Attorney Ma Seong-han of Barun Law LLC is an expert in the field of financial regulations, specializing in advisory and litigation services related to financial regulatory matters.

Attorney Ma joined Barun Law in 2023, following a career at the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) starting in 2013. At the FSS, they gained extensive experience in various financial regulatory fields, working in departments such as the Moneylending Examination Office, Financial Investment Bureau, Supervisory Planning Bureau, and Accounting Investigation Bureau. During their tenure, Attorney Ma led significant projects such as the comprehensive amendment of the Money Lending Act and its enforcement decree, oversight of major shareholder eligibility reviews, and providing legal advice and mediation on various accounting supervision matters. In recognition of these contributions, they received awards from the FSS Governor in 2014 and the Chairman of the Financial Services Commission in 2019.

Attorney Ma has demonstrated exceptional expertise in legal advisory and litigation services related to the regulation of the capital markets (e.g., securities companies, asset management firms) and non-bank financial sectors (e.g., savings banks, moneylenders). Their work includes assisting with financial institution inspections and sanctions, handling accounting supervision and sanctions for listed companies, and providing optimal solutions for clients based on extensive experience in accounting supervision cases following the implementation of the new External Audit Act. Additionally, they offer advisory services for securities and futures companies, along with supervision, inspections, and sanctions concerning moneylenders and loan brokers.

He is also active in external engagements, having served as a member of the Special Committee on In-House Lawyers of the Korean Bar Association and a member of the Korea Customs Service's Proactive Administration Committee

Finance and Litigation

- Responded to administrative lawsuit on business suspension of large credit businesses (companies A, S, etc.)

- Responded to administrative lawsuits concerned with accounting inspection and supervison of major listed companies and accounting firms

 

Financial Advisory Matters

- Took part in the practical tasks to enact and amend Act on Registration of Credit Business and Protection of Finance Users and subordinate regulations  thereof (supervisory regulations, detailed regulations, etc.)

- Took part in the efforts to amend Guidelines on Management and Supervision of Credit Businesses

- Investigated and restricted several credit businesses and credit brokerage businesses (mediated evaluations and provided legal advice)

- Investigated and restricted several securities companies (mediated evaluations and provided legal advice)

- Conducted on-site inspection work of the Financial Supervisory Service (concerning securities companies B, D, H, futures company K, etc.)

- Reviewed the case involving the bank account belonging to the chairman of S group and opened under a borrowed name to check if the chairman is subject to fine under Act on Real Name Financial Transactions and Confidentiality

- Conducted work concerned with Act on Corporate Governance of Financial Companies (being in charge of examination of majority shareholder qualifications and legal advisory matters)

- Conducted work concerned with dealing with complaints filed with the FSS (appeals filed by banks, securities companies, insurance companies, etc. against restrictions imposed by financial authorities)

- Conducted work concerned with Regulation on Business Delegation of Financial Institutions (legal advice)

- Conducted work concerned with Detailed Rules on Affairs of Recognition of Credit of Financial Institutions as Bad Debt (legal advice)

- Conducted work on accounting investigation and supervision over major listed companies (approximately 50 companies, including companies S, Y, and M) (mediated evaluations and provided legal advice)

 

Publication(s)

- Study on Measures to Improve Credit Business Restrictions, Masters Thesis, Korea University, 2014

- Analysis of Precedents on Accounting Supervision Provisions (Second Edition), Financial Supervisory Service (2021)

 

Award(s)

- Financial Supervisory Service Governor's Award (2014)

- Financial Services Commission Chairman's Award (2019)