcare sector.In recognition of his contributions, he has received the Fire Citizen Award and the Minister of Health and Welfare Award, reflecting his dedication to public service and ethical leadership in medicine.
Byung Guk Yang
Former Director, Korea Centers
for Disease Control
and Prevention (KCDC)
Dr. Byungkuk Yang graduated from Seoul National University College of Medicine and earned his Doctorate in Medicine in Healthcare Management from the same institution. With both theoretical and practical experience in public health and family medicine, he is an expert who has served in public office for over 20 years, specializing in healthcare policy and disease control.
As the former Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (currently the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency), he played a key role in infectious disease response and the restructuring of the public healthcare system. He later led the private pharmaceutical sector as CEO of Daewoong Bio. Currently, he serves as an adjunct professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacology at Seoul National University College of Medicine, continuing his advisory work to advance the healthcare and bio industries.
His career spans government, academia, and industry, making him a rare professional who bridges medicine and management, as well as the public and private sectors.
ADVISORY BOARD of Professors
SoonKoo Myoung
Professor, Korea University
School of Law
Professor Soonkoo Myoung conducts research on a wide range of topics, including civil law, comparative law (covering French, Anglo-American, Russian, and Islamic legal systems), health and medical law, cultural and arts law, and criminal methods. He has a strong interest in interdisciplinary research that bridges law with other academic fields.
Believing that education is the core mission of the university, he actively incorporates EduTech tools such as MOOCs and Flipped Classrooms into his teaching, going beyond traditional lecture methods. He is also deeply committed to community service, engaging meaningfully with various public institutions and private organizations.
Ki Young Kim
Professor, Myongji University
Dept. of Business Administration,
Ki Young Kim received his B.A. and Ph.D. in Business Administration from Korea University, and later earned an LL.M. in American Law from the University of Pennsylvania and an LL.M. in Taxation from Boston University School of Law.
As a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Tax Accountant, he worked at Samjong KPMG and Samil PwC. He is currently serving as a Professor at the College of Business Administration at Myongji University and Dean of the Graduate School of Real Estate Studies.
He was elected as the 44th President of the Korean Accounting Association and will serve a two-year term beginning in 2026.
Hyun Do Park
Professor, Sogang
Euro-MENA Institute
Dr. Park Hyondo is professor at the Sogang Euro-MENA Institute, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea. He currently serves as policy advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and an expert member of the Middle East research committee at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KEP). He worked for 7 years (2018-2024) as director of the Middle East Forum for Industrial Cooperation sponsored by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in Korea. Dr. Park has written extensively on Islam and the Middle East in newspapers and magazines, and frequently contributed to TV, radio, and YouTube programs about Islam and the Middle East in Korea. He received his B.A. in Religious Studies from Sogang University (Seoul, Korea), his M.A. in Islamic Studies from the Institute of Islamic Studies at McGill University (Montreal, Canada), and completed his doctoral program in Islamic Studies at McGill University before receiving his Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from the University of Tehran in Iran.
Jong Do Kim
Distinguished Professor,
Korea University
Director, Center for Middle East & Islamic
Studies, KoreaUniversity
Originally trained in law, Professor Kim Jongdo shifted his focus to Arabic studies, combining academic research with fieldwork. He laid the groundwork for the study and translation of substantive Arab law, a largely unexplored field in Korea. Early in his career, he also devoted himself to Arabic language education, developing teaching methods tailored to Korean learners and authoring introductory textbooks that significantly contributed to the spread of Arabic in Korea. His Kim Jongdo Arabic Series 1, 2, and 3 remain long-standing bestsellers.
He continues to teach and conduct research on Arab and Islamic culture, as well as translate Arab legal texts. Drawing from a decade of study and field experience in the Middle East, he remains actively engaged in a wide range of scholarly and cultural activities related to the region.
Il Kwang Sung
Professor, Sogang Euro-MENA
Institute
Professor Sung Il Kwang is a Research Professor at the Euro-MENA Institute at Sogang University. He has contributed numerous articles on the Middle East to newspapers and magazines, and regularly appears on TV, radio, and YouTube programs to share his expertise on Israel and the broader Middle East, covering topics such as history, religion, culture, politics, and economics.
