Clifford Chance (CC), Ropes & Gray and Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton are set to become the first international firms with offices in South Korea, after receiving preliminary approval from Korea's Ministry of Justice.

All three have received Foreign Legal Consultant (FLC) approval for their nominated lead partners, but are still awaiting final approval to set up bases in Seoul.

CC projects counsel Brian Cassidy, who specialises in energy and mining, will head up the office for the magic circle firm, with Korea practice head Hyun Kim also set to move to the country upon receipt of his FLC approval.

Meanwhile, corporate partner William Yongkyun Kim is to run Ropes & Gray's Korea practice, supported by intellectual property litigation partner David Chun.

The firms can act as consultants for the first two years, after which they will be able to take cases in cooperation with local firms.

CC Asia-Pacific managing partner Peter Charlton commented: "Growth in South Korea is an important part of our Asia-Pacific strategy to extend our coverage in the region through new offices, investment in people and solid sustainable growth across our major practice areas."

The news follows free trade agreements signed in 2011 between South Korea, the European Union and the US, under which foreign firms will have the right to hire local lawyers after five years.

A raft of firms have applied for permission to practice in South Korea, with DLA Piper and Squire Sanders among those interested establishing an office there. DLA Piper's base is set to be led by Daniel Lee, a corporate partner currently based in Tokyo, while Squire Sanders has named corporate partner Joon Yong Kim as its Korea chief, relocating from Tokyo and Los Angeles.