1. Mr. Zha Hyoung Rhee, Director-General of the International Legal Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, was elected as a judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for the term of 2023-32 at the 33rd Meeting of the State Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on June 14 (New York time).

2. ITLOS is a permanent international court dealing with disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that serves as a basis of maritime order, playing an important role in maintaining peace and stability at sea. 

3. In this election, candidates from Korea, Japan and Iraq competed for two seats in the Asia-Pacific regional group to which Korea belongs. Mr. Rhee was elected along with the Japanese candidate, by securing votes from 144 out of 164 member states that attended and voted in the election.

4. As a result, Korea has achieved the feat of Koreans being elected as ITLOS judges three times in a row since the establishment of the organization in 1996, and the election of Mr. Rhee is expected to enhance Korea’s status and expand its role in the field of the law of the sea. 

5. Mr. Rhee’s election is considered to reflect the recognition and expectation of Korea’s role in the development of the international maritime regime, in addition to the positive evaluation of the personal capabilities and expertise of Mr. Rhee. Furthermore, it is a reaffirmation of the international community’s trust in the values and practices that Korea has advocated and pursued as it seeks to become a global pivotal state under President Yoon Suk Yeol’s leadership. 

6. For Korea, which is surrounded by the sea on three sides, peace and stability at sea are directly related to its national interest. Accordingly, the Korean government has supported an open, free and stable international maritime order in various aspects, including trade and security. In view of this, the government has made various efforts for Koreans to continue their presence at ITLOS.