Jae Hee Kim
Senior Researcher, Center for
Middle East-Islam,
Korea University
With a degree in Arabic Interpretation and Translation Studies, professor Jaehee Kim has carried out a wide range of interpretation work—simultaneous, consecutive, and escort interpretation—at international conferences both in Korea and abroad. She has gained rich hands-on experience in the Gulf and North African regions, and during his time at the KBS World Radio Arabic Team, she witnessed the rise of the Korean Wave in the Middle East and conducted Arabic-Korean interviews with K-pop idol groups.He currently teaches Arabic language, interpretation, and culture at the university level, where she has developed effective teaching methods using political cartoons and multimedia materials. Building on this, she also conducts research analyzing current issues in the Arab and Islamic world.
Won Joo Jung
Professor, Dept. of
Artificial Intelligence,
Korea University
Professor Wonjoo Jung is currently conducting research and teaching at the Department of Artificial Intelligence at Korea University, focusing on the application of AI in physical systems. His work includes areas such as speech recognition, brain-computer interfaces (BCI), and the optimization of large-scale AI models.
Hong Kyoon Cho
Distinguished Professor,
Korea University
As a legal and institutional economist with both academic and practical expertise in finance, economics, and law, and as a former central banker, he has conducted extensive research on financial and economic policies and institutions. Having served along the core policy track of the Bank of Korea, he has built a comprehensive professional background through roles at the Economic Research Institute, Financial Supervisory Service, Korea Institute of Finance, and as a professor at the Korea Institute of Financial Training. He also serves as Vice President of the Korean Association of Financial Consumers and has contributed as an advisor to the OECD, media editorial boards, and academic circles. His work focuses on monetary policy, financial policy, financial supervision, financial systems, economic policy, corporate policy, legal policy, political economy, and legislative theory—pursuing both practical and policy-oriented expertise in these areas.
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SPECIALIST
Jason H. J. Kim
Managing partner of Kim & Kim Law firm
Kim Hyun Jong founded MEA LAW FIRM, headquartered in Seoul with an office in Dubai, serving the Middle East and Africa. He has provided legal advice in various fields including overseas construction, corporate commercial matters, investment, company formation, real estate and energy in the Middle East and Africa.
With over 14 years of experience and a network of local law firms and lawyers in more than 30 countries in the Middle East and Africa, he has handled a wide range of cases. His expertise includes contract disputes, litigation, advising companies on labor and human resources issues, dealing with local public institutions, drafting and revising contracts, financial transactions, international arbitration, negotiations and debt collection for local and international clients.
Tae Kwang Han
CEO of Confiance Accounting
Han Tae Kwang, Brandon Han, a professional consultant who is a financial expert with origins from Wall Street in the United States.
He graduated from Curtin University in Australia with a dual major in Accounting and Finance and obtained the CPA Australia qualification. Starting from Vantage Capital in Singapore, a spin-off from the renowned hedge fund group Chinkara Capital in Asia, he successfully completed numerous cross-border mega deals.
With over 16 years of experience in the investment field, he has collaborated with major financial institutions in the United Arab Emirates, Australia, and South Korea. Mr. Han provides specialized advice to clients in need of assistance in financial and investment consulting, fund-raising, project financing, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
Thomas Yun
Lawyer at Trowers & Hamlins
Thomas Yun is a seasoned lawyer with experience in the construction and infrastructure sector across various jurisdictions. He specializes in commercial disputes and PPP projects in the Middle East and Asia.
Before relocating to the UAE, Thomas worked at a major law firm in Seoul, Korea. He has extensive experience advising Korean contractors on claims in large infrastructure projects in the UAE, KSA, Qatar, and Kuwait. He has also represented clients in disputes before courts in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and Qatar, as well as the DIFC-LCIA.
With deep knowledge of Middle Eastern legal systems, Thomas has spoken at seminars hosted by the South Korean Embassies in the UAE and Kuwait, ICAK, KCAB, HKIAC, and SCL Korea. He has served as Paper Committee Lead at SCL Korea and is a member of the Panel of International Arbitrators at KCAB International.
