1. Professor Paik Jin-hyun of the Seoul National University Graduate School of International Studies was 
elected judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on March 6 at the UN Headquarters 
in New York. Professor Paik won support from 113 out of 155 States Parties to the UN Convention on the 
Law of the Sea that took part in the vote. This was 9 more than the required number of 104 votes.

2. Professor Paik will serve as a member of the Tribunal until September 30, 2014, replacing his 
predecessor Park Choon-ho who passed away last November.

3. The Hamburg-based ITLOS is an intergovernmental legal organization comprised of 21 judges who 
settle maritime disputes between member states. The late Judge Park Choon-ho was elected as the 
founding judge when the ITLOS was established in 1996, and was re-elected in 2005.

4. Professor Paik’s election is an outcome of the Korean government’s endeavor to have a Korean judge at 
the ITLOS, along with the late Judge Park’s contribution to the development of the maritime law and 
Professor Paik’s academic achievements and expertise. Moreover, Professor Paik’s honor reflects the 
international community’s recognition on Korea’s global status and contributions. 

                          Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT

* unofficial translation