Amid rapidly growing interest and utilization of third-party funding (TPF) in international arbitration and litigation in Korea, LITIG Equity Partners, a consultancy specializing in international dispute funding, is set to hold its first forum of the new year under the theme, "Analysis and Prospects of the 2025 Korean TPF Market."

The forum will take place on February 20 at Conrad Seoul. It will feature a panel of international arbitration experts, including attorneys Byung-Chol (B.C.) Yoon, Sa- Youn Kim, and Hyung-Keun Lee from Kim & Chang Law Firm, as well as Sang-Yub (Sean), a foreign attorney (US), of the International Arbitration Center at the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board. They will share insights and discuss the latest trends in third-party funding.

A total of four presentations are scheduled for the forum. Attorney Hyung-Keun Lee will discuss "Key Issues in Corporate Use of TPF," while Tae-Hun Lee, a foreign attorney (US) at LITIG Equity Partners, will present on "Analysis and Recent Trends in the South Korean TPF Market."  Sang-Yub (Sean) Lee of the International Arbitration Center at the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board, will deliver a presentation on "TPF and International Dispute Resolution: Korea's Role and Global Trends."

Additionally, Mitchell Dearness and LAU Chee Chong from OMNI Bridgeway, a prominent third-party funding firm listed on the ASX that also provides judgment and award enforcement services, will analyze the growth potential of South Korea’s TPF market from the perspective of global investors.

Following the presentations, a panel discussion moderated by Professor Joon-Hyug Chung from Seoul National University Law School is planned. Panelists include Jong-Hyuk Shim, Head of Legal Group 1 at POSCO International; Tom Glasgow, Managing Director and CIO of OMNI Bridgeway; Sae-Youn Kim, and Jin-Seung Moon, CEO of LITIG Equity Partners. The panel will engage in an active discussion on topics such as "Global Examples of TPF Models and Korea’s Differentiation Strategies" and "Strategic Use of TPF by Corporations in Dispute Resolution."

Jin-Seung Moon, CEO of LITIG Equity Partners, introduced TPF as "a funding mechanism that has steadily evolved in the global market since the 1980s and has recently gained significant traction in the South Korean market, playing an increasingly important role." He added, "This forum will serve as a valuable opportunity to deeply analyze the current state and trends of the South Korean TPF market as of the end of 2024 and to foster a comprehensive understanding of TPF's future and its role."