Sophie soorim Kim
CEO of Hublika holdings
In 2010, Sophie Kim founded R2 Studio, where she planned and produced promotional content for global brands such as Lindberg and Amorepacific, as well as for renowned artists including TVXQ. In 2016, she established Hublika Holdings, a full-service content and marketing agency, and built a digital transformation planning group composed of planners with strong technical literacy. The agency successfully secured major projects from prominent clients such as Lotte Confectionery, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, EBS, and Branksome Hall Canada. In 2022, she also became a director at Silverslab Inc. and launched Woorieunha, a lifestyle platform tailored for seniors.
She has hands-on experience across a wide range of fields, including visual content such as photography and video, digital platforms (service planning and operations), festivals (planning, production, and execution), and marketing.
Min Hwan Jang
Assistant Professor at Rabdan Academy
Dr. Min-Hwan Jang is currently serving as an Assistant Professor at Rabdan Academy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Rabdan Academy is a four-year institution dedicated to training Emirati nationals for high-ranking government positions. Affiliated with the Department of Police and Security Studies, Dr. Jang primarily educates prospective police officers dispatched from the Abu Dhabi and Dubai Police Departments.
In 2014, Dr. Jang was selected as a profiler through a special recruitment by the National Police Agency, where he served for eight years until 2022. During his tenure, he worked mainly in the Forensic Science Division, participating in major violent crime investigations.
In 2017, Dr. Jang was awarded a doctoral scholarship by the European Union. Subsequently, he took study leave and completed his doctoral training in Sweden and the United Kingdom. Upon finishing his studies, he earned dual doctoral degrees from two universities in 2022.
Ahram Lee
Assistant Professor,
Korea University
Professor Lee Arham is a faculty member in the Counseling Psychology Education program at the Graduate School of Education, Korea University, where she trains psychological counselors and school counseling teachers.
She has over 10 years of experience in psychological counseling and coaching for adolescents, university students, and adults. Holding the highest-level certifications—Level 1 Counseling Psychologist from the Korean Counseling Psychological Association and Level 1 Professional Counselor from the Korean Counseling Association—she also serves as a counseling supervisor
Byung Ik Kim
Lawyer
Byung-Ik Kim has been involved in the UAE Barakah Nuclear Power Plant project—the first nuclear power plant in the UAE and Korea’s first nuclear export project—since the start of major construction (First Concrete Pouring) in 2012. He has continuously provided legal counsel throughout the entire duration of the project, from inception to the current stage of commercial operation of all four units. His work has included legal advisory on various contracts, negotiations for dispute resolution, and representation in LCIA arbitration proceedings. By residing on-site during the construction of the plant, Mr. Kim developed a deep practical and technical understanding of the entire nuclear power plant construction process. This has positioned him as a leading expert in the field of Korean-model nuclear power plant export projects. He has also advised on a wide range of labor law and lease-related disputes in the UAE by collaborating with local law firms.
Hyun Seung Park
EVP, STAFFS Inc.
Park Hyun Seung plays a key role in expanding the presence of Bonne Clef Inc. by building strategic networks among Korean companies. His expertise centers on HR consulting and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP). As Executive Vice President of STAFFS Inc., Korea’s first certified institution for integrated employment services, he has overseen over 130 HR projects annually across 25 regional branches.
With more than two decades of experience in both public and private sectors, Park has a strong track record in HR consulting, employment policy design, and managing public-private partnership projects.
In addition to his executive role, he is an active HR consultant and trainer, serving as an external advisor to organizations such as the Ministry of Employment and Labor, Korea University of Technology and Education, and the Korea Labor Force Development Institute for the Aged. He also participates as an external interviewer for public and private institutions.
Jason Kim
Head of the Dubai Office of Nexus Co., Ltd
Jason Kim serves as the General Manager of the Dubai subsidiary of Nexus Co., Ltd., a KOSDAQ-listed gaming company in South Korea, overseeing operations in gaming, investments, and virtual assets, as well as regulatory compliance.
