외교부

Welcoming Remarks

by H.E. Dr. KIM Jina

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs

Tenth International Conference on the Law of the Sea

Seoul, November 18-19, 2025

His Excellency. Tomas HEIDAR, President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea,

Professor Park Byung–do, President of the Korean Society of International Law,

Distinguished Members of the Tribunal,

Excellencies,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to this meaningful event, marking this 10th Anniversary of the International Conference on the Law of the Sea.

Let me begin by expressing my deepest gratitude to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) and the Korean Society of International Law, for their unwavering support for this Conference.

My sincere thanks also go to all the speakers and panelists.

When we first met in 2016, It was just a modest one–day meeting of ten scholars to discuss issues of a very limited scope.

But, less than a decade later, this Conference has grown into a major international forum on the law of the sea.

Over the last decade, more than 250 experts have addressed on a wide range of topics, ensuring that this Conference remains timely and relevant amid global challenges such as climate change and the marine biodiversity protection.

Today, as we open the 10th International Conference on the Law of the Sea, we reflect on a decade of dialogue under the theme,“The Expanding Role of UNCLOS and the Law of the Sea Institutions.”

UNCLOS remains the culmination of the international community’s efforts to establish a legal order rooted in the peaceful use of the seas and the harmonization of maritime rights and obligations.

The establishment of ITLOS, the International Seabed Authority (ISA), and the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) embodies this shared mission.

ITLOS now stands among the most significant international judicial bodies, contributing meaningfully to the peaceful settlement of maritime disputes.

In its recent Advisory Opinion on climate change, the International Court of Justice reaffirmed ITLOS’s central interpretative authority under UNCLOS, attributing considerable weight to its jurisprudence.

The ISA continues to develop mechanisms to ensure that deep–sea activities serve the interests of all humankind while protecting the marine environment.

The international community is closely following the ongoing development of the exploitation regulations.

The CLCS likewise plays a crucial role in UNCLOS implementation by providing recommendations to coastal states regarding outer limits of their continental shelf.

Distinguished Guests,

Korea is committed to practical diplomacy that advances peace and security – this is an approach equally vital to maritime governance.

As a nation whose prosperity has long been affected by maritime trade, fisheries and marine science, Korea’s future depends on sustainable, rules–based ocean governance as well.

In this context, UNCLOS remains the essential framework guiding Korea’s engagement with its maritime neighbors.

Around the Korean Peninsula, overlapping maritime claims call for cooperation, mutual understanding, and solutions grounded in international law. 

In this spirit, maritime boundary negotiations with China continue, and dialogue with Japan-including on delimitation-should likewise be restored under the UNCLOS regime.

At the multilateral level, Korea remains fully committed to shaping the future of ocean governance.

We are the first East Asian country to ratify the BBNJ Agreement, entering into force next January.

At the 5th APEC Ocean–Related Ministerial Meeting in Busan, Korea proposed the APEC Ocean Resilience Enhancement Roadmap to strengthen regional cooperation.

We are further seeking to co–host the 4th United Nations Ocean Conference in 2028 with Chile.

Since 2022, Korea also sponsored annual ITLOS legal advisors’ workshops to support global capacity building in the law of the sea.

Distinguished Guests,

I trust that this Conference will continue to serve as a vital bridge between academia and practitioners, contributing to deeper common understanding of the most pressing maritime issues in the decade ahead.

The Korean government reaffirms its commitment to fostering dialogue and the exchange of ideas to advance international law.

So, once again, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all of you for joining us today to celebrate this decade of meaningful dialogue.

Thank you very much.