The numerous challenges of complex wind farm projects were in focus when the DIS returned to the Seoul ADR Festival on 28 October 2025, with experts from the region. Projects of this kind are now proliferating at high speed across East Asia, as two in-house counsel on the panel confirmed.
We had the privilege of welcoming Hong-Sik Chung (Korea’s Deputy Minister of International Legal Affairs) as our keynote speaker. He explained the country’s new legal framework for wind farm projects, which will enter into force next year.
There are lessons to be learned from the issues that arose in early projects in Europe, ranging from contract drafting to investor protection. The speakers, among them Helena HC Chen (C.Arb), Mariel Dimsey (independent arbitrator), Mino Han (DIS), JB Kim (Yendall Hunter), Joongi KIM (Yonsei University), Evan Eungsuk Lee (Skyborn Renewables Korea), Benjamin Lissner (CMS), Moses Sye (OW Ocean Winds) and Jan K. Schaefer (DIS) explored the typical uncertainties of wind farm projects, how they could be addressed at the project inception stage, what kinds of construction, commercial and investor-state disputes arise, and what beneficial role ADR could play. While positive experiences have been made with standing Dispute Adjudication Board (DAB) proceedings in Germany, this mechanism has yet to find support in Asia.
The sessions produced much food for thought, while the discussions showed that certain project challenges are not unique to a specific jurisdiction. Accordingly, dispute resolution benefits from a close exchange of global experiences.
We look forward to returning next year and plan to build a Korean-German bilateral arbitration group with KCAB International, our Korean sister organization, to lift collaboration onto a new level. Watch this space!
Mino Han