After serving as an officer in the Special Forces Team of the 4th Han-UAE Military Cooperation Unit in 2012, he worked as a legal officer in a domestic company. In 2017, he relocated to Dubai, where he obtained a specialized bachelor's degree in arbitration law from the University of Dubai and operated a consulting firm.
Subsequently, he has held leadership roles in the Middle East subsidiaries of Korean gaming and virtual asset companies, focusing on regulatory compliance for virtual assets, global service expansion through local entities, and establishing collaboration models with global corporations and local government agencies.
Hyung Hoon Kim
Director, Korea Muslim Federation (KMF)
Visiting Professor, Myongji University
As the only scholar in Korea specializing in Islamic law, Hyung-Hoon Kim currently teaches courses related to Islamic law at the university level and conducts academic research through affiliations with various research institutes.
He also provides lectures and expert consulting services on Islamic law—including Islamic finance and halal matters—for both domestic and international institutions and corporations. Additionally, he conducts halal certification assessments for food, cosmetics, chemical products, and slaughterhouses.
kwan Jung Yoon
NEXIASAMDUK DIRECTOR
Kwanjoong Yoon, CPA, began his career in the Audit Division of Samil PwC, where he performed external audits for five years, gaining deep expertise in financial analysis and audit procedures, particularly with major clients such as Samsung Group and Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS).
In 2012, he moved to Dubai to join KOGAS Iraq Branch as an Economic & Planning Specialist, managing Korea’s first oil field project in Iraq and developing strong field experience in the oil and gas sector.
He later joined PwC Dubai’s Middle East Tax Team, supporting Korean companies across 11 countries with accounting, tax, and legal services. He now works at Samduk Accounting Corporation, providing audit and financial consulting based on his extensive regional and industry expertise.
Wonsub Lim
Partner, Seohyun Accounting Corporation
Wonsub Lim, CPA, began his career in the Tax Division of Samil PwC, providing a wide range of services including tax audit support, refund claims, and reviews for domestic corporations. He also handled international tax matters such as overseas investment due diligence and cross-border M&A.
Selected for international secondment, he worked at PwC offices in Kuwait and Dubai, gaining valuable experience in international tax practices and cross-border collaboration.
He later led the tax team at a major Korean conglomerate, managing group-wide tax risks and planning to optimize effective tax rates. He also oversaw tax and international finance functions at a startup, building hands-on experience in in-house financial management.
Currently, he is a Partner in the Tax Division at Seohyun Accounting Corporation, providing strategic tax solutions tailored to both domestic and international client needs.
Kee Soo Kim
Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of
the Republic of Korea in Saudi Arabia
Kee Soo Kim, a seasoned expert in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, has over 30 years of experience in strategic planning, global marketing, overseas operations, and diplomacy, through leadership roles at Samsung Group and Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At Samsung C&T, Samsung Motors, and Cheil Worldwide, he led product and brand strategy, including the launch of the SM5. As CEO of Cheil Worldwide's MEA HQ, he established six country offices, expanded the team from 80 to over 500 employees, and achieved 495% profit growth over seven years.
In 2021, he was appointed Deputy Chief of Mission at the Korean Embassy in Saudi Arabia, where he advanced high-level diplomatic engagement and economic cooperation, including FTA re-engagement, defense exports, and the launch of the first King Sejong Institute in Saudi Arabia.
He now advises public and private stakeholders on MEA strategies, leveraging deep regional insights and hands-on experience across diplomacy, branding, and global business.
VISION
Bonne Clef for Our Future
좋은열쇠, 모두의 미래를 위하여
MISSION
Opening New Windows with Knowledge
지식으로 새 창을 열다
Sharing
Guided by the belief that knowledge holds the key to unlocking new opportunities, we are committed to cultivating a culture where information flows freely
Creativity
Every spark of creativity marks the beginning of new innovation
Responsibility
As a good neighbor, we contribute to social progress on a foundation of responsibility and trust
Inclusion
We uphold a vision of diversity in which all people are equally respected and valued —regardless of their differences
Perseverence
Rooted in resilience, we carry out our mission with unwavering patience and determination, even in the face of challenge and change
Trust