Kia is a South Korean automobile manufacturer that is part of the Hyundai Motor Group. Kia America, Inc. was incorporated in California on October 21, 1992, and became the American sales, marketing, and distribution arm of Kia Corporation. Learn more about what drives Kia’s game-changing products and services.
Tell us a little about yourself and your company.
I am Corporate Counsel at Kia America, Inc. I started my career as a regulatory compliance analyst in banking and made a career change to practice law when I saw the opportunity for professional growth. I practiced IP litigation and with that valuable experience, I wanted to expand my skills not only as an attorney but to have a more business-focused experience so I pursued this current in-house role. Kia is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global brands and offers industry-leading vehicles sold through over 750 dealers in the US.
What impact is your company making in your industry?
Kia is a company that is constantly innovating the way we think about vehicles and setting a high bar for the industry developing a line of vehicles that adapt to the current and future global mobility demands. The company’s brand slogan “Movement that inspires” truly reflects Kia’s commitment to inspire consumers through our products and services.
Is there a specific project or recent success you’re particularly proud of that you would like to share?
Here at Kia, we are all extremely excited about our upcoming EV9, which is an all-new all-electric three-row SUV. It is truly a game-changing vehicle not only for Kia, but also for the industry. I am particularly proud of being part of the collaboration of the EV9 and building on Kia’s reputation of delivering such innovative and brilliantly designed vehicles to consumers.
What inspires you? or Why do you do the work you do?
As a second generation Korean-American to immigrant parents, my inspiration comes from my parents. Their persistent dedication, perseverance, and sacrifice in their everyday lives taught me that there is no limit to what I can achieve. Growing up, it was rare to see a Korean-American attorney, and in fact, my family did not know any attorneys personally. However, that never stopped my parents from encouraging me to keep going no matter how far the goal seemed at the time.
Are there shared goals and values that drive the successful relationship between you and Nixon Peabody?
It is known that Nixon Peabody has reputable and intelligent attorneys, but also, in my experience I’ve found that they are really people-centered and are willing to come up with working solutions that cater to the business. I’ve had the opportunity to work with Sam Kim on various contracts for Kia, and I know that I can count on him to provide the best judgment not just from a legal standpoint, but also from a business perspective. That type of perspective and reliability is very valuable to in-house counsel.
