The Development and Operation of the UNCLOS Regime

Abstract

Korea International Law Review has published a number of influential articles regarding the law of the sea from 1993 (when the 1st volume was published) to 2018 (when the 49th was published). The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) entered into force in 1994 and since then many articles dealing with the law of the sea have been contributed to Korea International Law Review. Specially, one article of the late Professor Choon-ho PARK (a former judge of the ITLOS) and several timely articles written by Professor Charn-kyu KIM have sought a better understanding of the law of the sea. For example, Professor KIM rejects comparing the 1998 Fisheries Agreement between Korea and Japan with the 1965 Agreement. He interprets the 1998 Agreement in the context of the UNCLOS. For him, the UNCLOS is a comprehensive tool for understanding the law of the sea better. Moreover, Korea International Law Review provides a good opportunity for publications for young international law scholars. They have carefully analysed new cases of international courts and tribunals dealing with controversial issues about the law of the sea. Their researches have demonstrated the development and operation of the UNCLOS regime. For instance, they had dealt with the matter of the continental shelf beyond 200 NM with a study on the Bay of Bengal case of the ITLOS and had addressed some problems arising out of the nine-dash line before an Arbitral Tribunal under Annex VII to the UNCLOS made its final decision concerning the South China Sea dispute on 12 July 2016. It means that, since the publication of its first volume, Korea International Law Review has successfully encouraged young scholars to research on the key issues of international law.