[THE INVESTOR] ALPS is a two-year-old company founded by a former high government official Lee Sun-yong, who shaped some of the country’s significant environmental policies for 20 years and served as Environmental Policy Advisor to former President Lee Myung-bak. 

In tandem with a dozen well-connected professional advocates such as a former lawmaker, senior government officials including a former minister, professors and CEOs, Lee aims to provide lobbyist-group like services to clients who are frustrated with government relations.

Until recently, lobbying activities exclusively belonged to law firms. Despite widespread criticism about preferential treatment given to former government officials, Lee believes that such negative perceptions are slowly changing and providing professional services would help further improve it. 


The following are excerpts from a recent interview with Lee. 

ALPS Founder and CEO Lee Sun-yong
ALPS

The Investor: Could you please introduce ALPS and yourself?
Lee: As our name suggests, we aim to provide one-stop solutions for individuals and companies who need administrative, legal and policy advice. 

Our clients are usually ones who have tried everything and exhausted all possible avenues available. 

As we know how things work, we can get the job done fast and efficiently. 

This area was limited to law firms until the revision of the administrative law in 1995 and the enactment of the anti-graft Kim Young-ran Act in 2016. 

We wanted to break from the passive role as advisors to a law firm and play a more active role in helping customers with problems regarding government relations. 

As for myself, after passing the high government official examination while in college, I joined the then newly established Environment Administration in 1980. Since then, I worked with the Environment Ministry until 2000. I majored in law at Seoul National University and received a Ph.D in public policy from Indiana University. 

After leaving the government in 2000, I led an environmental company for seven years. In 2008, I returned to the government as environmental secretary to President Lee Myung-bak. 

Afterwards, I worked for a large law firm as advisor for six years. In March 2015, I established a law firm focusing on environmental issues. Then, I decided to launch a company which provides services for administrative and government relations in all sectors.



TI: Who are your clients?
Lee: We have various domestic and overseas clients, including LG, Hyundai Engineering & Construction and so on.

Not all global companies can be equipped with a department or human resources for government relations. I believe we can have a great partnership and create synergies with foreign companies. 

Domestic and international law firms are also our target clients. They do have advisory units consisting of former senior government officials but their activities are limited since the enactment of Kim Yong-ran Act in 2016 (anti-graft act that went into effect in September 2016). For international law firms, which have been mostly dealing with outbound issues of Korean companies, our partnership would expand their scope in the country. Domestic companies can also streamline their business administration by outsourcing government relations to us.



TI: Compared with other countries, how do you evaluate administrative hurdles in Korea?
Lee: Unlike countries like Singapore where the government tries to provide one-stop solutions, Korea is considered have quite a difficult administrative process. That is because Korea lacks an organization that coordinates with different departments and organizations. And it is also because in Korea the chances are higher that you would get punished rather than rewarded when you initiate something.


TI: How do you predict future competition? What would be the biggest challenges for ALPS?
Lee: Since the enactment of Kim Yong-ran Act, advisors at law firms have limited room for government relations. We can provide what law firms cannot. So, in general, I believe the market has great potential.

The biggest concern for me is how to satisfy customers as a pioneer. If we do very well, the market can grow. That’s why we have recruited the best talent who know the process and mechanism of things.

By Park Ga-young (gypark@heraldcorp.com)