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An, Hee Chul

Partner / Tax Attorney / Head of the Policy Center

Partner

Profile

Heechul Ahn majored in physics at Postech and graduated from Seoul National University School of Law. Since then, he has gained work experience in various areas, such as startup, corporate, financial, and real estate advisory, and also with civil and criminal transfers at various law firms. He is currently a partner and head of the Policy Center at D’Light.

Leading on from his experience advising a number of startups, venture capitalists (VCs), and startup planners (accelerators), Heechul Ahn published “Startup Law Guide 2. 0” (co-authored by Mr. Ahn and others, Park Young-Sa) in 2018, and “Investment Agreement Guidebook” (co-authored by Mr. Ahn and others, D’Light/Startup Alliance) in 2022.

Throughout his career, Mr. Ahn has become a mentor for many associations, which include but are not limited to the following: The Korea Angel Investment Association, Korea Accelerator Association, Korea Startup Promotion Agency, SBA Seoul Economic Promotion Agency, AI Yangjae Hub, Seoul Fintech Lab, Korea Information Security Industry Association Information Security Cluster, Asan Sharing Foundation MARU180, Korea Intellectual Property Information Center, National Science and Technology Workforce Development Institute, and Young Entrepreneurs. At these centers, Mr. Ahn is currently advising, mentoring, and conducting lectures in order to cultivate the next generation of startup-related organizations.

As an advisory member of the Seoul Smart City Leaders Forum, he provides all-encompassing advice on the forum, and for four years, he has been actively involved in the disclosure of information by administrative agencies through taking the role of a judge on the Seoul Information Disclosure Review Board. Additionally, in recognition of his expertise in bioethical policy regulation, he has served as a member of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Seoul National University Hospital, Ajou University Hospital,and the National Military Capital Hospital in Bundang.

As the head of the Startup Legal Support Team at D’Light, he provides direction on startup policies and works with related organizations to create a healthy startup ecosystem.

He is also actively involved in the management of international film festivals as he is a member of the board of directors for the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, one of Korea’s three largest international film festivals.

In addition to advising and litigating cases for startups, he is also active within prominent areas of the technology sector, such as blockchain and ICT.

In 2021, he was selected as a finalist for the Korea Law Awards, Young Lawyer Of The Year (9 people) by Asia Legal Business (ALB), Asia’s leading legal publication, and in 2022, he was named a Rising Stars Lawyer by Legal Times. In 2023, he was awarded the Accelerator Industry Specialization Contribution Award by the Korea Accelerator Association and was selected as one of the 100 Next Generation Leaders by the Sisa Journal.

Experience

  • 2016-2019
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Member, Ajou University Hospital, Korea National Military Medical Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
  • 2016-2020
Board Member, Bakkum Corporation
  • 2016-present

Committee Member, TIPS Program Investment Committee
Legal Counsel, Korea Business Angels Association

  • 2018-present
Auditor, Hay Startup Corporation
  • 2019-present
Legal Counsel, Seodaemun District Council
  • 2020-2021
Counsel, ICT regulatory sandbox at Ministry of Science and ICT
  • 2020-present

Director, Korea Child Safety Committe
Member of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival Organizing Committee
Head of Team, Startup Legal Support Team

  • 2021-2022
Advisory Board Member, Ministry of Justice Startup Legal Education Platform
  • 2021-present

Auditor of Digital Healthcare Partners
Advisory Attorney, Korea Accelerator Association

  • 2022-present

Startup counsel, Korea Tourism Organization Enterprise Support Center
Asan Nanum Foundation Maru 180 Mento
Information Protection Cluster Advisory Committee, Korea Information Protection Industry Association
Seoul Fintech Lab Mentor
AI Yangjae Hub Mentor
Auditor, Bitsensing Corporation

  • 2023
2023 Seoul Smart City Leaders Forum Advisory Board Member
  • 2023-present

University Senator, Pohang University of Science and Technology
Startup Mentor, Pohang University of Science and Technology
Advisory Board Member, BioIcore Business Unit
Member of the Advisory Board, Changchang (Entrepreneurship Program) Jeollabuk-do
Head of Policy Center, D’LIGHT Law Group

  • 2024-present

Korea Business Angels Association Outside Director

Education

  • 2011
Pohang University of Science and Technology B.A.
  • 2015
Seoul National University Law School, J.D. (4th Annual Bar Examination)

Career Highlights

  • NAEK Next Generation Leader, Korea Advanced Institute of Engineering and Technology(2007)
  • Grand Prize, 2nd National Assembly Legislative Research Center Legislative and Policy Proposal Contest(2011)
  • Certificate of Appreciation from the Mayor of Seoul(2020)
  • Korea Law Awards Young Lawyer Of The Year Finalist, ALB(2021)
  • Rising Stars, Legal Times
    Awarded by the Minister of SMEs and Startups (for activating angel investment)(2022)
  • Certificate of Appreciation, the Korea Association for Child Support Resolution
    Accelerator Industry Specialization Award, Korea Accelerator Association
    100 Next Generation Leaders, Sisa Journal (2023)
  • Startup Legal Guide (co-authored by Heechul Ahn and others, Youngsa Park, 2018)
  • Startup Law Guide 2.0 (co-authored by Heechul Ahn and others, Park Youngsa, 2020)
  • Investment Contract Guidebook (co-authored by Heechul Ahn and others, Startup Alliance/D’Light Law Firm, 2022)
  • Simulation of asymmetric solar wind electron distributions, June. 4. 2009, Physics of Plasmas, Chang-Mo Ryu; Hee-Chul Ahn; Tongnyeol Rhee; P. H. Yoon; L. F. Ziebell; R. Gaelzer; A. F. Viñas

Qualifications

  • 2014
Admitted to Bar, Korea
  • 2019
Tax Attorney, Korea

Languages

Korean, English