Internationally-renowned Experts Attend Discussions
on the Law of the Sea Online & Offline

 
- The 8th Global Ocean Regime Conference will be held in Busan on 24-25 September 2020 -

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister MOON, Seong-Hyeok) will host Global Ocean Regime Conference in Westin Chosun hotel and Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) in Busan on 24-25 September 2020. 

The international conference has served as a venue since 2013 where internationally renowned experts have explored and exchanged valuable ideas of multiple maritime issues including EEZ and areas of overlapping maritime claims. Last-year’s event gave a favorable opportunity for discussions on global ocean governance attended by 5-major international ocean & maritime organizations*.

* International Seabed Authority (ISA); International Maritime Organization (IMO); Division for Ocean Affairs & the Law of the Sea (DOALOS); Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS); and UN Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Under the theme of “The Role of the Law of the Sea and Recent Developments in Global Ocean Governance”, the academic conference this year provides a series of meaningful programs commencing with a special session on the role of the law and its experts. Following discussions and presentations offer the important and pending issues of recent legislative trends in EEZs and problems on the law of the sea covering continental shelf within 200 nautical miles and deep seabed. 

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Introducing both offline and online platforms as considering corona-induced restrictions, the conference offers pre-recorded speeches from MOF’s Minister Moon, Seong-Hyeok and President Back, Jinhyeon of International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). It is also virtually attended by other prominent professionals including Judge Tomas H. Heidar of ITLOS; Secretary General Michael Rodge of ISA; and Professor Ronan Long of World Maritime University. 

At the place physically turn out only limited number of participants, fully complying with the requirement to quarantine, such as Mr. Park, Yong Ahn of UNCLCS and President Jang, Young-Tae of KMI. Anyone with an interest in the maritime law and maritime territory issues can participate in the conference via real-time streaming service on YouTube. 

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Minister Moon states on his video message that “This conference hopefully comes as a meaningful opportunity to discuss important issues in the law of the sea and explore new ocean governance in a rapidly-changing environment. MOF will take the initiative in fostering experts and establish a research institute specialized in the international maritime law”.  
 
MOF has a plan to implement a long-term project to nurture maritime law experts, Korean phonetic name “Baekryeonhaero”. Along with raising public awareness, providing educational support, creating more jobs and expanding network, the program will prompt the establishment of research center for the law that addresses various issues like protection of maritime sovereignty.