Welcoming Speech 

Luncheon Meeting 

in Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary

of the Entry into Force of the Rome Statute 

of the International Criminal Court (ICC)

Monday, 4 July 2022

12:00 pm 

Lotte Hotel, Sapphire Ballroom (3F)

Good afternoon! 

I am Park Jin, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea.

Your Excellency Song Sang-Hyun, Former President of the International Criminal Court, 

Your Excellency Kwon O-Gon, Former President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC, 

Your Excellency Shin Kak-Soo, Former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great honor and privilege to participate in this meaningful 

occasion celebrating the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of 

the Rome Statute. 

The establishment of the ICC, with the Rome Statute in force, was, 

no doubt, a historic leap forward in the journey of the international 

community towards a rules-based international order. 

The essence of the ICC's mandate is to end impunity of those 

responsible for serious crimes                                                        

and to achieve reparative justice for victims.

To date, the ICC has taken on more than 30 cases,                

ranging from attacks on innocent civilians,                                     

to sexual violence, to the conscription and use of child soldiers,  

and even to the destruction of cultural heritage.  

The Court’s judgments have undoubtedly 

led to the development of international criminal jurisprudence.

The Republic of Korea has been a staunch supporter of the ICC 

since its inception. 

Many of our brilliant minds have served at the negotiation table,   

at the bench, at the Assembly, and also at the Bureau. 

Korea is currently serving as a focal point                                      

of the ICC’s Assembly of States Parties                                           

to promote the universality of the Rome Statute,                    

together with the Netherlands. 

Our financial contribution to the ICC                                       

stands at around 7.5 million euros. 

Coming of age through adolescence, the ICC has experienced 

growing pains over the last twenty years. 

And the challenging environment for international criminal justice 

still persists, as witnessed now in Ukraine. 

We are in a moment when the demand for accountability            

has never been greater.

The number of States Parties to the Rome Statute                         

has more than doubled since the Statute’s entry into force,          

now totaling 123 countries. 

While this is truly remarkable progress,                                           

it still falls short of two-thirds                                                           

of the Member States of the United Nations. 

Securing the universality of the Statute                                            

is part and parcel of ending impunity for perpetrators of atrocities.  

Continued efforts for universality must be made                            

by both the Court and States Parties.  

Furthermore, as the ICC lacks enforcement power,         

cooperation with States Parties is essential                                     

for ensuring the effectiveness of the Court. 

I would like to point out that                                                          

the new Yoon Suk-yeol administration is striving                           

to strengthen Korea’s role as a “Global Pivotal State”                                            

commensurate with its status in the international arena. 

Preserving universal values such as human rights                        

and the rule of law, as well as freedom and democracy        

constitutes an integral part of this initiative. 

In this vein, I reaffirm our determination                                         

to continue our active involvement and contribution to the 

development of international criminal justice including the ICC.   

Korea, with its human and material resources,                             

will continue to support the Court’s expeditious investigation      

and fair trial,                                                                                   

and to promote the universality of the Rome Statute.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

There is no doubt that the Rome Statute and the ICC,                     

in the quest for accountability,                                                           

have contributed greatly to the effective functioning                       

of criminal justice at the international level. 

The question now is whether the international community              

is prepared to sustain the Statute and the Court                              

for the next 20 years and beyond. 

The answer to whether and how the system will remain relevant, 

and get even stronger in preventing atrocities, lies with us. 

On this note, I would like to conclude my remarks and wish you all 

a wonderful afternoon. 

Thank you!  /END/